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SHIVAJI.
[CH. III.


towards Pratapgarh. On the way he committed fresh sacrileges on the gods and outrages on the Brahmans at Manikeshwar, Pandharpur and Mahadev (Powadas, 8-9), and in a fortnight reached Wai, 20 miles north of Satara. This last town lay within his fief, and here he halted for some days devising means for luring Shiva out of the hills by diplomacy or capturing him by means of local chieftains. (Dig. 158; Chit. 54.) He wrote to Vithoji Haibat Rao, the deshmukh of Gunjanmaval, to join with his men near Javli and assist the Bijapuri army as directed. Khandoji Khopde, the rival of Kanhoji Zedhe for the deshmukhi of Rohidkhore, waited on Afzal at Wai and gave a written undertaking to arrest and hand over Shiva on condition of being granted the deshmukhi. (Raj. xvii. 31, xv. 393 and 317; Dig. 165; T. S. 16a.)

While these plots were being hatched at Wai, Afzal sent his land-steward Krishnaji Bhaskar to Shivaj: with a very alluring message, saying, "Your father has long been a great friend of mine, and you are, therefore, no stranger to me. Come and see me, and I shall use my influence to make Adil Shah confirm your possession of Konkan and the forts you now hold. I shall secure for you further distinctions and military equipment from our Government. If you wish to attend the Court, you will be welcomed. Or, if you want to be excused personal attendance there, you will be exempted." (Sabh. 13-14.)