New History of the Marathas v1.c9.83

v1.c9.83

He opened negotiations with Salabat Khan and begged for terms for his submission. A provisional truce was arranged in order to allow a personal meeting and Salabat Khan temporarily stopped the siege-operations. In this situation, on the dark night of 13 July 1660 when heavy rain was falling, Shivaji escaped through a back gate of the fort and took flight to Vishālgad, accompanied by a small party of loyal followers led by a devoted servant, Bāji Prabhu Deshpande. His escape was quickly detected and a party of the enemy followed almost on his heels. By daybreak the pursuers came so close as almost to prevent Shivaji getting safely into the fort of Vishālgad. At that critical moment Bāji Prabhu occupied the narrow pass known as Ghod-Khind (horse-ravine) at the eastern entrance of Vishālgad and allowed his master time to get safely into it and himself stoutly resisted for hours the huge body of pursuers with his own small band, until they were all cut down to a man and Bāji Prabhu himself fell mortally wounded. He had, however, the satisfaction of learning before he expired that his master had reached the fort safely. This sacrifice of his own life by Bāji Prabhu is gratefully remembered to this day by the Maratha nation and is typical of the way in which Shivaji was served throughout his career. Needless to say that this sacrifice was profusely rewarded.⁹