When Raigad

Awakes
Vasant Kanetkar
Translated by
Anshuman Kanetkar

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Copyright Notice
When Raigad Awakes
Vasant Kanetkar
Translated by : Anshuman Kanetkar
(Marathi Play/English Translation)

Cover : Shivaji's Portrait (1680s) from the collection of the British Museum, London.

© 2022, Anjali Priyadarshan Kanetkar

First Published : 1962

English e-book : 2022
(Tooring Analytics)

All rights including those of stage performance, translation, broadcast or transfer to any other
medium reserved with the copyright holder, Mrs. Anjali Priyadarshan Kanetkar. Please
contact the copyright holder about permission and royalties well before rehearsals of stage
performances etc at the following address:
Mrs. Anjali Kanetkar
‘Priyanjali’, Plot no. 14
Palm Springs, Gangapur Road
Savarkar Nagar, Nashik – 422 013
Maharashtra, India

or email anjali.kanetkar@gmail.com

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Contents
Copyright Notice

Contents

About the Author

Dedication

First Performance

The Ballad of Raigad

Act One
Scene One
Scene Two

Act Two
Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three

Act Three
Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three

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About the Author

Vasant Kanetkar was born on the 20th of March, 1922, in Rahimatpur, his ancestral town,
which is situated in Satara District, Koregaon Taluka, on the banks of the river Kamandalu.
His father, Shankar Keshav Kanetkar, was a teacher by profession. However, he was more
widely known across Maharashtra by his pen name ‘Kavi Girish’. He was one of the founding
members of the poets’ collective known as ‘Ravikiran Mandal’. Vasantrao’s mother Krishna
(Uma, after marriage) was the daughter of the Munsaf of the Princely State of Budhgaon, Mr.
G.V.Shrikhande.
He had three siblings (eldest Madhusudan, younger sister Prabha, and youngest brother
Sharad).
Kanetkar spent his childhood in Pune and attended Fergusson College. He completed his MA
from Willingdon College in Sangli, and then joined HPT College, Nashik, as a lecturer in
Marathi and English Literature.
He started writing quite early, when he was a boy. He published his first short story ‘Janmache
Ghulam’ in 1940. Ten years later, in 1950, his first novel ‘Ghar’ was published, soon followed
by novels ‘Pankh’, ‘Porka’ and ‘Tethe Chal Rani’.
His wife Usha (neé, Sindhu) played an important role in his writing career. She herself wrote
short stories and poems. Her feedback helped shape Vasantrao’s writing. The couple had two
children, a daughter Chandralekha and a son Priyadarshan.

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Kanetkar started out as a short story writer and novelist, but he found fame as a playwright. His
first play ‘Vedyache Ghar Unhat’ (1953) was an adaptation of his own short story ‘Aurangzeb’.
Written on a lark, the play was wildly successful and starred Marathi thespian Dr. Shriram Lagoo
in his breakout role. In a career as a playwright spanning more than three decades, Kanetkar
wrote 42 three-act plays and several one-act plays. Some of his popular plays include ‘Prema
Tuza Rang Kasa’, ‘Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete’, ‘Lekure Udand Jhali’, ‘Ashroonchi Zaali
Phule’, ‘Himalayachi Savli’ and ‘Matsyagandha’. After working twenty five years as a
professor of literature, he retired prematurely and became a full-time professional playwright –
perhaps the only one to do so in India. His work continues to influence contemporary Marathi
theater as well as mainstream Hindi Cinema, which borrowed many of the plots and themes
from his popular plays.
Superb craftsmanship, a flair for finding the dramatic element in a story, plot development, an
ability to make complex ideas simple and interesting, and a skilled use of melodrama and
language were his hallmarks. This is why he enjoyed tremendous popularity as a playwright
over many decades.
He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, most notably, the Padmashree, Sahitya
Akademi’s ‘Man of the Year’, Maharashtra Bhushan, as well as a Filmfare Award for Best
Story for the film ‘Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool’. Kanetkar died in Nashik on January 30, 2001.

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Dedication
To Sindhu …

Sindhu (Usha) Vasant Kanetkar

13 June, 1926 - 3 January, 2006

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First Performance
This play was first performed in Marathi by The Goa Hindu Association, Arts Wing, Mumbai
on Friday, 26th October, 1962 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chaupati, Mumbai at 8pm.

Director : Master Dattaram

Assistant Director : Bhiku Pai-Angle

Cast

Shivaji : Master Dattaram

Soyarabai : Lalita Jogalekar
Sambhaji : Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar
Yesubai : Indumati Paingankar
Hambirrao : Parshuram Samant
Moropant : Suresh Kenkre
Rajaram : Shirish Kulkarni

Costumes & Makeup : Sitaram Marathe

Stage Design : Ram Gothoskar
Lighting :
Chandrakant Honavar
Bapu Angane
Music : Snehal Bhatkar

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The Ballad of Raigad

The night of ages has ended

It is now dawn
Among the sunlit peaks
Nestled in the Sahyadris
Awake from your sleep, O Raigad
“Reveal the secrets of Shivaraya’s heart!”

This is where an epic was forged

This is where the eagle took flight
This is where the Marathas rose
And their dreams took to the skies

Here, now, within that ruined dream

an author, unnamed, retreads the past
Sifting through the rubble and sand, he asks
“Reveal the secrets of Shivaraya’s heart!”

This is where the foundation cracked

This is where two towers collapsed
This is what the omens foretold
Two great eagles would rise and fold

Where the Gangāsāgara begins to dry

Here, relentless, slaves a Bhagiratha
To bring forth the Ganga, he strives
“Reveal the secrets of Shivaraya’s Heart!”

The dream and these ruins

Where tears were shed
Guarded by two towers
Under the earth’s command
Here, with a raging thirst I stand
To the Sahyadri ranges that guard
Their secrets tight-lipped, I plead
“Reveal the secrets of Shivaraya’s heart!”

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Act One

Scene One
[A palace in the Chhatrapati's capital fort of Raigad. A sitting room in this palace with
Mughal-style arches in the middle wall. Beyond this arch, can be seen the towers of the
‘Bālékillā’ or Keep and Lake Gangāsāgara. Huge peaks of surrounding mountains of the
Sahyadri range, jut out defiantly behind them as if they were carved on a clear, blue board of
sky. The architecture and interiors of the Chhatrapati's palace are befitting not only a generous
and mighty Mahārājā, but also a cultured man of subtle, refined taste. Indeed, this 'Mahārājā' is
not some extravagant Mughal Emperor in distant Delhi, but a ‘People’s King’ of the hardy
Marāthās.
It is dawn, on a day in the month of November, Shaké 1598 (1676 CE), Kārtikmās, Shuddha
Paksha. When the curtain rises, the haze of twilight has faded and the red of sunrise has begun
to break. Sarnobat Hambir Rao Mohite stands beneath the arch with his hands resting on the
nearest pillar. Hambir Rao is around thirty five years of age, with rough-hewn features and a
sharp military demeanor. Even as he stands with his back to us, his posture carries the aura of a
battle-hardened warrior, steeped in valour. Mahārāni Soyarā Bai is seated on the adjacent stool.
The Mahārāni is around forty years of age, and of a slightly stubborn, irascible demeanor.
Although she is dressed in the pomp and regalia of a Queen, she occasionally paces the room
and fidgets anxiously. Her worried face betrays the strain from having spent an anxious,
sleepless night.
As the curtain rises, the tension in the air is apparent. This momentary, tense silence is broken
in an instant, as in the distance, can be heard the Choughadā (herald) from the Nagārkhānā. A
maid enters with a light step, performs a Mujrā, extinguishes the lamp in the palace and
performs the Mujrā again as she exits. The sky starts to light up in the early morning sun–]
Soyarabai : (Rising uneasily) Listen, Hambir Rao – the herald has rung! The sun is also up, and
light shines on the tower. But still no sign of Shambhu Raje and Ram Raje!
Hambirrao : (looking back in anguish) Tai! Enough of this nonsense!
Soyarabai : (Angrily) Oh! Now we are to blame, is it? It is true then – when times turn fickle, so
do men! We knew you would turn on us one day, Hambir Rao, just like His Highness!
Hambirrao : (Irritated) fickle times? fickle men? Tai, don’t be hasty. Show some patience. Would
you at least wait till the spies we sent to search them out return to the fort?
Soyarabai : (Jumps up) We stayed up all night, sick with worry, and you tell us to be patient?
Hambirrao : Shambhu Raje has only left the fort for one night. It doesn’t mean that he’s gone
missing…
Soyarabai : But why did he have to take Ram Raje with him? The poor baby must have been
cold all night long!

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Hambirrao : Sometimes you have to repose some faith in others, Tai! Shambhu Raje is now an
adult, and besides–
Soyarabai : (Irritated) Oh yes, he is an adult! After all, these are all signs of adulthood, aren’t
they? Dearest brother, we fear you do not know the ‘real’ Shambhu Raje! If the crown prince
had the sudden urge to sow his wild oats, there was no stopping him. The gates of the fort are
wide open to him, at all hours! No complaints! But–
Hambirrao : Tai, Tai, you forget that you are Maharani!
Soyarabai : And just as we are the Maharani, we are also Rajaram's mother, Hambir Rao!
Hambirrao : You forget, Tai. You are not only Rajaram's mother – you are also Shambhu Raje's
mother now!
Soyarabai : You think so. But has Shambhu Raje ever shown us any respect? In either word or
deed?
Hambirrao : Tai…Respect is not demanded, it is earned. If you give love, you will get respect in
return. Even a mute animal will sacrifice its life for you if you show it some affection.
Soyarabai : Love? hmph! Her Highness, the Queen Mother showered all her ‘love’ on Shambhu
Raje. She pampered him. And now we see what fruit that tree has borne.
Hambirrao : (angrily) Tai, don't say a word about Jija Mata. You see the whole world upside
down!
Soyarabai : Leave it! I just wanted to speak my mind for once, to my own brother. But–
Hambirrao : This constant pettiness of yours is the reason why His Highness suffers.
Soyarabai : Our pettiness? Let’s see … Shambhu Raje, the Crown Prince himself, has been
missing from the capital fort of Raigad since yesterday evening. However, we have not let his
father, His Highness the Chhatrapati get even a whiff of this scandal.
Hambirrao : …And that is exactly where you went wrong!
Soyarabai : Wrong? Let us remind you: His Highness leaves today for his long-awaited
Karnataka campaign. He has worked tirelessly for months, days and nights, gone without sleep,
laid out his strategies and plans for this campaign. And you tell me that we should have dumped
this new worry on his already burdened shoulders?
Hambirrao : Do you think you can hide anything from His Highness? This news is bound to
make its way to him sooner or later. And won’t he be mighty pleased to be the last one in his
family to know that his eldest son is missing?
Soyarabai : But Hambirrao, even Annaji counseled us –
Hambirrao : (Outraged) Annaji may have given you a million pieces of advice, but who do you
trust? Your husband, his royal highness the Chhatrapati, or –
Soyarabai : His Highness always had a soft corner for Shambhu Raje! It was only fearing this
that we –
Hambirrao : Tai – these are not good omens! Especially in the light of the very disturbing
rumours that I have been hearing.
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[Just then, Annaji Dutto enters. A stoutly built, ambitious man, with shifty eyes. Arrogant, and
haughty, he nonetheless has the skills of a seasoned diplomat and is a cunning politician]
Annaji : (smiling) Disturbing rumours…What kind of rumours exactly, Hambir Rao?
Soyarabai : (Getting up suddenly) No word on the princes. Am I right – Yes or no, Annaji?
[Annaji smiles and shakes his head slightly indicating ‘no’.]
Hambirrao : Have our spies returned?
Annaji : (kneeling) Yes...Yes – you could say that. I mean, at least the spies in the vicinity of the
fort have returned.
Soyarabai : Where did they look for the princes?
Annaji : Where did they not look, Rani Saheb? They went all the way up to Mahad, searched
temples, combed the forests, looked through ravines and caves … oh, and needless to say, all
done strictly with the utmost discretion. After all, they had been briefed that this was a sensitive
matter of state.
Soyarabai : (Angrily) Where in the hell has that brat taken my boy?
Hambirrao : (Reprimanding her) Tai –
Annaji : (Lightly) We even looked through the brothels and the music halls but –
Hambirrao : (Angrily) Annaji – You speak of Yuvaraj, the Crown Prince himself. I warn you –
measure your words very carefully.
Annaji : (Laughs) My dear Hambirrao, you are a soldier through and through, aren’t you?
Always ready to raise your sword. You may well be a master of battle tactics, but this Annaji
Dutto has seen much more of this world than you. I can grasp the true nature of men, look
through their very soul and see through their machinations with more clarity and insight than you
ever can.
Hambirrao : What do you mean?
Annaji : Learn to read between the lines, for once.
Soyarabai : (sarcastically) Annaji, I beseech you, speak with the utmost care regarding Yuvaraj
in front of my brother. Although he is only his step-uncle, he loves the Crown Prince as if he
were his own nephew.
Hambirrao : But where do relations come into it? Shambhu Raje is the Yuvaraja and the
Yuvaraja's dignity and honour must be upheld by every member of the Royal Court.
Annaji : There is no need to order those who respect the throne to uphold its dignity and
honour, Hambirrao! Have you ever heard a single offending word about his Royal Highness, the
Maharaj slip through these lips, even by mistake?
Hambirrao : But why throw around these filthy insinuations about Shambhu Raje? Has he done
you some wrong, Annaji?
Annaji : (laughs) You have spent too much time on the front, and not in court, Sarnobat! You
have no clue of what is happening in the Capital.

