New History of the Marathas v2.c24.s2.95

v2.c24.s2.95

Shahu succeeded in achieving brilliant results through a mild persuasive policy dictated by rigid justice and good will towards all. From the moment he came to occupy the Maratha throne, he made this policy the principle of his life, which enabled him to say truly on his death-bed that he had done wrong to no one. When at the death of Aurangzeb Shahu came to occupy the Maratha throne, there was hardly any raj and regular government in existence in the Deccan. Maratha leaders roamed all over the land with their predatory bands and ravaged what they called the Mughal Empire. They had received military training and wide experience in warfare and mostly spent their energies in cutting each other’s throats. How were these to be pacified? Unless they were given suitable occupation away from their home, they were sure to kill themselves in the civil war which Tarabai had already started. This was the problem which faced Shahu and his farsighted minister Balaji Vishvanath. Shahu called these leaders together and, let us imagine, thus harangued them: