New History of the Marathas v1.c19.s1.5

v1.c19.s1.5

Any way this lady's kind offices doubtless softened the rigours of Shāhu's imprisonment and in a great measure ameliorated the prisoners' lot. For whatever the wishes or command of the Emperor might be, their immediate execution was in the hands of the Begam. A woman alone could sympathise with the lot of Sambhājī's widow. Jyotyaji Kesarkar, Bhaktaji Huzra and Banki Gaikwad are mentioned out of the many followers of Shāhu, as having kept up close touch between these Maratha inmates in the camp and the warring Marathas outside it.