Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c28.s1.42

v2.c28.s1.42

Character of Durgadās.—This model of a Rajput, as wise as he was brave, was the saviour of his country. To his suggestion it owed the preservation of its prince, and to a series of heroic deeds, his subsequent and more difficult salvation. Many anecdotes are extant recording the dread Aurangzeb had of this leader of the Rathors, one of which is amusing. The tyrant had commanded pictures to be drawn of two of the most mortal foes to his repose, Sivaji and Durga : “ Siva was drawn seated on a couch ; Durga in his ordinary position, on horseback, toasting bātis, or barley-cakes, with the point of his lance, on a fire of maize-stalks. Aurangzeb, at the first glance, exclaimed, ‘ I may entrap that fellow (meaning Sivaji), but this dog is born to be my bane.’ ”