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Soyarabai : Hambirrao, in the midst of the fully assembled and packed Royal Court, if
‘someone’, in reference to Annaji, happened to remark to the Maharaj, “Look, your two-faced
Amatya is also here”, then what special honour should one consider has been bestowed on the
recipient of this remark?
Hambirrao : (angrily) Who said this? Shambhu Raje?
Soyarabai : (sighs) Tell us, Annaji. Who honoured you thus, and when, and how?
Annaji : Let it go, Your Highness! It was a slight, but I have already forgotten it, because it was
made by ‘someone’ who has the intellect of a child. Of course, all for the sake of His Highness,
the Maharaj. However –
Hambirrao : (Surprised) No, No. Impossible. The Maharaj will not endure such impudence in
open Court, even for a moment –
Annaji : Oh but we must all endure! When his adult son stumbles and falls like this, even a
stern man like His Highness has to crawl to hold his child's shaky feet. You don’t understand this
torment, yet! The torment of paternal love. It is a great, great burden.
Hambirrao : But Annaji–
Annaji : Forget it, Hambirrao. One day, it will be your turn in open court, and then you’ll know
which direction the wind is blowing. Until then, if my words have offended you, I take them back.
Shambhu Raje is also my Crown Prince. He is not our enemy. But if this news I’ve received
about Shambhu Raje is true, then –
Soyarabai : (Impatiently) What news? Is it bad?
Annaji : Shambhu Raje – (Hesitates momentarily)
Soyarabai : Speak frankly. Be clear. What news have you heard?
Annaji : Last night, the Prince visited a Jalsa – a music hall – again.
Soyarabai : (shocked) A music hall? With Ram Raje?
Hambirrao : What do you mean exactly by ‘Music Hall’?
Annaji : Oh, this is a new royal hobby cultivated by Shambhu Raje through his friendship with
the Mughal Prince! In fact, I hear that in yesterday's concert, the prince even gave away one of
the singer girls his –
Hambirrao : No, No! Surely you are mistaken , Annaji?
Annaji : If you doubt my word, I can summon Bahirji right now and the Sarnobat can ascertain
the facts from the chief spy himself!
Soyarabai : (Incensed) Taking young Ram Raje to a music hall … full of singing and dancing
girls? Shambhu Raje’s impertinence is beyond belief!
Hambirrao : And the Maharaj knows of this new … indulgence of Shambhu Raje?
Soyarabai : (Angrily) If only he found some time away from the world of politics, he would then
know about this mess in his own family! Annaji, close the gates of the fort. Let Shambhu Raje
and Ram Raje know the consequences of such despicable behavior!

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Annaji : But Rani Saheb, what is poor Ram Raje's fault in all this? Rani Saheb, you never
warned him about Shambhu Raje’s company. Now, why complain today if as a direct
consequence, the little prince takes after his beloved elder brother and begins to lose himself in
the company of singers and dancing girls in the music halls?
Hambirrao : (angrily) What does this mean? Does Shambhu Raje brook no authority on the
fort? What does Maharaj intend to do? What does Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess
think? Should we assume she is a consenting party to … Shambhu Raje’s decadent
indulgences!
Soyarabai : Ah! Here comes your dear daughter-in-law! You can ask her your questions
yourself!
[Elegant, beautiful and smart, but also gentle, humble and reserved, seventeen-year-old Crown
Princess Yesubai enters and greets Soyarabai. Hambirrao and Annaji perform a ‘Mujra’ for
Yesubai]
Yesubai : Indulgences? Our consent? We do not understand what you mean! What questions
did you want to ask us, Hambir Rao?
Annaji : Shambhu Raje has been missing from the fort since yesterday evening. No one even
knows where he went or when he left!
Yesubai : Why do you say ‘no one knows’? We were completely aware of His Highness’
movements and besides –
Soyarabai : Oh, you know all about Shambhu Raje's movements? Since when have you been
assigned this portfolio?
Yesubai : I’m sorry Your Highness, but there seems to be some misunderstanding. We
assumed that Annaji might have kept you informed. Annaji –
Annaji : Informed about what?
Yesubai : About the Desai who came to the fort yesterday with a complaint against the
Subhedar of Prabhavali district, Annaji. As I recall, you received him personally.
Annaji : Why bring up these trivial quarrels of the court before Rani Saheb? I disposed of the
Desai's complaint at the Main Gate itself.
Yesubai : By ‘disposing the complaint’ you mean you arrested the Desai and put him in chains,
isn't it?
Annaji : So what? It is our custom to not tolerate any rebellious, petty officer who falsely
accuses the Subhedar appointed and vetted by us.
Yesubai : That may be your custom. His Highness thinks differently.
Annaji : (angrily) Oh, we know all about Shambhu Raje's ‘different thoughts’!
Yesubai : His Highness only demanded that you verify the Desai's complaint first.
Annaji : …And we rejected Yuvaraja's demands in the Council of Ministers.
Yesubai : …And So, Yuvaraj left for Shringarpur yesterday of his own accord to personally
ascertain the facts of the case.
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Annaji : (Angrily) Shambhu Raje went to Shringarpur to launch his own personal inquiry? He
went there in his official capacity, as Yuvaraj? See, Sarnobat, this is how much he values the
worth of the Soornis! This is the prestige of the Council of Ministers – the Ashta Pradhan – in his
eyes! Yes, there is no honour left in remaining in service on this fort.
Hambirrao : What kind of complaint? What kind of inquiry?
Soyarabai : Why did he take Ram Raje with him?
Yesubai : That was a mistake. We just found out ourselves, so we came here right away, to let
you know.
Soyarabai : (Irritated) We spent the whole night worried sick and you come here now to let us
know!
Hambirrao : Are you sure that Shambhu Raje went to Shringarpur?
Yesubai : I don’t understand your question.
Hambirrao : We have heard that Shambhu Raje was at a music hall last night!
Yesubai : It is possible.
Annaji : Shambhu Raje has been frequenting these concerts by singer girls recently, on the sly.
This is the news we have received.
Yesubai : Not on the sly. Sometimes the prince does attend these classical music concerts, and
he does so openly. And there are accomplished female and male singers at these concerts, not
merely ‘singer girls’, as you put it!
Soyarabai : And you approve of these decadences of the prince?
Yesubai : Decadences? What's so decadent about this? Is it a crime to appreciate good music?
Hambirrao : You seem to have a lot of faith in his highness’ integrity …
Yesubai : Yes, ofcourse, that is my own faith. But do you have any evidence of bad behaviour
on his part?
Annaji : What is the need for proof? The fact that the Yuvaraj frequents concerts of song and
dance – that in itself is utterly blasphemous.
Soyarabai : No wonder there are such vile rumours flying about…and with what face will we
defend him in the light of these facts?
Hambirrao : Soonbai, you forget. His Highness is Yuvaraj, the Crown Prince. Shambhu Raje is
not independent. He is not free to go wherever he wants and act as he pleases.
[As soon as he hears Hambir Rao’s words, Shambhu Raje enters, carrying the nine-year-old
Rajaram piggyback]
Sambhaji : (Stops and thunders) Who says Shambhu Raje is not independent?
[Shambhu Raje is a strapping lad of just under twenty. Tall and well-built. A bright, slightly rough
but guileless face. Although no longer a child, a roguish, impish attitude is still evident in his
mannerisms. As Shambhu Raje says this, Rajaram jumps down and runs to his mother crying
‘Maa Saheb!’ Soyarabai hugs Rajaram tightly and looks him over with a mother’s worried eyes.

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Rajaram may seem young and frail but he is a sweet, innocent and clever boy. As Shambhu
Raje enters, Annaji and Hambirrao perform the ‘Mujra’. But Shambhu Raje, agitated and
stunned in anger, has forgotten to pay homage to Maharani Soyarabai]
Hambirrao : Calm down, Shambhu Raje!
Sambhaji : Yet again we are slandered behind our back!
Yesubai : My Lord, you have misunderstood. No one has slandered you. ‘The Prince is not free
to do as he pleases’ is what –
Sambhaji : Who said this? Annaji, you?
Annaji : Your Highness, please leave my name out of this. I don't want to say a word about you.
Hambirrao : It was me, Shambhu Raje.
Sambhaji : (sarcastically) Oh … So now that the Council of Ministers has not prevailed, it
seems that you have been roped in!
Hambirrao : Roped in?
Sambhaji : Yes. To set us right … to guide us on the path of righteousness!
Hambirrao : (mockingly) Surely you jest, Your Highness.
Sambhaji : Well, you may deliver this message to those who appointed you as their errand boy.
We have not yet taken complete leave of our senses to set our agenda as per the whims and
fancies of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Understood, Sarnobat?
Soyarabai and Hambirrao : (Angrily) Shambhu Raje! –
Sambhaji : We are standing right here! Do your worst!
[Shambhu Raje and Hambirrao stare menacingly at each other. Yesubai then cleverly steps
forward and to defuse the tension–]
Yesubai : (Softly, to Shambhuraje) My Lord, you haven’t paid homage to the elders.
[Shambhu Raje momentarily glares at Yesubai and then comes to his senses. Having softened
a bit, he performs the ‘Mujra’ for Soyarabai, but slightly mechanically. At the same time–]
Rajaram : (Scared, Pleading) Maa Saheb ... Maa Saheb ... don't be angry with Dada. Please
don’t scold him. It was us. Dada was saying no. But we insisted and followed him. We did not
leave his sight. Really ... Maa Saheb, We’re telling you the truth ...
Soyarabai : (Angrily pushes Rajaram away) Don’t talk to us!
Rajaram : (Goes pale) Maa Saheb ...
Soyarabai : You spent the whole night outside, in the cold. You left us worried sick, you left
without telling us, went where you were not supposed to go-
[Even as she severely chides him, Soyarabai also lovingly drapes the shivering Rajaram in a
warm woolen shawl. Shambhu Raje looks longingly at this scene from a distance –]
Rajaram : It’s not like that, Maa Saheb …

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Soyarabai : Don't say a word. We won’t ever let you forget this day. Soonbai, inform the Royal
kitchens, Ramraja will not have his dinner today!
Rajaram : (Weeping) Maa Saheb …
Soyarabai : We will not touch any food today either. It’s a punishment for us as well as for you.
Sambhaji : (With startling courtesy) Maa Saheb, Ram Raje is being unfairly punished. Let us
explain what happened–
Soyarabai : (Scornfully) No need. Save your excuses for those who want to hear them,
Shambhu Raje, there is no reason for you to interfere. We are speaking to Ram Raje, not you.
You are your own master, free to do as you please. Not so with Ram Raje. There is someone on
this fort yet, to whom he is accountable. (Shambhu Raje becomes deflated and downcast on
hearing this. Soyarabai turns to Rajaram and warns him…) Today, we are giving you one last
warning, in front of everyone present here. If you are seen in Shambhu Raje's company again,
the gates of the fort will be closed to you! Forever!
Rajaram : (crying) No, Maa Saheb we promise we won’t ever do it again, but Maa Saheb–
Yesubai : This punishment is being meted out to Shambhu Raje and not to Ram Raje!
Sambhaji : (Wounded) No dinner for Ram Raje today! If Ram Raje is seen with us, the gates of
the fort will be closed to him, permanently! Maa Saheb, You chide Ram Raje but you punish us!
Why? Why? Why do you do this? What crime have we committed against you? Maa Saheb,
instead of hurting us like this, why didn’t you simply flog us with a whip instead?
[Shambhu Raje begins to tear up. But just at this moment, an announcement “Stand at
attention. Simhasanadhishwar Kshatriyakulavatans Shivachhatrapati Maharaj!” is heard and
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj enters. Following him is Prime Minister Moropant Pingale. Shivaji
Maharaj's smiling, radiant face shows some signs of anxiety and creeping old age. His watery
eyes, filled with optimism and hope occasionally betray signs of a deep sadness within. From
this, it is evident that this genius strategist and mighty sculptor of the Hindavi kingdom, must be
all alone not only in his kingdom but also in his palace. Moropant is old and slow. His speech is
measured and to-the-point. As they enter, Shivaji and Moropant are engrossed in their
discussions and the Maharaj says–]
Shivaji : So, Pant, you have your orders! We could finish off the rest of the correspondence
after two in the afternoon. Is that alright? Fine! Now, enough! No more politics! Today, we launch
our campaign. But before that, let us spend some time with our beautiful children (saying this,
Maharaj enters. He stops at the door, looks inside the palace and exclaims in amazement) Oh!
Shambhu Raje? Ram Raje? (Runs to them happily, holds his two sons close) Rani Saheb, you?
Soonbai, Hambirrao, Annaji, you too? (Everyone bows to him) Well, well, well … looks like the
court is in session! (Laughs) But whose court? Rani Saheb's or the Yuvaraj's? Or yours, my little
princeling? (Everyone fidgets uncomfortably, but no one speaks. Shivaji understands and
smiles.) Hey, looks like no one has anything to say? Pant, have a look at the almanac, will you?
Is it a day of silence? Why is everyone so glum today?
Moropant : That is natural, Maharaj. You leave for Karnataka today. Once you step out of the
fort for the campaign–

