Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s15.t2.8

v2.c27.s15.t2.8

Bālājī Vishwanath took Malhar Holkar with him to Delhi as a Pindhara, with 20 to 25 retainers. The Peshwa agreed in return for ransom from a certain village there not to damage its green crops. But Malhar went with his retainers, cut the crop and gave it to his horses to eat. So Balaji’s son Baji Rao himself went, stick in hand, to punish them. On seeing in Malhar’s camp a *bārgir* feeding his horse with the green crop, he struck him with the stick. Then Malhar from the door of his small square tent abused Bāji Rāo and flung a clod of earth at him...Some time later during their return march, one day Bāji Rāo was sitting in the shade of a bush on the bank of a *nālā* in the plain of Sipri-Kolāras, with an escort of only 10 to 20 men, bathing and getting ready for his meal. Malhar Holkar arrived there with 500 troopers by devious paths, levelled his spear at the heart of Baji Rao and cried out, “That day I had hit you with a clod; if I now transfix you with my *bhālā*, who can save you?” But the Rao...rose up, and walking up to the feet of [Malhar’s] horse, greatly flattered him! [*Holkarānchi Kaifiyat*, 2-4.]