History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s14.42

v5.c74.s14.42

Rajaram's family was now invested in Rajgarh, the highest and strongest of the three forts in Jinji. But their situation was hopeless. Dalpat held the gate of Kalakot; Zulfiqar who had entered by the northern* gate, held the entrance to Rajgarh fort; and finally Ram Singh Hada made his way to the summit of Rajgarh by crossing the chasm at its foot by means of a wooden gangway. The Maratha royal family begged for safety, which was promised to them, and *palkis* were sent for their conveyance. Four wives, three sons and two daughters of Rajaram now came out of the citadel and were kept in honourable captivity. Another wife of the Rajah avoided surrender; she flung herself down from the summit of the fort into the sheer depths below. Her head struck a projecting rock and she was killed instantly, but her mangled corpse was caught in the branches of a tree on the hillside at an inaccessible place and there it lay without funeral. Nearly 4000 men, women and children were found in the fort, but very few combatants.† [*Dil.* 124.]