Administrative System of the Marathas c14.s4.14

c14.s4.14

Inspite of his defects the Maratha soldier was a fine fellow. Of short stature and light built he was man for man inferior to the tall and stout Mughal and Deccani Mussulman. But his courage, hardihood, wonderful energy, presence of mind and agility more than compensated for his physical inferiority. Demoralised by the tactics of their elusive adversary, the Bijapuris and the Mughals at last failed to meet him even in the open field on equal terms. Fryer's comparison of the two armies well illustrates the merits and demerits of the contending forces as they struck an intelligent foreign observer. Says the Docter,⁴⁰ "Seva Gi's Men thereby being fitter for any Martial Exploit, having been accustomed to Fare Hard, Journey Fast, and take little Pleasure. But the other will miss of a Booty rather than a Dinner ; must mount in state and have their Arms carried before them, and their Women not far behind them, with the Masters of Mirth and Jollity ; will rather expect than pursue a Foe ; but then they stand it out better ; for *Seva Gi's* Men care not much for a pitched Field, though they are good at Surprizing and Ransacking ; yet agree in this, that they are both of stirring Spirits." It is remarkable that the same love of luxury and comfort characterised the Maratha officers at Panipat. While Shivaji did not allow " Whores and Dancing Wenches in his army," ⁴¹ the Maratha army at Panipat was encumbered with a large number of women. Broughton says of Daulat Rao Sindhia's soldiers that, "such as think that life is bestowed for superior enjoyments and have a taste for more spirited modes of whiling it away, retire, at the approach of evening, to the arrack shop, or the tent of the prostitute ; and revel through the night in a state of low debauchery which could hardly be envied by the keenest votary of Comus and his beastly crew." ⁴² Shivaji's successors had for reasons best known to them suffered these salutary regulations to lapse and the result was disastrous for their army and themselves. The Maratha soldiers declined in morale, discipline and alertness that had made them so formidable under Shivaji's leadership.