Shivaji and His Times c5.s3.1

c5.s3.1

The true history of the first thirty years of Shivaji's life (1627—1657) presents a puzzling and almost insoluble problem. From the nature of the materials available, it is hopeless to reconstruct the narrative of his early career with any degree of certainty.∗ Here the widest differences of opinion are possible as to the details, but happily the broad outlines are clear and generally accepted.