New History of the Marathas v1.c8.70

v1.c8.70

In this connection Parmānand narrates an interesting incident, when Shivaji’s father was arrested and threatened with death by the Shah at Bijapur in the summer of 1649, if the fort of Sinhagad captured by Shivaji were not at once restored. The father thereupon appealed to his son to give back the fort and save his life. Now Sinhagad was a precious possession on which Shivaji had lavished years of labour and expense, and which formed the main basis of his life’s plan. He was not therefore inclined to give it up. His mother earnestly pleaded with him for the sake of her husband. The mother and the son disagreed and decided to abide by the advice of their wise counsellor Sonopant Dabir. Sonopant advised Shivaji to give up the fort, explaining the essentials of a political game to which Parmānand has devoted one long chapter of his work, urging that for a man of valour the whole world is wide open.¹²