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Shivaji : (laughs) No, no, Pant, your assessment is clearly wrong! The Maker himself has
condemned us to live this nomadic life, by carving chariot wheels on our feet! Even these two
lion cubs here will not be disheartened by the prospect of another campaign. Oh, Shambhu
Raje, do take a look at your feet, perhaps they too have such wheels carved on them?
Sambhaji : (startled) Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : (smiling) When did you return from Shringarpur?
Sambhaji : (shocked) I ... I … I mean we ...
Shivaji : (laughs) Don’t be so shocked. So you forgot to inform everyone on your way out. You
should have simply said sorry to Rani Saheb as soon as you returned! And my Little Prince, did
you fulfill your late-night urge to go horse-riding?
Rajaram : Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : You rode so long. But on your return – only when you had to climb the fort – you
cheated! You hitched a ride, rode piggyback on Shambhu Raje, did you not? What a shame!
Rajaram : Aba Saheb, we were not tired at all, but–
Soyarabai : (Surprised) So My Lord was aware of these goings on, all along??
Shivaji : (Laughs) If we had not been informed of even the simplest things that happen on the
fort, the Mughals would have driven us out of this land long ago.
Soyarabai : (sighing) We were going to inform My Lord. In due course, but–
Shivaji : (ruefully) You were going to … but you did not. If this is a measure of the faith you
have reposed in us, what else is left? Unfortunately, someone else informed us. (Upon hearing
this, Shambhu Raje's eyes turn to Annaji with suspicion. Sensing this–) No, no! Shambhu Raje,
that someone was not Annaji!
Annaji : It is very good that the Maharaj himself has clarified this.
Sambhaji : We never made such an allegation!
Shivaji : Prince, lips may deceive, but your eyes…they never lie.
Soyarabai : (angrily) Someone else reported it. So what? The Prince had to be disciplined one
of these days. How can he behave like this with no consideration for any authority, from day to
day? Today is the fourth time he has gone missing. Now he has even corrupted Ram Raje!
Shivaji : (laughs) Has anyone ever tamed wild lions, Rani Saheb? Let them run free! Wander in
the forest, in the rain! Let them see the world with open eyes for once! Let them stumble, let
them fall! Remember, Pant – Maa Saheb always used to say, when the lion cubs find their feet,
it is to the forest that they run! Maa Saheb – (For a moment, Shivaji Maharaj loses himself in the
past, but only for a moment! Coming to, again) Maa Saheb is gone! Those days are over! We
live in mighty strange times now – isn’t it, Annaji?
Annaji : No, Maharaj – I mean, if the cubs indeed run to the forest, we can only rejoice. But–
(Annaji hesitates seeing Shambhu Raje's sharp gaze)
Shivaji : But? But what? (Annaji is confused for a moment.)

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Sambhaji : Speak up – why hesitate now? Open your heart, pour out your vomit in front of Aba
Saheb once and for all!
[Even then, as Annaji still cannot muster the courage to speak, Hambirrao says–]
Hambirrao : Let me explain. No one should fear telling the truth. If the Chhatrapati's cub leaves
the forest and starts running towards the music hall, then of course, the Maharaj is duty bound
to stop him!
Shivaji : (Surprised) Chhatrapati's son, in a music hall?
Soyarabai : Ask him – Ask him yourself! Let the world know what good deeds His Highness the
Crown Prince was busy with last night!
Shivaji : Shambhu Raje–
Sambhaji : (in suppressed rage) For that, you don't have to use Aba Saheb as a shield to
interrogate us, Maa Saheb! Even if you had yourself demanded an explanation, Shambhu Raje
would have told you the truth! Aba Saheb, on our way back from Shringarpur, we stopped at a
music concert in Mahad.
Shivaji : In a concert of Kalavantinis? Did you not know that we do not like these luxuries and
indulgences of the Mughals? And yet, you – you went to a concert again?
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, but–
Shivaji : Shambhu Raje, we don't see your necklace? (Shambhu Raje goes silent) Did you give
it away?
Sambhaji : As a reward!
Shivaji : (angrily) But why your royal necklace?
Sambhaji : (Irritated) What other reward could we have given befitting the station of a Yuvaraj?
What else would you have given?
Hambirrao, Annaji and Moropant : Shambhu Raje–
Soyarabai : (angrily) Prince, have you lost your mind? Such arrogance before the Maharaj
himself?
Shivaji : (distressed) Prince, the direction of your efforts and pursuits decide what fruits you
reap and the character you forge!
Sambhaji : But Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : (Angrily) Prince, you have misbehaved! And worse, you misspoke!
[Shivaji Maharaj turns his back and leaves immediately. Annaji, Hambirrao and Moropant look at
Shambhu Raje with contempt, and follow Shivaji. Soyarabai pulls Rajaram away and says –]
Soyarabai : We won't stay here a moment longer, Ram Raje. It is a sin to even lay eyes on an
ingrate child who insults his own father with such impertinence.
[Soyarabai pulls Rajaram away. Rajaram looks back at Shambhu Raje apologetically. The shawl
that Soyarabai draped on Rajaram's frame falls down at the door as he leaves. All this while,
Yesubai has stood firmly by Shambhu Raje’s side]

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Sambhaji : Why are you still here? Why don’t you also spit on our face and walk off?
Yesubai : Is that what you think of me?
Sambhaji : (smouldering) We have been defamed! We misbehaved. We misspoke!
Yesubai : You know that the old-fashioned folk don't like music and dance. But still, you
shouldn’t have said what you said before Maharaj!
Sambhaji : That is why we say, spit on our face and leave us. Don’t ever lay eyes on us! We
misbehaved! We misspoke!
Yesubai : Why are you so angry? Now your highness will bar us from even telling you the truth?
Sambhaji : It is we who have been barred! From living on this fort! Even from living in this world
with a clear conscience!
Yesubai : Now, who said this?
Sambhaji : (still smouldering) We behaved badly! We misbehaved! Annaji, who threw the Desai
in chains without any testimony, did not misbehave! The Subhedar did not misbehave by
branding the peasants of his district with a red hot branding iron for recovery of dues! Maa
Saheb, who threatened to close the gates of the fort to us forever, did not misspeak! But on the
way back from Prabhavali, if we lingered for some time at a music concert for a few hours, then
we are branded ‘decadent and indulgent’!
Yesubai : Maharaj was only upset because you gave away your royal necklace!
Sambhaji : (Irate) Yes! Yes! We gave it away! Only a necklace, not the royal treasury? It seems
that in the capital, they have forgotten royal customs and obligations. If Shahenshah Akbar does
not appreciate the talent of Tanasena, then who will? Some maulavi who spends his life
counting prayer beads in the mosque? You rebuke us because we gave away a necklace. But to
whom did we give it? We gave it to an accomplished songstress; Not to a streetside whore who
trades her flesh for a few pieces of silver. She approached us on our way here, knowing about
our patronage of the fine arts. Princess, she did not beg for alms, she wanted to present her art;
so she hastily organized a concert. She painted a glorious picture for us – filled with the different
colors and shades of the Ragas. Even if we had given away our life, princess, the virtuosity of
this woman would have been undervalued; so who cares about one worthless necklace?
Yesubai : Why didn't you say all this earlier?
Sambhaji : We behaved badly! We misspoke! (Suddenly remembers his grandmother) Maa
Saheb! The Queen Mother is gone! Now to whom do we speak our mind? Before this younger
Maa Saheb who only looks down on us with contempt? Before Hambir Rao who defames us?
Or before the Ashta Pradhana who conspire to oust us from the post of Yuvaraja?
Yesubai : No! Before the Maharaja, your father, who loves you!
Sambhaji : Ahh, Yes! Love! His Highness only came here to humiliate and punish us.
Yesubai : Now, this is only your imagination! He only came here to meet his beloved son
before leaving for his long campaign…because he loves you.
Sambhaji : Oh no…Not to meet us! To meet Maa Saheb and Ram Raja!

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Yesubai : Has the Maharaj ever discriminated between you and Ram Raje? Just now, when
Maa Saheb and Annaji both attacked you, did not Maharaj himself come out in your defense?
Sambhaji : (Calming down) Yes – yes ... you’re right. He did, but –
Yesubai : You did not place your case before him calmly. But spoke insolently and rudely before
Maharaj. You hurt him needlessly. Don't you think others too get hurt like you do?
Sambhaji : (sinks down defeated, thinks) Yes, perhaps we were a bit in the wrong! But–
Yesubai : Uhh…No! Not ‘a bit’ - you were very much in the wrong!
Sambhaji : (Laughs) Alright, we confess! We made a lot of mistakes. And if that is what you
want, we are ready to apologize to you…please accept our apologies! There, happy?
Yesubai : Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Maharaj!
Sambhaji : (suddenly jumps up) Apologize to him? We … should go … ourselves, and
apologize to Maharaj? That is not happening! We won't! Maa Saheb will laugh at us, the Ashta
Pradhana will humiliate us at every step! They will dance with glee at our humiliation! We won’t
let that happen. All this time, we have remained unbowed. We never regretted a thing. Never
before have we begged for forgiveness from anyone! The only exception was our elder Maa
Saheb! We have only fallen at her feet, and no one else’s! Let us make it clear to you, once and
for all – (Yesubai has been staring at Shambhu Raje's face for so long. As their eyes meet, she
smiles happily and meaningfully) Don't laugh – We know you will not agree with us – but we
want to make it clear that – (Hesitates. Momentarily comes to a realization. Then, defeated) No,
you are right, too. We inflicted the wound. Now we must heal it. And we can only do that if we
apologize. For your sake – we will apologize to His Highness, but only and only because you
asked us to!
[As soon as Shambhu Raje starts to leave, he sees Raja Ram’s shawl still lying near the door.
Leaning down, he picks up the shawl, holds it softly in his arms, stares at it longingly with a
faraway look, and then–]
Sambhaji : Did you see how Maa Saheb spoke to Ram Raje back then! She chewed him out
for disobeying her … but at the same time she lovingly wrapped this shawl around him! Ram
Raje is lucky. Indeed, if only we had our Maa Saheb with us today–
[Yesubai takes the shawl from Shambhu Raje's hands. As Shambhu Raje steps out of the door
with a heavy heart–]
Curtain

20/70
Act One

Scene Two
[The same day, in the same palace. It’s around three in the afternoon. Shivaji Maharaj dictates a
letter as he paces to and fro and Moropant, who is sitting at a writing desk, is taking it down.
The fact that Pant is no longer used to writing while sitting cross-legged is also apparent through
his restless movements. As the speed of the Maharaj's dictation rises, Pant looks increasingly
distraught]
Shivaji : …that even in light of your recent betrayal you beg us for forgiveness through your
token offerings and salutations? It seems to us that our enemies have offered you something
more lucrative to make you their servant, and hence your duplicity. To such a traitor–
Moropant : (distraught) Maharaj ... please, your highness...
Shivaji : (laughs) Oh, you’ve fallen behind, have you? Just like us, your hand is also now old
and tired, Pant!
Moropant : Balajipant handles the correspondence now. No one else matches him in
penmanship.
Shivaji : It is true! We have noticed this! Since Balajipant has been on leave, for the past four
days, our mail traffic has slowed down considerably. Pant, a government cannot survive for long
under such a one-pillar tent! (Moropant smiles. Seeing that–) You find this funny? Why?
Moropant : Nothing remarkable, Maharaj–
Shivaji : You smiled when we said that ‘a government cannot survive under a one pillar tent’!
Got it! Now we grasp the meaning behind your smile!
Moropant : Not so, Maharaj–
Shivaji : Pant, with your great wisdom, you have wordlessly laid your finger precisely on the
heart of the matter! (Laughter) Alright! Alright! Let’s take it slow now, shall we? We both belong
to the older generation, and must plan every step with courage and steadfastness, henceforth.
So where were we?
Moropant : (Reading) To such a traitor–
Shivaji : (again begins pacing) To such a traitor, we must mete out the strictest punishment. You
presume you are protected because you are a Brahmin. However, henceforth onwards– (stops
for a moment)
Moropant : Yes, Maharaj?
Shivaji : A question for you. Answer carefully. What do you think will Alamgir try next, in his
attempt to annihilate us?
Moropant : (Thinking) Which other strong piece did the Lord of Delhi possess on the
chessboard, other than Mirza Raje Jai Singh? And the Mirza Raje has now passed on–
Shivaji : Exactly! So hear us out now. This is our hypothesis. We would not be surprised if
Alamgir himself descended into the Deccan for an invasion of the South!
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Moropant : (putting down his pen in amazement) Alamgir himself?
Shivaji : Why! Is it so inconceivable? We have known for a long time that our final battle will be
with Alamgir himself. What do you fear, Pant? Haven’t we taken on and decimated mightier foes
than him?
Moropant : Those times were different, Maharaj! But the Emperor’s power is immense and–
Shivaji : And the weapon we have in store is just as powerful! (Laughs)
Moropant : Weapon? I do not understand, your highness?
Shivaji : (laughs) No? Don’t you know that Aurangzeb's son, Prince Moazzam, has been posted
on the southern frontier, Pant?
Moropant : Yes Maharaj, and we also know that Shambhu Raje and the prince seem to have
become good friends, but–
Shivaji : You have not grasped yet why we have allowed and even encouraged this budding
vine of friendship to take root and grow! We are sure that this prince, who has many differences
with his father, will seek our aid one day.
Moropant : (Surprised) But Maharaj–
Shivaji : A feud between father and son is a blessing for outsiders, is it not?
Moropant : (Astonished) You mean, Maharaj–
Shivaji : How long will it take for the empire to be thrown into chaos when the son rebels and
checkmates his own father, the emperor? You are right, the power of Delhi is immense. But we
possess this one deadly weapon that can strike and destroy not only father and son but the very
power of the throne of Delhi itself.
Moropant : (Surprised) You mean, by using the Prince as a proxy, you–
Shivaji : (laughs) Let it be! These are our day-dreams, our long-term plans! But first, let us
complete our letter!
[As soon as Pant picks up the pen and assumes his writing pose, a strange idea seems to flash
through the Maharaj's mind and he starts quietly laughing to himself. As he begins to laugh out
loud, Pant–]
Moropant : (startled) What…What’s the matter, your highness?
Shivaji : (smiling) Oh, nothing. A rather funny idea popped into our head, Pant. Suppose, the
Mughal Prince manages to bring Shambhu Raje over to his side of the fence instead, and our
very own, elaborately-laid plans were turned against us by the Mughals–
Moropant : (shocked) Your highness–
Shivaji : (laughs freely) You seriously think this is possible? Do you think we could be so
complacent, that the Mughals would steal away our own boy from under our very shadow?
(Controlling his Laughter) Now tell us, where were we again?
Moropant : (dips his pen in ink, and reads) However, henceforth onwards–
Shivaji : However, henceforth onwards – the Council of Ministers should not be complacent.

