New History of the Marathas v1.c9.73

v1.c9.73

The Khan had already arrived and was in his seat, when Shivaji came in and was announced by Krishnāji Bhāskar. As Shivaji walked in, the Khan rose up and embraced him, tightly gripping him with his left arm and stabbing him with a dagger. Shivaji with perfect presence of mind thrust his short sword and the tiger-claws into the Khan’s huge body, ripping open the bowels and bringing him instantly down to the ground. The whole affair was finished in a moment. The Khan’s servants rushed forth to save their master, but were cut down by Shivaji’s bodyguard. The two Brahman diplomats were dumb-founded. The body of the Khan was placed in the palanquin by the bearers, but as they started to carry it away, they were attacked and disabled. Shivaji’s men severed the Khan’s head, carried it up to the fort and exhibited it on a high mast from the topmost bastion. The preconcerted signal was at once given and the concealed Maratha soldiers rushed out from their holes, cutting every Bijapuri trooper that came in their way.