appeared as at once a war of national liberation and a crusade against the desecrator of temples. To them Afzal Khan typifies the bold bad man, who combines treachery with f rightfulness, and defies God and man alike. Their historians from the earliest times have seen no element of murder in the incident, but always described it as a glorious example of the sagacity, courage and agility with which their national hero averted a treacherous plot against his own life, made
the treachery recoil on the plotter's head, and avenged the outraged shrines of their gods. Shivaji's laureate, Bhushan, calls the slaughter of Afzal a righteous deed of retribution like the slaughter of the licentious ruffian Kichak by Bhim in single combat. A very late legend regards it as a blood-feud waged by Shiva for the treacherous slaughter of his elder brother Shambhuji by the qiladar of Kanakgiri at the instigation of Afzal Khan. (Dig. 61-62 ; Chit. 23; Powadas, 15.)*[1]
Flushed with their victory over Afzal Khan (September, 1659) and the destruction of his army, the Marathas poured into South Konkan and the
Colhapur district, capturing the fort of Panhala, defeating another Bijapuri army, and making extensive conquests (Oct., 1659 — Feb., 1660), which will
- ↑ * Is the remark "As he slew Shambhuji," ascribed to Shivaji in Sabh. 14, an interpolation? That history is otherwise absolutely silent about Shivaji's elder brother and totally ignores him.