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[Pant writes it all down faithfully. Then he stops, reads, and startled, looks up at the Maharaj,
who gives him a mischievous grin. They both laugh heartily and then the Maharaj returns to
dictating the letter]
Shivaji : Hmm…take it down, However, henceforth onwards you are to remit the entire amount
of the revenue to his excellency, Prime Minister Moropant, without any delay. If we receive any
further complaints, you are to keep in mind that a servant of our enemy is also our enemy, and
nothing will save you from the consequences. Be Warned ...
[Just as he finishes, Annaji and Rajaram enter]
Shivaji : Come in, our little prince! Annaji, you’ve arrived just in time. Pant, let Annaji go through
the letter we have written!
[Annaji, through his gestures, seems to ask Pant, “Who?”]
Moropant : (throwing some sand on the scroll to dry the ink) Jivaji Vinayak – the Subhedar of
Prabhavali.
[Annaji looks at him uneasily and starts reading the letter ... meanwhile–]
Shivaji : (holding Raja Ram close) So my little lord, have you had your lunch?
Rajaram : Yes, sire!
Shivaji : …And what about your older brother?
Rajaram : Yes, him too.
Shivaji : (Laughs) Then it seems that your Maa Saheb has completely forgiven you?
Rajaram : (smiling) Aba Saheb – We were only forgiven because you saved us. Otherwise, we
were in big trouble.
Shivaji : (Laughs) But it’s good to go hungry from time to time, isn’t it … which means a few
less pranks, no?
Rajaram : Ha, why should we go hungry? Don’t you know Shambhu Raje’s trick?
Shivaji : Trick? What trick?
Rajaram : We can’t just tell anyone!
Shivaji : Even us? Well, don't tell us then! And we won’t tell you anything either, we will not take
you hunting, we won’t even speak with you. From now on, we are strangers!
Rajaram : This is not fair, Aba Saheb. You always threaten us like this. (whispers) Alright, we
will tell you our trick, but it will be our secret. Promise?
Shivaji : We promise. Absolutely our secret!
Rajaram : So, whenever Maa Saheb is angry at Shambhu Raje…
Shivaji : Maa Saheb gets angry at Shambhu Raje?
Rajaram : Oh, very often. Of course, she’s always angry at someone.
Shivaji : Oh…I see, that’s how it is...

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Rajaram : That’s right! So when she’s angry at us both, we disappear and roam together all
over the fort and then we go hide in the brush and eat plenty of wild berries! Isn’t that fun?
(Laughs)
Shivaji : (laughs) Well done – that really sounds like a lot of fun! But little prince, when you hide
in the shrubs and eat all those wild berries all by yourself, do you ever think of us?
Rajaram : (Surprised) Do you also like wild berries, Aba Saheb?
Shivaji : Yes, son, we like them a lot. But–
Rajaram : Then why don’t you come with us (jumps up and grabs Maharaj's hand) Yes, really,
will you come? We will show you shrubs full of ripe wild berries! We could pick a whole chestful
of them!
Shivaji : (laughs) And then who will supervise the court? Who will go on campaigns?
Rajaram : (sulking) It’s always like this with you, Aba Saheb. You never have time for us!
Shivaji : (Trying to console a sulking Rajaram who’s turned his back) What is this, little prince?
Now, now, don’t be so cross. Do you know what Annaji and Pant here will say if we start
wandering around with you, picking wild berries? They will say, “Such a mighty Chhatrapati–”
Rajaram : (completing the sentence) “…And all he does is go around picking wild berries”,
right? (Maharaj, Pant and Annaji laugh) Oh boy, we don’t ever want to be Chhatrapati, not ever.
Shivaji : And what if we decide to make you Chhatrapati?
Rajaram : That’s a lie! We know it! Maa Saheb said so herself!
Shivaji : What did Maa Saheb tell you?
Rajaram : Aba Saheb, is it our fault that we were born as Shambhu Raje’s younger brother?
Shivaji : Nonsense! Who told you that it was your fault?
Rajaram : Maa Saheb, she’s always blaming us. She says, you are doomed! You have no
future! You have bad karma! You are the youngest born, now be content with serving your elder
brother for the rest of your life!
Shivaji : Maa Saheb is only pulling your leg!
Rajaram : We will not serve Shambhu Raje!
Shivaji : Is that so? Then what will you do?
Rajaram : We also want to be Chhatrapati!
Shivaji : But just now you said, “we don’t ever want to be Chhatrapati, not ever”?
Rajaram : So what? We will be Chhatrapati … and we will also eat wild berries!
Shivaji : Alright! Alright! It is decided, then. Let us make you the Chhatrapati of Raigad!
Rajaram : And Shambhu Raje?
Shivaji : We’ll send him away, somewhere far off, to Karnataka! How does that sound, Pant?
Moropant : (Looking at Annaji, with a smirk) If that is what will break this royal deadlock, then
nothing like it!
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Rajaram : Promise?
Shivaji : Promise! We swear on our honour!
Rajaram : Think about it…are you absolutely sure?
Shivaji : Yes! Definitely! (As Rajaram jumps up with joy…) Wait, wait – Ahh, your highness,
Chhatrapati, where are you off to in such a hurry?
Rajaram : (stopping) Where else? Aba Saheb, shouldn’t we inform Shambhu Raje?
[Just then, Shambhu Raje enters quietly. Seeing him, Rajaram rushes to his side, calling him
“Dada” (a term of endearment for an older brother) passionately. Shambhu Raje grabs hold of
Rajaram and holds him close with the same affection. Seeing this–]
Shivaji : Pant, if only our step brother, Vyankoji Raje, could have witnessed this meeting of
brothers … Don’t you agree? (Moropant gives a meaningful smile) Ahh, Shambhu Raje, we
were just thinking of you!
Sambhaji : (awkwardly) Your highness, I wanted to speak with you, for a bit!
Shivaji : (laughs) Looks like our daughter-in-law has dispatched you, prince?
Sambhaji : What we said was unforgivable, the words we spoke, but–
Shivaji : Yes, about this morning? Let it go, son – we have already forgotten it.
Sambhaji : We thought you may be angry–
Shivaji : A man who is destined to rule cannot afford to always give in to anger. And you are
very, very easily angered, Shambhu Raje!
Sambhaji : No, Aba Saheb, we–
Shivaji : Of course, a man should get angry sometimes – but the anger should stay only on his
lips, not fester deep in the stomach! Isn’t it, Pant?
Moropant : That is indeed priceless wisdom, your highness!
Shivaji : (Mischievously) Now look at Annaji here. Do you think he ever gets angry at anyone?
Annaji : (startled) Ummm–ummm ... I mean, Maharaj–
Shivaji : He doesn’t even get angry when he should get angry. Like when the Subhedar of
Prabhavali flagrantly disobeys our orders; does not remit his share of taxes on time. And–
Moropant : That is exactly what I was saying to Annaji–
Annaji : Your highness, there seems to be some misunderstanding!
Shivaji : Misunderstanding! (Laughs) Annaji, you know the custom of the court is to check the
facts of the case as soon as any complaint is received! But if the complainants are themselves
imprisoned, without any investigation, what problem does that solve?
Sambhaji : (arrogantly) Aba Saheb, we said exactly this to Annaji! If only he had gone to
Shringarpur himself, and verified the facts before–
Shivaji : Verifying the facts personally does not mean you go around releasing our subjects
from their obligations to the state, prince! In Satara, the people thanked you because you gave

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them some generous concessions. But an army marches on its stomach, prince, not on the
people's goodwill!
Annaji : We were saying exactly the same thing, Maharaj! If you want to run a government
sustainably, then taxes must be collected fully and on time!
Sambhaji : We understand Annaji Pant! But collecting taxes does not mean oppressing the
people!
Annaji : You are making very serious allegations, Yuvaraj!
Sambhaji : We are giving you the facts. We have seen this with our own eyes. Your Subhedars
mercilessly hold the Desai-Deshmukhs under fire and then the Desai-Deshmukhs, in turn, go
after the poor peasantry, to save their own skins.
Moropant : What's the point of blaming officials, Yuvaraj! They are only following orders!
Sambhaji : (jumps up) Only following orders? Whose orders? You are throwing men in
dungeons, seizing their homes, branding men with hot irons, giving them lashes, and–
Moropant : Every coin has two sides, Yuvaraj. The occasional overbearing official is not the rule
and neither are such acts sanctioned by the law of the land!
Shivaji : Have you not seen the fatwa we have issued regarding recovery of taxes, prince?
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, your fatwa exists only on paper, and it is left to rot in the Subhedar’s
dusty cabinets! The bitter truth is, our own authorities have terrorized the public to such an
extent that they now feel they were better off under the Mughals.
Annaji : If this is an official assessment of the integrity our officials, then Maharaj–
Shivaji : Prince, you are still young. We understand your exuberance and your idealism. When
we were as young as you, we would also get worked up like this. But prince, there is one thing
we learned only through bitter experience. Idols take the character of the clay they are made
from. Similarly, administrators come from the people, they do not fall down from the sky.
Sambhaji : But Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : Do you think we knew nothing at all of these incidents you brought up? But to rule
effectively you must keep your administrators on your side. When they go wrong, you must be
patient with them. You can only change their minds through persuasion. Their character has to
be shaped gradually. The rule of law is not established overnight, my prince!
Annaji : Your Excellency, the Council of Ministers requests that an important question of
administrative jurisdiction be clarified before you leave on your campaign.
Shivaji : Which question?
Annaji : In your absence, will the command of Raigad Fort remain with Yuvaraj? If so–
Sambhaji : The Ministerial Council should be well aware that in the absence of the Chhatrapati,
this particular command falls to us, the Yuvaraj, by birthright. So why this sudden need for a
clarification?

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Moropant : There is nothing wrong with that, Yuvaraj. The ministers in the council are used to
the older, traditional ways of doing things. If they resist some of your new ideas, wouldn’t that
create a hindrance in the smooth running of the day-to-day affairs of the capital? That is why–
Annaji : We request that the Maharaj himself should either assign a different area of
responsibility to the Ashta Pradhana or–
Sambhaji : (angrily) We understand your request only too well, Pant! Aba Saheb, if the Council
remains adamant on this point, then we humbly suggest that all these fine gentlemen be
immediately packed off on a holy pilgrimage to Kashi. That is the only thing they are good for!
Shivaji : Prince–
Sambhaji : We gladly accept the challenge laid down by the Council of Ministers. We are fully
capable of governing not only the capital, but the whole state ourselves, if we have to!
[At that very moment, enters Hambirrao. As he enters he pays homage to Maharaj]
Shivaji : (smiling mischievously) Welcome, Hambirrao – you were the only missing ingredient in
this explosive mix.
Hambirrao : I ... I don't understand Maharaj!
Shivaji : No? (Laughs mischievously) where have you been all this while?
Hambirrao : The first detachment of troops is set to begin their descent from the fort, so–
Shivaji : Here we are, gridlocked over such vital matters of state and you’re going on about
some trivial military campaign?
Hambirrao : (looking at everyone in amazement) Gridlock?
Shivaji : Of course! This Pant, this Annaji – don't judge them by their white locks. If you get
down to wrestle with them in the red soil, they have enough tricks up their sleeves to bring down
even a seasoned player like you.
Moropant : (softening) Maharaj, if we have done something wrong–
Shivaji : Oh, and what more can we say about Shambhu Raje! He feels that the power of ten
wild elephants is coursing through his muscles!
Sambhaji : We don't just think so, Aba Saheb, we are confident that–
Shivaji : But prince, elephants are also very clever, aren't they? They don’t go around shoving
people or trampling over them needlessly, without provocation.
Sambhaji : (in amazement) Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : Now, Hambirrao, pick a side. You must descend into the arena to fight, but on whose
behalf?
Hambirrao : (laughs) I think it’s best that I only watch … from the sidelines, of course.
Shivaji : (laughs) Hmmm ... Hambirrao, you may not have the luxury of watching from the
sidelines for very long.
Hambirrao : (In amazement) Your highness!

