History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c75.s6.1

v5.c75.s6.1

Flushed with his far-resounding victories over two first-rate Mughal generals, Santaji went to Jinji to wait on Rajaram (March 1696). He seems to have claimed the office of Senapati, contrasting his own brilliant performances with Dhana's poor record of victories. Hitherto Prahlad Niraji (the *Pratinidhi* or regent) had, with great tact and diplomacy, kept peace between the two rival generals and taken great pains to show in all the acts of government that the king treated the two as absolutely equal. But he was now dead, and his successor in the king's council was less clever and could not keep the balance even. [Sardesai, i. 661.] Santa's vanity, imperious temper and spirit of insubordination, roused to an inordinate height by his recent triumphs, gave great offence to the Court at Jinji and the result was an open rupture near Conjeveram (May 1696). [Z. S.] Rajaram sided with Dhana and placing Amrit Rao Nimbalkar in the Van of his army, attacked his refractory general. But Santa's genius again triumphed; Dhana was defeated and driven precipitately to his home in Western India; Amrit Rao fell on the field.*