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APRL, 1921]
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJI
129.
powerful that he defied the authority of the Adilshahi king. He left soven sons, the youngest of whom, Naikji, however, was won over by the Sultan; two of his elder brothers killed him in their anger and were in their turn murdered by Naikji's men. The watan passed to Ansaba, Naikji's widow, who afterwards gave birth to & posthumous son. Her infuriated brother-in-law, however, had no mercy either for the widow or her baby. Ansaba was soon after murdered, but the devotion of a nurse saved the child, who took shelter with Baji Pasalka. Hardly was the family quarrel settled, when Kanbhoji, son of Naikji entered into a contest with the Bandal Deshmukh and a bloody battlo was fought. Their difference was, however, settled when Kanhoji entered the service of Shivaji.16 The Khopres, although humbled, had not been rendered altogether harmless. They joined Afzal
Khan against their rivals' master, Shivaji.16 Such were the men with whom Shivaji had to deal and the times in which he had to work. He was further handicapped in his work of re-organising the civil administration of hid
country by lack of willing co-operation from some of his officers. Lack of willing
The art of fighting as a source of honour and emolument co-operation.
appealed to them more than the art of peace. If they had been allowed to follow their individual inclination, they would gladly have renounced, the work of consolidation for a campaign of conquest. No less a man than Nilopaut Majmudar had earnestly prayed to be relieved of his civil duties so that he might "render military ser. vice like other men and capture forts when necessary." Nor was he reconciled to his duties until Shivaji'had assured him that his services in his civil capacity were as important as that of a commanding officer, and would be appreciated in the same manner as the military exploits of the Peshwa.11
15Sardesai, pp. 173-174. 16 Rajwade M.I.S., vol. XV,p.394.
17 Rajwade M.I.S., vol. VIII, pp. 8.9. The document is so important that it will bear quotation in extenso; an English translation is not necessary as the sense has been given above.
राजश्री निळोपंत मजमुहार यास वसनीचा कारभार करावबास ठेविले. माहोली पासून भीमगडापावेतों व . इंदपुर, पुणे, चाकण, कदीम वसनीचा कारभार कराववासी पंक्ति माइलेने साहेबासी अर्ज केला की:-आजी कामाचे दिवस आहेत. सनीचा कारभार आणीक कोण्हास सांगावा भापण बराबरी बेकन साहा लोक कामें करितील तैसी करून देखन गड घेणे पाडले तरी षेकन देखन. ऐसा भर्ज केला त्यास साही उत्तर दिधले की वतनी राहाणे हेही काम थोर भाहे. वतनी राहाणे येथे तुझांसबकचीस इमारतीस पैके पावतील त्वास बरसदे होम २ दोनीप्रमाणे पावतील. ऐसे साहेब बोललिबाबरि पंडित मा.इले बोलिले कीः-अरी वसनीचेहि काम योर भाहे तरी बहुत बरे. एकाने सिद्ध संरक्षण करावें, एकाने साध्य करावें, दोन्ही कामें साहेब बराबरीने मानिताती तरी-भापण वसनीं राहोन परंतु इमारतीचे पैके पावन बकशीस घेणार नाही मोरोपंत बिक व शिवनेर बेथें पापिले भाहेत. ते गड घेतील व मुलुक घेतील कामे करितील. साहेब थोर कामास जाताती है कृपेने होऊन बेईल. स्वांस राजश्री मोरोपंतास मेहेरबानीने पंचवीस फुले दिधली तरी भामांसहि वीस फुले याचीं ऐसा साहेबी निश्चय केला पाहिजे. त्वावरी साहेवीं ऐसाच तह रिचला कीः-वसनी राहोन कारभार करावा. इमारतीचे पैके पावन बकशीस न बावें. राजश्री-मोरोपंत काम करितील, गर घेतील पैके मि (क) वितील. सरगिरीचा प्रयत्न करून घेतील. स्वास मेहेरबान होकन पेश आहेत बाकरितां पंचवीस फुले दिधली तरी तुझांसही मजमुम्बा काईदिबाने पतनींचे ग्राम ते कामबराबरी ऐसें समशीन स्वास यावर्षी तेच वसा तुझांसहि २०वीस फूले पाब्बार्वी वा हिसेवा (ने) से स्वास पावेल से हुशांत रेकन एसा साहेबी निश्चय करून पंडित माइलेस वसनीचा कारभार करावबास ठेविले. भसे पंडित मालिनेहि सहरा प्रमाणे मान्य केलें असें मोतबहर.
(मोरिव) (पिराबते)