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Shivaji : (laughs loudly) Enough levity, gentlemen, let us move on to more serious business! We
only tried to get a quick taste of what destiny has in store for us. Prince, we have a proposal for
you. See if you like it!
Sambhaji : What do you propose, Aba Saheb?
Shivaji : Pant, Annaji, you also give this some thought. Do you agree that the administration of
all the Subahs in our state is not up to scratch yet?
Moropant : There is no doubt about this, Maharaj!
Shivaji : Our suggestion is that, in our absence, Shambhu Raje should take up the Subhedari of
Prabhavali and through his governance, set a new benchmark for all of our Subhedars to follow.
Sambhaji : If there is no interference in our work, we will gladly accept this responsibility.
Shivaji : Alright! Pant – We shall now set foot in the capital only after completion of the
Karnataka campaign. Shambhu Raje shall immediately move to Shringarpur and take on the
administration of the Subha of Prabhavali. The Council of Ministers is not to interfere in his
administration. What do you say, Annaji?
Annaji : Your wish is our command, Maharaj! I see nothing wrong with this plan!
Shivaji : As the new generation moves to the forefront, it also means that older men like you
and I should start withdrawing themselves gradually from the administration. Isn’t it, Pant?
Moropant : (laughs) Yes, Maharaj! Yuvaraja will also acquire valuable experience once he
takes charge!
Shivaji : And if the prince governs well, all of us can also learn a few lessons! Isn’t it, Hambir,
old friend?
Hambirrao : And the administration of Raigad Fort–
Shivaji : Our little prince will handle that, won’t you, son?
Rajaram : We won’t stay here! We want to go to Shringarpur with Dada.
Sambhaji : (laughs) Then Maa Saheb will give you a good spanking!
Rajaram : Huh … as if she would dare–
Shivaji : (smiling) … And besides, no more dinner!
Sambhaji : … And the gates of the fort – closed forever!
Shivaji : (laughing) … And then no hiding in the shrubs, picking wild berries with your brother
either!
Sambhaji : (astonished) You mean, Aba Saheb…Ram Raje…
Rajaram : We swear … we did not breathe a word … Aba Saheb found out all by himself ...
from a vision… yes … from a vision he had of the Goddess …
[Everyone laughs]
Sambhaji : (Joining in the laughter) You grow more cunning by the day, little brother!

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Shivaji : Shambhu Raje, do speak to the princess, and take her counsel. And then, take up
your new responsibility.
Sambhaji : As you wish, Aba Saheb! (Performs the Mujra)
Shivaji : Rule wisely until we return! Our eyes shall be fixed on you and your administration,
remember that!
[Shambhu Raje takes Rajaram's hand and they leave, blissfully engrossed in their talk]
Shivaji : Pant, bring the rest of the papers which require our seal. Annaji, see if all preparations
for our departure are complete. Inform Rani Saheb and the princess that we are about to
descend from the fort after a glimpse of the Mother Goddess!
[Moropant and Annaji leave after paying homage. Hambirrao approached the King. But
Maharaj's happy face is suddenly clouded with anxiety]
Hambirrao : (enthusiastically) Your genius for diplomacy is unparalleled, Your Highness! You
resolved this difficult tangle with such consummate skill!
Shivaji : (sadly) The tangle is not resolved Hambirrao, it has only begun to get worse! Until
today, we have faced the onslaught of powerful enemies like Afzal and Shaista fearlessly. But
this poison ivy that is slowly circling our own household – I fear one day it will become a
stranglehold!
Hambirrao : (Surprised) Poison Ivy! (Hesitates, confused) Such an ominous note in your words,
Maharaj?
Shivaji : (Going to the arch, and gazes at the skies above Raigad) This fort of Raigad is so
heart-rendingly beautiful, it is such a grand sight, Hambir. But perhaps our own misfortune has
brought down some curse on it. Thirty years ago, a mad boy kicked up a storm in this very
valley. He woke up the whole of the Maval forest. And the hardy Mavalas he gathered on this
rocky terrain of the Sahyadris learned to wield the plough, with a newfound courage! They
sprinkled their sweat and blood and grew pearls in this soil! Even on this black, rocky mountain,
heads of corn began to sway in the breeze. But the crops we took a lifetime to raise – we are
now cursed to see the rot set in among them, Hambir! Now what should we hold out hope for
and from whom?
Hambirrao : (overwhelmed) Maharaj–
Shivaji : (distressed) Maa Saheb passed away on the twelfth day after our coronation. Maa
Saheb left us and with her she took away the majesty of Raigad! We defeated all the enemies
that came at us from all four directions; we gathered soldiers and officers around us who were
worth more than their weight in gold; With the grace of the lord, we established the Hindavi
kingdom, a kingdom of ten million hona; But–
Hambirrao : But? But what, sire?
Shivaji : But who is it who can manage this fragile kingdom, nurture it, give it strength with his
own courage after I am gone? Hambir, who else is there?
Hambirrao : It is true, Maharaj, this kingdom will likely acquire a new king, but we do not have
any other Shivaji Maharaj who can shape its destiny!

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Shivaji : Shivaji did not find another Shivaji, could not create another Shivaji, this is the biggest
regret in Shivaji's heart, Hambir! (Sighing after a moment’s pause) As the Lord wishes! Hambir,
have the Dasbodh of Samartha sent to us! We must calm our mind before descending from the
fort!
[Hambirrao bows and leaves with a light step. As Shivaji Maharaj stands behind the arch, with
his hands on the pillars, looking far away–]
Curtain

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Act Two

Scene One
[The same palace that was seen in the first act. Nearly two years have passed since the events
of the first act. Shaké 1600 (1678 CE), Mārgashirsha, the morning of the thirteenth of
December. There seems to be some commotion in the Maharani’s quarters next to this palace.
The door leading to the Queen’s Chambers is closed, but the loud, high-pitched voice of an
incensed Maharani Soyarabai accompanied by soothing words of explanation in the gentler
tones of the Maharaja can be heard vaguely. Although we do not quite hear clearly what is being
said, we do get an insight into the natures of the two speakers.
For instance, in one of Soyarabai's outbursts, one can hear the following : “... You are the one
who’s spoiled him rotten … and I get the blame … Very good! Excellent! ... We must give him a
medal for this great deed … The People are furious ... Of course, the world sees only our
babbling, but not your deeds ... Then make it clear … once and for all … that you have given
license to Shambhu Raje to do as he pleases … If any other man had thrown as much as a
lewd glance at a woman, you would have sentenced him to death, to be trampled by elephants
... But …”
Meanwhile, the Maharaj’s outwardly calm but increasingly exasperated voice can be heard
saying: “... not so; But Rani Saheb, consider this … This type of pettiness does not behoove
you, Rani Saheb ... Listen to yourself … what are you saying, to whom are you speaking with ...
Shambhu Raje is your son, he is not your enemy ... What will the servants think when they hear
you speak like this? ... This is too much … You’ve gone too far ... Do not try our patience, Rani
Saheb …”
This turmoil in the Queen’s Chambers dissipates slowly, until we can no longer hear it. But while
the commotion was audible, Moropant and Annaji are seen standing by, exchanging worried
glances, that seem to ask, “What else remains to be seen?”. Occasionally, they tiptoe to the
door and listen with their ears against it, then whisper to each other in hushed tones. In
between, as if in utter bewilderment and fear, they pace across the room. Just then, enter
Hambirrao and Rajaram, speaking heartily. As they also hear the commotion, both of them stop,
stunned. They see Annaji and Moropant–]
Moropant : Thank God you are here, Hambirrao!
Hambirrao : What is going on, Pant?
Rajaram : Maa Saheb seems to be incensed at someone!
Annaji : His Highness is also in the Queen’s Chambers.
Moropant : The thing is– (He hesitates to speak openly before Rajaram)
Hambirrao : (Understanding his hesitation) Dear prince, have you finished your morning
workout?
Rajaram : (smiling) Why don’t you just say “we shouldn’t be here”, uncle?
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Annaji : Indeed, your highness is very perceptive. Isn’t it, Hambirrao?
Hambirrao : It’s not that, your highness. Just that you are still a child, and not yet old enough to
understand the affairs of men. Of course, there will be a time when you shall also have to ‘play
the game’. But focus on your physique first and–
Rajaram : (angrily) Well, if you insist, we won’t stay. But Mama Saheb, even if you’ve kept us
away for now, remember that we fully grasp the affairs of men.
Hambirrao : Now don’t be cross, your highness.
Rajaram : (Stopping, in anguish) Sometimes, Mama Saheb, we feel like jumping off Takmak
point and–
Hambirrao : Your highness!
Rajaram : At least that will stop these daily arguments.
Moropant : And you taught you to think like this, your highness?
Annaji : Who else could impart such wisdom? Shambhu Raje, of course.
Rajaram : (Angrily) And how did you draw this conclusion, Annaji? Don’t bring Dada into this.
You know we have been barred from any contact with him – all thanks to your advice to Maa
Saheb!
Hambirrao : (reprimanding him) Your highness … watch what you say!
Annaji : Your highness, you are still young–
Rajaram : (angrily) So why don’t you wait for us to get older? You seem to be in a haste to
divide this kingdom.
Hambirrao : (again, in a reprimanding tone) Your highness, do not talk back to your elders.
Apologize to Annaji, right now!
Rajaram : (goes pale) We said too much? Annaji Pant, we are sorry, we spoke back to you.
Annaji : You are indeed large-hearted, dear prince, just like your father. You don’t have to
apologize to me, your highness.
Rajaram : Poor Aba Saheb … Maa Saheb gives him too much grief. We tried to explain to her,
but she had no time for us. We wish to tell her something. Mama Saheb, perhaps she will listen
to you?
Hambirrao : Yes, your highness, what is on your mind?
Rajaram : Please inform Maa Saheb … that … we don’t want the throne. We don’t even want a
share of the kingdom.
Hambirrao : (shocked) Your highness–
Rajaram : We are ready to serve under Shambhu Raje! (turns around and exits)
Hambirrao : (astonished) Such maturity, and at this young age!
Annaji : That is why I always said he is the one who deserves to be Crown Prince, Sarnobat.

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Hambirrao : You don’t have to worry about that, Annaji! Pant, we heard that Shambhu Raje has
returned to the Fort?
Moropant : Yes, His Highness arrived yesterday. In fact, he even tried to meet the Maharaj
three times.
Hambirrao : So did they meet?
Moropant : Maharaj sent him back, all three times.
Hambirrao : Why?
Annaji : His Highness does not want to see him.
Hambirrao : No, No…I fear Maharaj is making a big mistake.
Annaji : Not at all. Frankly, I don’t blame him. Shambhu Raje’s most recent behavior caused
utter embarrassment to His Highness.
Hambirrao : But does anyone know what happened, exactly?
Annaji : Let me tell you what I know. Some women came up to the Fort to attend the
Shitalāgauri festival. One of them caught the prince’s eye. He lay in wait and when the time was
ripe he seized her and dragged her into his chambers.
Hambirrao : And you were a direct witness to all of this?
Annaji : Oh no, no … I didn’t see any of it. But Rani Saheb–
Hambirrao : Then did Rani Saheb see this with her own eyes?
Annaji : Uhhh…No, but she did say that one of her maids told her that–
Moropant : There is no truth to these rumours, Annaji. I do not think there was any coercion
involved. I have known that the prince and this girl had a long history – or at least that is what
I’ve heard. What can I say, Hambirrao … a girl from a very reputable house – the prince used to
ride out at all ungodly hours, down to one of the foothill villages to meet her, that is what
people–
Hambirrao : Well, did you see this yourself?
Moropant : Who, me? Oh no – How could I? But, Balaji Pant–
Hambirrao : Alright, so tell me now … did Balaji Pant, at least, see this himself, first hand?
Moropant : Ummm…No, not first hand, as I recall. But his doctor was here a few days ago, and
he–
Hambirrao : I have been asking around since we returned from the Karnataka campaign, but I
still haven’t found a single corroborating witness, who saw this first-hand. It’s all second-hand
information, innuendo and gossip.
Annaji : But Hambirrao, isn’t it one thing known for sure – that the poor girl took her own life?
Hambirrao : Look here, Annaji – She immolated herself at the Sati pyre – but that isn’t enough
to implicate Shambhu Raje. It doesn’t prove anything!
Annaji : But Shambhu Raje was involved in some way – do you at least agree with this one
point?
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Moropant : Only the Lord and Shambhu Raje know what really transpired!
Hambirrao : Before we left for the Karnataka campaign two years ago, His Highness had
reposed such faith in Shambhu Raje…he left the entire district of Prabhavali under his
command…
Annaji : It’s not my place to say this – But that was a grave mistake!
Hambirrao : That is not for us stewards to judge, Annaji! But why is Rani Saheb so angry?
Moropant : She is adamant that Shambhu Raje be punished.
Annaji : And she is absolutely right! It is a well established precedent under law. Under the law,
men lose their limbs for such crimes, so then–
[Just then, the doors of the Queen’s Chambers open, and Shivaji Maharaj and Rani Saheb
emerge. Both seem worked up]
Soyarabai : Fine! Order an investigation, but then you cannot back out if his guilt is established
beyond any doubt.
Shivaji : (irritated) Enough! Enough! You’ve gone too far, Rani Saheb! If only you had shut your
mouth for a while, showed some faith, we would’ve cleared up this mess ourselves.
Soyarabai : (Adamantly) Why should we shut up? It reflects on us too. We are entitled to speak
out.
Shivaji : But who has taken away your right to speak, Rani Saheb! All we are saying is that, if
these allegations are true, we will not spare Shambhu Raje. If required, we will sentence him to
be flung off the cliffs at Takmak point. Would that make you happy? Pant, summon Shambhu
Raje.
Soyarabai : Wait! Not only Shambhu Raje. Summon Princess Yesubai as well. This should
serve her right – that brat thinks she’s above us all.
Shivaji : So you are going to humiliate her, too?
Soyarabai : Why should we have to humiliate her? The outside world is already doing that. We
are only saying that the princess must also be held accountable.
Shivaji : You want her to be accountable for the sins of her husband, our son? What a twisted
mind you have! With what face will we ask her for an explanation? No, that won’t happen. Pant,
you are to summon only Shambhu Raje.
[Moropant takes leave and exits. Maharaj, as per habit, walks to the arches and gazes outside
with a hand on the pillar! A brief, awkward silence follows. Then–]
Shivaji : Hambir–
Hambirrao : Yes, your highness–
Shivaji : When did you come to know of the Prince’s misdeeds?
Hambirrao : As we were on your way back from Karnataka, My Lord.
Shivaji : Then why did you not tell us right then?

