History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c64.s4.6

v4.c64.s4.6

∗ K K, ii 272, gives 20 Muharram 1091 (11 Feb 1680) as the date of the raid on Burhanpur, but Shivaji was then reigning and Shah Alam was viceroy at Aurangabad As usual with Khafi Khan, the day and month are correct, but the year is wrong I read 1092, which gives 30th January 1681, when the Deccan was depleted of Mughal troops and Shambhu was on the throne It cannot be January 1682, because on 13th November 1681 the Emperor himself had reached Burhanpur, and though the "thieves" (i e, Marathas) looted the camp of Lutf ullah Khan near Lalbagh at night ten days later, during a powder magazine explosion (M A 215, K K ii 278) the city was strongly guarded ever afterwards (usually by a son or grandson of Aurangzib) to ensure the communication of the Emperor in the Deccan with his northern capital. The plunder of 23rd Nov. 1681 may have been done by one of the Maratha guerilla bands that used to hover round the imperial camp, cut off small convoys and mockingly pray for the Emperor's long life as the giver of their daily bread! Jedhe S places the sack of Burhanpur in the month of Marga shirsha (12 Nov —11 Dec 1680), which is evidently a mistake for Magh (10 Jan —8 Feb 1681)