New History of the Marathas v1.c8.48

v1.c8.48

A very late tradition tells us of young Shivaji's spirit at this time when he was summoned to the Bijapur Court. Would he not make his bow according to the punctilious Muslim prescription? In the open Darbar he simply executed the ordinary form of Maratha salutation, respectable enough but not reaching the extreme point of the Muslim sijda, i.e. touching the floor with the fore-head. The father explained away the rudeness by urging the rustic boy’s ignorance of court etiquette. Shahji, even if he had the wish, could not restrain the turbulent spirit of his son.