New History of the Marathas v2.c28.15

v2.c28.15

Ever since the invasion of Nadir Shah, the Punjab had been the land of constant contention between various forces and so subject to plunder and devastation that the residents had developed a sort of resigned mentality bowing to the inevitable. Raghunathrao laid siege to Sarhind, which had a garrison of ten thousand Pathan troops commanded by Abdussamad Khan. The Khan was wounded and made his submission to the Marathas, agreeing to serve them in the same way that he had done Abdali before. In this fight of Sarhind Ala Sinh Jat joined the Marathas to expel the Pathans. At this moment Taimur Shah and Jahan Khan were already being harassed at Lahore by Adina Beg and now, learning that the Marathas after capturing Sarhind were coming in strong bodies against them, the two Afghan chiefs evacuated Lahore and fled to their native land with as much wealth and goods as they could carry. They were hotly pursued by the Marathas, and had to leave all their equipage and belongings on the river Chinab as they could not carry them away with safety and these were easily secured by the Marathas. They then gave up the pursuit of the retiring Afghans and returned to Lahore.² Raghunathrao reached Lahore on 11th April and was right royally entertained with joyful illuminations by Adina Beg and others in the Mughal palace of Shalemar. This was the Maratha New year's Day of the Bahudhanya Shaka.