New History of the Marathas v2.c24.114

v2.c24.114

Such was the welcome stroke of policy and good fortune which through Balaji's state-craft at once raised Shahu's prestige and established his position as the lawful ruler of the Marathas, in contrast with his cousin Sambhaji. It was this legal status which Shahu had all along been trying to acquire since his release and which Balaji's supreme efforts succeeded at last in confirming. An orderly government for Shahu's swarajya came to be immediately organized in place of what was till then a casual operation based upon force. Divided loyalties were thenceforth removed and a legal status for all Maratha governmental measures established. Thus this treaty enabled the Marathas to become masters of their home and to obtain fresh facilities for expansion outside from their base in the Deccan. The exact interpretation of the terms agreed upon remained vague in several points for a long time, and often varied with each fresh official dealing with the subject on either side.