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Hambirrao : I’m sorry, your highness, but I felt that there was a lot of innuendo, speculation and
gossip. But I could not find any concrete evidence or witnesses.
Shivaji : (deep in thought) Hmmm! We are in the same boat! No corroboration, no reliable
proof, no witnesses.
Soyarabai : (Angrily) Proof! Proof? When we gave our own word! This is the lack of faith that
you–
Shivaji : (Turns angrily) Rani Saheb, Rani Saheb, this is not about you. The life of a young boy
hangs in the balance. (His anger turns into anguish) Who do we believe? What do we believe?
According to you, Rani Saheb, when these women came up to the fort for the festival, the prince
was lying in wait and forced the girl into his chambers. However, Janardan Pant testified under
oath that even though the prince kidnapped her, he did not lay a finger on her or misbehave in
any way. Moropant here and Balaji Avji say that the girl and the prince had been having an affair
for a very long time – that he would sometimes leave the Fort in the dead of night and ride all
the way to Raigadwadi to spend the night with her; Some say this, some say that. But no one
actually saw anything; there was no inquiry. We know only this – that poor girl is dead and now
we are on the funeral pyre, burning in disgrace!
Soyarabai : There is no smoke without fire.
Annaji : And everyone is unanimous on this one point – that Shambhu Raje was somehow
involved. No one else has been implicated. In all my life, I have neither seen such a scandal nor
seen news of a scandal spread like wildfire this way.
Hambirrao : You couldn’t be more mistaken, Annaji. No news spreads like bad news. It does
not take long for even saints to be defamed if they have enemies within their fold.
Shivaji : But Hambir, why should the prince have enemies, and within our household? Why
such animosity, such bitterness against him? Why such crookedness?
Soyarabai : You will spend your whole life talking. Your nature is to doubt everything and
everyone. You refuse to trust even those closest to you. Then–
Shivaji : (Outraged) Rani Saheb, You said it once, and we let it go – but we warn you – we will
not tolerate such an accusation again. We are not suspicious by nature! We have never shown
a lack of faith in our people. That is not our way. That is not what Maa Saheb taught us.
(hesitates for a moment, becomes contemplative) We even trusted the Khan, every step of the
way, right up until he had us locked in a chokehold and brought out his knife. We even dealt with
Alamgir himself in complete good faith right up until he had us placed under house arrest in
Agra. When men become unfaithful, betray us, that is when we finally draw our tigerclaws.
(passionately) Hambir, do you remember that day? We disemboweled Afzal Khan with these
hands, stabbed him with our concealed tigerclaws. We got away, saved ourselves, why? To see
this day? To see our own son disgrace us like this? To hear these hurtful words that Rani Saheb
just flung at us?
Hambirrao : (shocked) Your Highness–
Shivaji : (agitated) Someone has cursed us, Hambir. Today, our own son wields a tigerclaw
against us.

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[Overwhelmed, the Maharaj turns his back and bows in anguish. Just then, Moropant and
Shambhu Raje enter. They bow their hands and stand before Shivaji. A tense silence follows,
which is broken by Hambirrao as he quietly approaches Shivaji and says–]
Hambirrao : Maharaj, Shambhu Raje is here.
Shivaji : (Gets a hold of himself, but does not turn around) Prince–
Sambhaji : Yes, Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : It has been two days since you returned from Shringarpur.
Sambhaji : Yes, Aba Saheb. We came here thrice to see you, but–
Shivaji : But we did not grant you an audience.
Sambhaji : Yes, Aba Saheb.
Shivaji : Do you know why we refused to see you, prince?
[Shambhu Raje says nothing. Maharaj continues–]
Shivaji : I have a question for you, prince. Answer wisely. What punishment should we mete out
to a criminal who forces himself on a virgin or a married woman?
Sambhaji : If the crime is proved, the law decrees only one punishment, Aba Saheb – death!
The guilty must be thrown off the highest cliffs of the Fort!
Shivaji : And if the accused is high-born, a nobleman?
Sambhaji : Justice is blind, Your Highness. It weighs only the crime, not the criminal – that is
the law you have laid down, Aba Saheb!
Shivaji : (Turning to Shambhu Raje) Then Shambhu Raje, we turn to you. You are the accused!
A complaint, with allegations of grave misconduct on your part, has been lodged in our court.
Sambhaji : We are willing to have this complaint heard in open court, Aba Saheb!
Shivaji : Indeed, that is now inevitable. But I think before that, you owe us an explanation – as
our son.
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, I tried to meet you thrice exactly for this reason … to provide you an
explanation. But you slammed your door in our face.
Shivaji : You do not understand our state of mind yet, prince. Perhaps when you too become a
father and one day, god forbid, have to demand an explanation from your adult son, about his
grave misconduct … Perhaps then, you will appreciate what we are going through.
Sambhaji : God forbid, if such misfortune indeed befalls us, we are sure of one thing … that we
will not turn away our adult son from our doorstep, if he comes to us seeking counsel.
Shivaji : What did you expect we would do, prince?
Sambhaji : We returned to Raigad of our own volition, before you could summon us. We came
here to give you an explanation in person. Considering all this, surely you agree that we at least
are not cowardly or evasive.
Shivaji : I was sure of that, son, which is why I stand here, with my head still held high. But
prince, I will need an explanation.
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Sambhaji : We are not afraid of the consequences. What we do care about is our reputation,
our dignity. We only seek an opportunity to lay the truth of the matter before you. But Aba
Saheb, before that you must agree to this one request we make.
Shivaji : What is your request?
Sambhaji : I will state my side of the case only before you. And no one else.
Shivaji : (Surprised) What do you mean?
Sambhaji : I request that you ask Maa Saheb and these gentlemen of the court to leave us
alone.
Shivaji : And why should we do that?
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, only you have the right to pass judgement on our character.
Shivaji : As the Chhatrapati?
Sambhaji : No, as our father!
Shivaji : Hambir Rao, Pant, Annaji … you’ve known them all your life … you’ve grown up under
their care. They are all strangers to you then, prince?
Sambhaji : These same people who raised us, are today more than willing to throw us off a
cliffside, your highness.
Shivaji : Why would they be your enemies, prince?
Sambhaji : That is best known to them.
Shivaji : And your Maa Saheb? Your own mother?
Sambhaji : Not ours. She is Ram Raje’s mother!
Shivaji : (incensed) Prince–
Sambhaji : Forgive us, Aba Saheb! We spoke too freely about Maa Saheb!
Shivaji : Prince, your request is denied. The accusations against you are public. Your defense
must also be public.
Sambhaji : But Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : … And insulting the Rani Saheb and the Ministers certainly will not help your cause
one bit. Don’t forget that you are the Crown Prince.
Sambhaji : This means you want an explanation from us in your capacity as the Chhatrapati?
And all we are to you is the Crown Prince of the realm.
Shivaji : As the Chhatrapati? Prince, The Chhtrapati has no life, no duty other than that of
Chhatrapati.
Sambhaji : Then we have been thoroughly deceived!
Shivaji : Deceived? How?
Sambhaji : We came to you with such great hopes, sire. We had an unshakeable faith that,
even if the whole world turned against us, you would still stand by our side firmly, hard as a rock.

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Perhaps, as fathers do, you would grab us by the collar, shake us up, demand from us,
“Shambhu, son, my lad, what mess have you landed yourself in?”
Shivaji : (anguished) Prince–
Sambhaji : If the elder Maa Saheb had been here, this is what she would have done. We miss
her, Aba Saheb! We miss her terribly!
Shivaji : Prince–
Sambhaji : The day you were crowned Chhatrapati, Aba Saheb, was the day we were
orphaned.
Shivaji : Son, we only seek what is best for you!
Sambhaji : Maharaj – We are ready to face your justice!
[Formally, stiffly salutes Shivaji with a Mujra, turns and leaves]
Shivaji : Prince, Son … How can I convince this mad boy?
Moropant : The prince should not have made such a vulgar display.
Annaji : Now, your highness, will you blame us ministers if tomorrow, the Council of Ministers
were to pass a resolution declaring that Shabhu Raje’s continuation in the post of Crown Prince
poses a threat to the realm?
[Maharaj sits down with his hand to his forehead, distraught]
Soyarabai : Now all that remains is for all of us to fall at Shambhu Raje’s feet. Once that is
done, we can all–
Hambirrao : (harshly) Tai – it will be better if you left us alone now.
Soyarabai : (angrily) I’m going. If our own flesh and blood, our very own brother begins to put
us down like this, then why should we hang about?
[Soyarabai leaves in a huff. Hambir Rao signals to Annaji and Moropant that the two should
leave as well. The two perform the Mujra and exit. Maharaj still sits, worried. Only Hambirrao
remains with him. After a while–]
Shivaji : Hambir–
Hambirrao : Yes, your highness–
Shivaji : We no longer understand. Are our very words poisoned or have we done some
unforgivable wrong to this boy?
Hambirrao : When the prince came to meet you, sire, you should not have spurned him!
Shivaji : Yes, we see that now. We never lose our balance. But for our own son to be accused
of such a heinous crime … something we have despised all our life, which disgusted us even as
a child? No, Hambir, even the thought of it makes my stomach churn.
Hambirrao : Let me remind your highness, the prince is innocent until proven guilty, beyond
reasonable doubt.
Shivaji : Yes, and this is why we were so restrained and reserved when we spoke to the prince.

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Hambirrao : Yes, you did not say anything out of place, Maharaj.
Shivaji : But clearly, the prince did not take it well.
Hambirrao : That is true, your highness, but–
Shivaji : (begins pacing the room) The prince and I – we are estranged, Hambir. We could not
fathom his mind. He could not understand our words. This wound – it runs too deep. (sits down,
resignedly)
Hambirrao : Maharaj, I suggest you postpone any investigation of this matter, at least for now.
Shivaji : And do what?
Hambirrao : Why not send the prince to Sajjangad for a few days – place him under the care of
his holiness, the Samartha Rāmadāsa Swāmi? When tempers calm down, it will be easier for us
to revisit this issue with a clear heart.
Shivaji : Hmm! (contemplatively) Hambir–
Hambirrao : Yes, sire–
Shivaji : The prince, just now, said he had been orphaned, did he not?
Hambirrao : Yes, your highness–
Shivaji : He said the elder Maa Saheb would have understood him, if she had been here today,
did he not?
Hambirrao : Yes, he did say that, but–
Shivaji : Did you understand his meaning? (Hambirrao says nothing. Maharaj again gets up
and begins pacing back and forth) Hambir, we never received any love from our father when we
were a child.
Hambirrao : That is what I have been told, your highness!
Shivaji : But our Maa Saheb – she never let us feel that our father was absent. She was our
mother and she was also our father! (After a pause) When Shambhu Raje’s mother passed
away, he was not even two years old–
Hambirrao : But the elder Maa Saheb had a great fondness for her grandson and–
Shivaji : (Stopping) But Maa Saheb always warned us – “A mother cannot be replaced by
another mother. Only the father can fill her absence.” We abdicated our duty as a father. We
could not fill the absence of his mother. We failed to give him the love he needed.
Hambirrao : You did not have time from your responsibilities of ruling this realm, your highness.
Shivaji : That is why, only we are to blame. But nature is unforgiving. We must face the
consequences of our mistake.
Hambirrao : Maharaj–
Shivaji : (Stops, resolutely–) We agree with your advice, Hambir Rao. Send word to the prince.
He is to make haste to Parali and await further orders. He is to submit himself under the service
of His Holiness, the Samartha.
Hambirrao : (Performs a mujra) As you wish, your highness–
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Shivaji : And inform the princess – (hesitates) – No, you may go. We inflicted this wound, now
we must heal it. The prince may be estranged from us, but the princess – she is made of sterner
stuff, she knows our mind. She is now our only hope…
[Hambirrao leaves. The Maharaj lingers for a while in a contemplative mood as he gazes
through the balcony. Then, with heavy feet, he leaves the room]
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Act Two

