New History of the Marathas v1.c9.82

v1.c9.82

At this very moment when Shivaji was hard-pressed at Pānhālā, another serious danger appeared against him in the north. Shaista Khan, the renowned Mughal Commander, who had been appointed Governor of the Deccan, arrived at Ahmadnagar. At the end of February 1660 he left Ahmadnagar and established his hold on Poona and Bārāmati and pushed right up to Shirval towards south in April, when Shivaji was surrounded at Pānhālā. Shaista Khan concluding that this was the best opportunity for him to reduce Shivaji's northern possessions and thereby to bring about his complete ruin, retraced his steps, occupied Poona in May taking up his residence in Shivaji's palace of Lāl Mahāl. In August he wrested Chākan from its valiant Commander Phirangoji Narsālā. Shivaji thus found himself almost crushed between two huge grinders. But it is only at such critical moments that Shivaji's genius shone at its brightest and proved his mettle. At this time he sent his capable minister Sonopant Dabir to Shaista Khan begging for terms of settlement and at any rate to soften the Khan's bitterness towards him. The Khan was almost inclined to abate his rigour towards Shivaji knowing very well how difficult it was for his troops to conduct a war in the difficult tract of the western hills. In the meantime the situation was reported to Aurangzeb, who urged Shaista Khan not to accept Shivaji's word but to prosecute the war relentlessly and destroy his power finally. For this purpose the Emperor ordered Jashwant Sinh from Gujarat to proceed against Shivaji's possessions and reinforce Shaista Khan. Shivaji well understood what he could have to expect from the Mughals in future, and for the moment concentrated his attention on the best way of removing the pressure against Panhālā.