History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c69.s1.2

v4.c69.s1.2

The first campaign was directed against the Berad* clan, who ruled over "the delightful, fresh and fertile land'' (M.A. 307) situated in the fork between the Krishna and the Bhima, with their capital at Sagar. They had inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mughals under Dilir Khan only seven years ago (Feb. 1680), and their strategic position almost midway between the forts of Bijapur and Golkonda made it imperatively necessary to conquer them. Pam Nayak, the ruling Berad chieftain, commanded 12,000 cavalry and a hundred thousand infantry, mostly militiamen, but also including many hardy, accurate and steady marksmen. Sagar was reputed as an impregnable fortress in that age. His great military power made his friendship an object of eager desire to his neighbours, and he had been induced to send aid to both Bijapur and Golkonda during their late siege. The offence could not be left unpunished by Aurangzib.