New History of the Marathas v1.c9.38

v1.c9.38

A widely current anecdote concerning this raid on Kalyan certainly created universal admiration for Shivaji’s character and high morals. Mulla Ahmad the Bijapuri Governor of Kalyan had left his family behind, including his young and extremely handsome daughter-in-law who fell into Ābāji Sondev’s hands. Ābāji considering that she would be an acceptable present for his young master, sent her properly escorted to Poona. But Shivaji who respected every woman’s honour as his own mother’s, remarked to the lady on arrival, “Oh how nice would it have been if my mother were as fair as you are,” and at once sent her to her home with due apologies for her capture. At the same time he conveyed to Ābāji his stern sense of displeasure and circulated a severe warning to his officials against this wicked universal practice.