Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c11.s1.30

v1.c11.s1.30

The defeated Budh Singh took refuge in Udaipur and then at Begham, and sank deeper and deeper into wine and opium, finally turning mad. But he found an unexpected ally. Pratāp Singh Hādā, the eldest son of Sālim Singh, on seeing his younger brother Dalil raised to the throne of Bundi, came over to Budh Singh’s side out of wounded pride and fought against his own father and brother. He was now sent to the Deccan by Budh Singh’s queen with her money for hiring Marātha aid against Dalil Singh. The price was settled at six *lakhs* of Rupees. On 22nd April 1734, the day of a solar eclipse, Malhar Rāo Holkar and Rānoji Sindhia, guided by Pratāp Singh, attacked Bundi which was being held by Sālim Singh the regent. In the end the fort was captured and Sālim Singh was carried away as prisoner by the Marāthas. The queen of Budh Singh tied the rākhi thread round the wrist of Malhar, publicly declaring the goat-herd’s son the brother of a princess of the solar line that claimed descent from the god Rāmchandra. But as soon as Malhar had left, a Jaipur force, 20,000 strong, came and restored Dalil Singh at Bundi. [Vam. Bh., 3216-3220.]