Page 5 - Chhatrapati Shivaji and His Work

SHIVAJI

Not for myself I fought and ruled, but for God and the Maharashtra

dharma, the religion of Hindu nationality which Ramdas enunciated. I

offered my head to Bhavani and She bade me keep it to scheme and plot

for the greatness of the nation. I gave my kingdom to Ramdas and he

bade me take it back as a gift from God and the Mahrattas. I obeyed their

commands. I slew when God commanded me, plundered because it was

the means He pointed out to me. Treacherous I was not, but I helped my

weakness in resource and numbers by ruse and stratagem, I conquered

physical force by keenness of wit and brain-power. The world has

accepted ruse in war and politics, and the chivalrous openness of the

Rajput is not practiced either by the European or the Asiatic nations.

JAYSINGH

I hold the dharma as supreme and even the voice of God could not

persuade me to abandon it.