Scene Two
[The same palace, later in the day. A few hours have passed. The afternoon sun has begun to
dim and the evening is approaching. Shambhu Raje enters, still furious, seemingly intent on
leaving the fort. Yesubai follows, as she tries to console him–]
Yesubai : But won’t your highness listen to what we have to say–
Sambhaji : No more! We’ve had enough! We lingered here so far only on your account.
Yesubai : But do you at least believe that your well-being is all we care about?
Sambhaji : We no longer believe in anything or anyone.
Yesubai : When we were married, our destinies were also intertwined – you seem to have
forgotten this, but we have not.
Sambhaji : If that were true, you would have blindly followed us wherever we went.
Yesubai : But–
Sambhaji : At least you would not have given us such rotten advice.
Yesubai : That’s not true – we only relayed the message that your father, his highness the
Maharaj gave us.
Sambhaji : You did not stop at that. You said you also agreed with this idea of sending the two
of us to Parali, in the service of the Samartha.
Yesubai : But weren’t you the one who asked us to speak freely? So we did only what you
asked – we spoke our mind … was that wrong?
Sambhaji : Ha! The reality is – Aba Saheb has punished us, and knowing we would perhaps
defy him, you indirectly endorsed his orders.
Yesubai : Now this is your own imagination. Haven’t we asked you to take us to Sajjangad
many times before this?
Sambhaji : The very sky is crashing down on us. Surely you must realize this is not the time to
fulfill some long unfulfilled desire of yours.
Yesubai : Your highness, just hear yourself – what are you saying? Serving his holiness, the
Samartha, is a punishment?
Sambhaji : (sarcastically) Oh no! It’s a great honour! Why stop here, though? Drape us in the
saffron shawls of a fakir and we can go door to door, singing songs and begging for alms.
Yesubai : You should not have such contempt for holy men, for the saints, for spirituality.
Sambhaji : (angrily) You don’t have to tell us that – we know. But you seem to not comprehend
that this holy retreat has not been arranged for our spiritual growth. We are being banished –
plain and simple. We have been checkmated by the Council of Ministers and the bureaucracy.
Yesubai : But that does not answer our question. Why would his highness send you to
Sajjangad if he had intended to banish you?
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Sambhaji : If only we had been taken up to the cliffs, to be flung off, we would have readily
accepted our fate. But they did not have the guts to do that. (Agitated) You have forgotten, but
our old wounds still fester! Our birthright was the command of Raigad in the absence of the
Maharaja. But the Ashta Pradhāna conspired to take away what was rightfully ours. They
cunningly lured His Highness into dispatching us to far away Prabhāvali. We still swallowed this
humiliation, only because you asked us to.
Yesubai : But, just for that–
Sambhaji : Now when Maa Saheb stuffs his ears with these new lies, he takes away our
Subhedari and dispatches us to Sajjangad. Why should we heed your advice once more and
again wallow in this disgrace?
Yesubai : We had resolved to never mention this ever again, but you leave us with no choice.
Sambhaji : But, princess–
Yesubai : You came to us first, to unburden yourself, to tell us everything that transpired with an
open heart; You showed faith in us! For that, we felt blessed. But did you not think that in the
eyes of the world, your conduct was also worthy of reprobation?
Sambhaji : No! No! No! We did nothing wrong. We never shirked from taking responsibility for
what happened. The girl...I would have defended her honour with my life. If only she had shown
a little courage, if she had met me halfway, if she had only extended her hand, I would have
taken on the entire world for her sake. (anguished) But that was not to be! She chose to take
her own life and left us all alone, to deal with the aftermath, in disgrace.
Yesubai : You cannot always ask for the moon, and leap towards it, putting everything at stake?
Those who must walk on the ground cannot be enemies with the soil. Don’t you think you
should at least pay some heed to tradition and custom?
Sambhaji : We are to be crowned King. And Kings, in their majesty, decide the customs, and
make traditions. Our subjects were unwilling to accept converts who wanted to return to the
Hindu fold. Did not Maharaj compel them to be accepted back through the ritual of purification?
Did not Maharaj defy the power of the Brahmins and bring Gāgābhatta all the way from Kāshi to
supervise his coronation?
Yesubai : (resignedly) Perhaps the planets themselves have aligned against you. Why else
would your heart become so twisted?
Sambhaji : You are right! The planets are indeed aligned against us. And not just today. Since
we were born. Our birth mother left us in the crib. We lost our elder Maa Saheb just when we
were finding our feet. And Aba Saheb – he has only been an absentee father.
Yesubai : Why do you say this? Why do you imagine His Highness does not love you?
Sambhaji : Imagine? You think we are imagining this? Princess, you are high-born, from a
noble house. You were raised in a happy home, by your loving parents. As Aba Saheb's darling
daughter-in-law, you have presided over Raigad in great pomp and prestige! You do not know
the story of our orphaned childhood! All we have known since we can remember is to fear the
fire in Aba Saheb's glare! His intimidating silence is carved into our conscience! His majesty, his
throne, his royal seal burns into our insides! (disturbed by his past memories) When we recall

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the time of our escape from Agra, our head starts to spin, our stomach churns. (pauses, and
with a faraway look, begins to remember) We see ourselves … an eight-year-old boy, as he
runs for his life, day and night … through forest, and over hill … following his father. His body
burning up with fever, blisters on the soles of his feet … but he doesn’t even wince, or complain.
They take refuge, overnight, at Mathura, in the house of a Brahmin. At midnight, as the party
huddles together in conference, Niraji Pant advises the king, “Maharaj, you must leave the boy
behind and make a run for it! That is the only way you can return safely!” Below the floorboards,
in the basement, the fever-struck boy, in his delirium, overhears these words and stumbles
upstairs, somehow; He grabs tightly onto the maharaja's waistcoat … breaks down and pleads,
“Aba Saheb, Aba Saheb, don’t leave us behind. Promise you won’t leave us all alone,
please…take us with you!” Aba Saheb does not say a word. With a steely grip, he pries the boy
away from himself, and with only his index finger, points towards the basement. The boy is
distraught. He has walked hundreds of miles without a word of complaint, but this is when his
feet give away from under him. Maharaj leaves that night. Without seeing him again, without a
word. (Pausing for a moment) Princess, I again ask you, what would you have thought of us if
we had treated our own first-born son like this?
Yesubai : We understand your pain…the wound that is in your heart. But you should also
consider–
Sambhaji : We should consider His perspective…that he is, after all, a King – the Chhatrapati!
Isn’t that what you were about to say? This is what we told ourselves all these years. This is
how we deceived ourselves. There is a crack in the foundations, somewhere deep, and it
cannot be breached. (Stopping) We have said too much! But I ask you, please do not, ever
again, regale us with stories of His Highness's love for us! We admit – we may be wrong. Maybe
no one is to blame, perhaps it’s only our misfortune that we were destined to be born in this
palace. If we had been masters of our own fate, we would have happily preferred to be born
even in a lowly peasant’s hut. Then, just like the rest of the world, we too would have been
devotees of His Highness, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We too would have heartily sung the
ballads written in his glory! Our poor parents would have taken the greatest delight in even our
most insignificant endeavors. At least no one would have lectured us about our great legacy.
Those closest to us would not have made us feel inadequate and small at every step. Today a
tsunami rises behind us and yet we– we are drowning, in a dark corner, at the very bottom, in
only a mouthful of water! (resolutely) That is it! We have decided. We must leave Raigad. We
must leave this prison!
Yesubai : But if you leave Raigad, where else will you go?
Sambhaji : Somewhere beyond this realm. In the open fields, under the clear sky. Wherever
there is room for our sword.
Yesubai : How will you forge your destiny alone, all by yourself?
Sambhaji : Why should we be alone? We shall also raise an army from the valleys and the
fields. We shall also raise our own banner. If fortune smiles on us, we shall also forge a kingdom
of ten million hona.
Yesubai : By allying with the Mughals?

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Sambhaji : (Surprised) Allying with whom? The Mughals? What do they have to do with
anything?
Yesubai : (laughs bitterly) You have ignored our counsel many times before, but you never
deceived us like this.
Sambhaji : Deceived? How have we deceived you?
Yesubai : You never let it slip that you have been in touch with Dilerkhan…that your letters have
been reaching his camp.
Sambhaji : Not Dilerkhan – we were in touch with Prince Muazzam. You knew of our friendship
with the prince.
Yesubai : All Mughals are the same. Can an enemy ever be your friend?
Sambhaji : Our experience with the prince has been different.
Yesubai : If your highness wants to leave Raigad, you are free to go wherever you please. We
shall follow you, even in our present state. But don’t betray your father like this. Don’t stab him
in the back.
Sambhaji : (angrily) Who says I’m stabbing him in the back? The prince has promised, in
writing, that the Mughals will not touch even a sliver of Maratha territory.
Yesubai : (anguished) So you have even signed a treaty with them? Without consulting His
Highness?
Sambhaji : (flaring up) Who is he to say? This is none of his business. We are free, masters of
our own destiny. Did he ask for permission from his father, when he sought to make his own
kingdom?
Yesubai : Please, we beg of you – swear on our honor – you must not go down this path –
Sambhaji : Do not stand in our way. Only answer this – will you come with us, or no?
Yesubai : We will come with you, but on this condition – that you inform His Highness of your
plans. We will then follow you to the ends of the earth.
Sambhaji : (angrily) Never, not on our dead body! You ask that we reveal our own plans to His
Highness? What a great idea! Might as well throw ourselves in the dungeons. Do you take us
for a fool?
Yesubai : At least hear us out completely, please!
Sambhaji : Fine! If you are such a coward, you deserve to remain a slave here, on Raigad.
Good bye, we take your leave. Jai Shankar! Jai Bhavāni!
[As Shambhu Raje begins to leave, Yesubai blocks the doorway and–]
Yesubai : As long as we breathe we shall not let you join the Mughals.
Sambhaji : (Stops) We warned you once earlier … do not stand in our way. Politics is not the
realm of women. Get out of our way!
Yesubai : When His Highness asks us to explain … What shall we say to him? how shall we
even face him?

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Sambhaji : With the same face that you tried to stop us right now, you may tell him – that we
have left for Sajjangad.
Yesubai : No, no, no – don’t make us do this. Don’t make us lie.
Sambhaji : Don’t you dare reveal our plans before we reach the Mughal camp – swear on our
unborn child.
Yesubai : What a terrible oath you ask us to swear…
Sambhaji : Move aside…or you will regret it.
Yesubai : (Still obstructs his path) We won’t let you go. We would rather you kill us now, than
have us make such a vow.
Sambhaji : If we could hurt you, princess, then we would not have tried to change your mind.
After all is said and done, a woman is only a woman. Jai Shankar! Jai Bhavāni!
[Shambhu Raje shoves Yesubai aside, and leaves in a huff. Yesubai cries in pain as she
collapses and loses consciousness. Outside, the sky begins to darken…]
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Act Two

Scene Three
[The same palace, a few hours later. It is now dark – the time when the lamps should be lit.
Yesubai sits dejected, staring somewhere into space. A maid enters, lights the lamps in the
room, and leaves after making the usual salutations. Just then, Shivaji Maharaj appears at the
door, and-]
Shivaji : (Stopping at the door) Princess–
[Startled, Yesubai comes to her senses, gets up, greets his highness and stands before him]
Shivaji : (coming in) The prince seems to have left for Sajjangad. (Yesubai turns her face)
Good! Perhaps the company of his holiness will do for him what we could not. At least, we seem
to have avoided a new confrontation with him. But it would have been better if he had met us
before he left. We could have given him a word or two of advice. It now falls to you. (Yesubai
wipes away a tear) We seem to have upset you princess. Do you also believe that we wanted to
humiliate the prince? (Yesubai shakes her head, indicating ‘No’) Then why do you weep? I see!
The prince must have said something. Princess, you are wise beyond your years. You should
know – the prince is brash, impatient, but he has a good heart. He has turned his back on us.
But he holds you in high regard. Without you by his side, princess, the prince … he is all alone!
If he has hurt you we apologize on his behalf, as his father–
Yesubai : (buries her head, weeping) No, no, your highness!
Shivaji : We came to you for guidance, princess. To whom shall we go if you let us down like
this?
Yesubai : (wipes her tears) Look, your highness, we have wiped away our tears!
Shivaji : Good! You are brave, your highness. We are relying on you. You must run this
fledgling kingdom that we have built, once we are gone. We do not hold any grudge against the
prince, but we also do not have confidence in him.
Yesubai : Why do you say that, Maharaj?
Shivaji : His attitude, his thoughts are utterly alien to us! The prince is addicted to the
extravagant lifestyle and habits of the Mughal Royals. We were raised in austerity, under the
teachings of the saints. But our time is passing. We have no regrets, but princess, we worry for
the future of the realm.
Yesubai : If you lose courage, who would we look to, Maharaj?
Shivaji : We have not lost our courage, princess, but try as we may, we cannot see what the
future holds! And increasingly, we cannot bear to! We planted this seed, and nurtured it into a
mighty tree, but we now strain under its weight. And now, even the prince is estranged from us!
Yesubai : Estranged? Why do you think so, Maharaj?
Shivaji : The prince does not speak to us. He does not confide in us. He is always sulking,
angry. He isolates himself, and lets his anger fester. He does not appreciate our help; he takes it
the wrong way. He spites us. He quarrels with our confidants and consorts with our enemies. He
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goes where he shouldn't go, does what he shouldn't do! Princess, what is our crime that he
torments us like this?
Yesubai : You say so, your highness, but the prince is convinced that you do not love him – that
you haven’t loved him since he was born!
Shivaji : Why in the world would he think so?
Yesubai : We do not understand, either, your highness. Just now, in a fit of rage, he spoke of
your escape from Agra. He said that you abandoned him in Mathura – that you left him without
meeting him, without saying goodbye.
Shivaji : Princess, do you think we were heartless enough to abandon him? Do you think we
left him like cowards, to save our skins? Think about it – the Mughals were in hot pursuit; they
had their spies everywhere, looking for us. A little carelessness, one small mistake, and they
would be onto us. That night, in Mathura, the prince wrapped his arms around us. His tears
would even melt a stone heart. “Aba Saheb, don’t leave us alone!”, he pleaded. When we heard
those words, for a moment we panicked. Suddenly, the weight of the crown meant nothing. We
couldn’t abandon our boy in a strange land. We lost our resolve. Our oath – the will to build that
Hindavi Rājya meant nothing. But only for a moment. And then, the image of Raigad flashed
before our eyes. We saw the faces of the men who were ready to spill blood, to lay down their
lives on our behalf. We saw their homes on fire, destroyed. We remembered our Maa Saheb's
fierce determination, her resolute demeanor. And then we thought, it would have been simple if
only our life had been at stake. But the prince was the heir to the realm. If he fell into the
clutches of Alamgir, then the realm itself would be destroyed from the root. And so my dear
princess, only to keep the prince safe, we hardened our heart and prised away those little hands
tugging at our waistcoat. That night, we crossed the Yamuna, leaving the prince behind. Our
generals only saw our fierce resolution, but only the Yamuna river witnessed the tears of a
tormented father! (pauses in anguish, then wearily) Our boy hides his pain inside him. But why
doesn’t he open his heart to us?
Yesubai : The prince never spoke with an open heart with you and–
Shivaji : And what? Speak freely, princess!
Yesubai : The two of you never grew close. You never learned to trust each other. You also did
not acknowledge the step-motherly treatment the prince received at home. And that is why,
today–
[Overcome with grief, Yesubai buries her face in her palms]
Shivaji : (Surprised) … What? What do you know, princess? What has happened?
[Hambirrao enters, followed closely by Moropant, Annaji and Soyarabai]
Hambirrao : Calamity, your highness … Shambhu Raje has gone over to the Mughals.
Shivaji : (Sitting down) What? Are you sure, Hambirrao?
Annaji : We have just received news that the prince has reached Dilerkhan’s camp, your
highness!
Shivaji : The prince – Dilerkhan … No, no! That is impossible, Pant–

