New History of the Marathas v3.c37.s2.53

v3.c37.s2.53

Mahadji himself was not a little surprised to notice the unprecedented stir about an event, which he looked upon as an ordinary matter of course. He marched slowly and warily trying his utmost to calm the popular alarm. In order to disarm wicked suspicions he sent back from Burhanpur part of the battalions that had at first accompanied him. His confidential secretary Balarao Govind, who had long been posted in the Deccan to give him full reports from that quarter, advanced and met Mahadji at Toka on the Godavari early in February and communicated to him the alarm and unfriendly sentiments agitating the political circles of the capital. Mahadji thereupon wisely changed his course. From Toka he proceeded to Bid to see his Muslim *guru* and receive his blessings. From Bid he went to Tulzapur to offer worship to his family deity. Here he married another wife hoping to get a son and heir and then took up his residence at Jamgaon, his ancestral home. He thus spent four long months away from the atmosphere of Poona, utilizing the interval for visits and talks with people of all shades of opinion and sentiment, and quieting their groundless suspicions. The initial storm was thus allowed to blow over.