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Moropant : No, Maharaj, we have confirmed this! Bahirji himself brought us this news.
Shivaji : Princess, is this what you were going to tell us?
[Yesubai covers her face and weeps]
Soyarabai : No wonder she has clammed up now. Your crocodile tears will not earn you any
sympathy, princess.
Shivaji : (Angrily) Rani Saheb, leave her alone.
Soyarabai : Fine! You made your own bed, now lie in it.
Shivaji : Pant, send word to all the forts and garrisons! Arrest the prince on sight and bring him
to us. Annaji, block all the roads that lead to the Mughal camp, Hambirrao–
Hambirrao : As soon as we heard the news about the prince, we dispatched troops in pursuit,
Maharaj–
Annaji : We have already blocked all the roads leading to the camp, but–
Moropant : The news is that the prince has escaped through Māhuli. He may have already
reached Dilerkhan’s base.
Shivaji : This means that the Khan had already been in touch with the prince!
Yesubai : We found a letter addressed to the prince only today, but–
Shivaji : Then, princess, why did you not inform us right then?
Soyarabai : Perhaps she too was in on this. Why else would she–
Hambirrao : (warns her) Tai–
Shivaji : Poor princess, pressed on both sides–
Yesubai : (in tears) We were sworn to secrecy. His Highness made us swear on the life of our
unborn child.
Shivaji : Pant, our nightmare has come true. In the end, it was the Mughals who took our prince
from us. We were complacent and the Mughals turned our own plans against us (sits down,
resignedly) What have you done, Shambhu Raje?
Hambirrao : Now we need to focus on getting him back.
Annaji : Do you think he will return?
Moropant : Even if he wants to, the Emperor will not let him go easily.
Annaji : And even if he does return? The stench of treason cannot be washed away.
Shivaji : (Rising suddenly) Pant, Annaji, the Council of Ministers may turn its back on the crown
prince, but a father cannot abandon his son. The prince must return.
Moropant : But, your highness–
Shivaji : There is no time to waste. Bring him back – that’s an order. And if you cannot, we will
personally ride out to get him back.
[Moropant, Annaji bow and walk off, unhappily]

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Soyarabai : You ask for the impossible!
Shivaji : This is no longer your concern, Rani Saheb! And yes, our whole life we have made the
impossible possible! Now go! Do not stand in our way.
[Soyarabai leaves, fuming. Saddened and contemplative, Maharaj sits down. Yesubai is still
weeping in a corner. Hambirrao is standing next to him. After a pause–]
Hambirrao : Your highness–
Shivaji : (sadly) We conquered the world, but were defeated in our own home. Our queen has
spurned us … the both of us never grew close. Maa Saheb passed away. Our childhood friends,
our colleagues, left us. Now our own first-born – our heir – has become our sworn enemy. He
takes an axe to the root. No one can fathom what is in our heart. Nobody understands our
language. No one sees the fullness of our vision. The horizon seems still distant and our feet
are already tired halfway! Our hopes have been dashed. We are left alone. Isolated. That
resolve ... that promise ... that fervent hope ... that eagle’s flight ... (laughs sadly) It was all for
nothing! The wings of Jatāyu have been cut. And now he is left to drag himself somehow to the
horizon. No my prince, my son – it is not you, it is I who have been orphaned.
[Maharaj turns his face and wipes away a tear. Seeing this–]
Hambirrao : Your Highness – you … you have tears in your eyes?
Shivaji : Hambir, the people call us divine – a god incarnate. But in such a calamity, we are
reminded that after all, we are only flesh and blood! Only mortal!
[Maharaj fumes in anger and goes silent, then lowers his head in anguish. But only for a
moment. At the very next moment, he springs up resolutely, with a new found enthusiasm and
hope–]
Shivaji : No no, this won’t do. We cannot throw in the gauntlet. We work at the Lord’s behest!
Stand up, dearest daughter-in-law, and wipe away your tears. Do not worry. The fault lies not
with the prince, but with us. We shall not rest until we bring him back.
Hambirrao : But your highness, the prince is quite stubborn. Besides–
Shivaji : Hambir, don’t tell us about the stubbornness of the prince. We were not sixteen when
we swore an oath to establish our kingdom at the temple of Rohideshwar. We defied even old
hands such as our mentor, Dadoji Pant, but our resoluteness impressed him and he came
around. Our father disapproved of our activities, and yet we were not fazed. We eventually
convinced him, too. We won over both father and mentor with only our words, Hambir. Imagine
now, if we are fully resolved, if we summon all our might, then can we not convince our errant
son to return to our side? Jai Shankar! Jai Bhavāni!
Hambirrao : (inspired and fired up, with a new found exuberance) Jai Shankar! Jai Bhavāni!
[As Hambirrao and Yesubai stare in amazement at Maharaj’s inexhaustible optimism–]
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Act Three

Scene One
[Almost a year has passed since the events of the second act. Shaké 1601 December, (1979
CE), a morning in the latter part of the month of Mārgashirsha. A palace on Panhālagad. From
somewhere in the distance, drums can be heard from the Nagārkhānā. This is accompanied by
the harmonic chanting of the priests and the ritual ringing of bells. Momentarily, Senāpati
Hambirrao and Shambhu Raje enter. Shambhu Raje, with an agitated and sad expression,
steps inside with some trepidation and stops suddenly–]
Hambirrao : (coming in) Please come in, your highness. Maharaj knows of your impending
arrival. He ordered that you be ushered in to see him as soon as you arrived – (looks back and
is surprised that the prince has stopped mid way) Why do you linger outside, prince? Please, do
come on in, have a seat! Surely you must be worn out after riding all night?
Sambhaji : (coming forward) No, Hambirrao, physical hardship never wore us down! But now
we fear that coming here was a mistake. Perhaps we succumbed to our affection for His
Highness and his loving entreaties and were too impulsive in leaving Dilerkhan’s camp.
Hambirrao : Why do you think so? Are you afraid that His Highness will break his word and
have you arrested?
Sambhaji : (smiling sadly) Fear? Hambirrao, in our life, we’ve never feared anyone or anything.
Perhaps this lack of fear was our downfall. Why should we fear the dungeons of Panhālagad?
Wasn’t that going to be our fate, if we had remained with Dilerkhan? Even if you intercepted the
emperor’s edict, the messengers who were bringing it to Dilerkhan must have reached his camp
by now.
Hambirrao : But your highness–
Sambhaji : Hambirrao, when we came to know of the emperor’s designs, perhaps we should
have fought our way out of the camp, and not slinked away like a fugitive.
Hambirrao : With only the handful of soldiers you had with you? That would have been
madness … It would have been suicide, your highness.
Sambhaji : We would have preferred a martyr’s death, as atonement. But we would have also
avenged Dilerkhan’s betrayal of trust. The Emperor canceled our appointment as Mansabdār!
Issued an arrest warrant in our name? Ordered his troops to bring us to Delhi in chains? Such a
betrayal! (Rising) No, no, Hambirrao, don't stop us now. We shall go back, and return to
Panhāla only after our vengeance is complete–
Hambirrao : (Stopping him) Your highness, prince – Why are you bent on annihilation?
Sambhaji : This is not annihilation, Hambirrao, this is self destruction. We have decided to
sacrifice ourselves to avoid annihilation.

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Hambirrao : Your highness, think of your father, what he would go through–
Sambhaji : We are fully aware of that. But Hambirrao, will you let Aba Saheb know that we
never coveted the throne and never will? We are happy to resign as Crown Prince to make way
for Ram Raje.
Hambirrao : Your highness–
Sambhaji : Our quarrel is not with Aba Saheb, not with Maa Saheb, not with Ram Raja. The
Council of Ministers despises us. The Ministers of the Council have relentlessly conspired
against us. But still, we bear no hostility against them either. At least today, we have no
animosity towards them.
Hambirrao : (Confused) So prince, who are you fighting, and for what?
Sambhaji : Our quarrel is with ourselves. We are battling our own ambition. We fight our own
cruel fate that seeks to undermine us at every step. We struggle with the curse of loneliness.
We battle our misfortune, which in spite of our illustrious birth, reduces us to this pathetic state.
Hambirrao : (Surprised) Your Highness–
Sambhaji : (Sadly) You don't understand what we are talking about, isn’t it? Forget it,
Hambirrao. Perhaps we would have been better off not being born in the home of a mighty,
noble and charismatic king like Aba Saheb. At least he would not have had to suffer this pain
and indignity at this age, on our account. (Sits down on a seat and looks at his right palm)
Hambirrao, these accursed lines on our palm shout out our fate – a fate of torment and pain.
The torment that is the reward of a sinner and a criminal. And to those around us, to them falls
only suffering, indignity and pain!
[While Shambhu Raje is speaking, Shivaji Maharaj comes in through the door, stops and listens.
As Shambhu Raje finishes his speech, he begins to weep. Maharaj pauses for a moment. In his
hand he holds some fragrant Jasmine flowers. Hambirrao is the first to notice Maharaj. He
salutes him. Maharaj gestures to him to not let the prince know of his presence. Hambirrao
approaches the prince, who has his back to him, puts his hands lightly on Shambhu Raje's
shoulders. As soon as Shambhu Raje senses his touch–]
Sambhaji : (without looking back, removing the hand on his shoulder, impulsively) No ... no –
Hambirrao, we do not deserve your love. We– (Looks up. Hambirrao only points with his finger.
As he sees Shivaji–) Aba Saheb?
Shivaji : (smelling the flowers in his hand, coming forward) We were in the temple, praying to
the Goddess, when we were informed of your arrival. As we were coming out after completing
the pooja, we saw these Jasmines sprinkled on the doorstep. We thought, perhaps we should
take these holy offerings of the Goddess to you. Hold out your hands, prince.
[Shambhu Raje bows down and touches His Highness’ feet and then holds out his palms. That's
when Maharaj says with a slight smile–]
Shivaji : Prince, you love the sweet smell of the Queen of Night flower. See if you like this pure
fragrance of the Jasmine, if only as a change of taste. The saffron stalk of these flowers, the
white tender petals, will remind you of your elder Maa Saheb. Here, take them (gives them to

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Shambhu Raje) Smell their fragrance (As Shambhu Raje inhales the fragrance–) May their
essence give you the gifts of clarity of mind and purity of sight.
[Shambhu Raje takes the flowers and meets his eyes. His eyes well up–]
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, we have sinned. We abdicated our duties as a son. We could not
uphold the dignity of the post of Crown Prince.
Shivaji : (Raising him) Arise, prince. When we were your age, we also clashed with our father in
the hope of realizing our dreams; Now, in our old age, we were fated to clash with our son to
safeguard the same dream. My boy, what have you done to yourself? What have you done?
Sambhaji : (ashamed, lowers his head) Aba Saheb, it was our fault. We accept all our sins. We
are ready to face the punishment we deserve.
Shivaji : How easy it would have been to get rid of all the entanglements of life by ordering and
suffering through punishment. Who are we to punish anyone, anyway? Only the Lord above,
who is the ultimate arbiter of fates, can punish – you prince, for your misconduct and us, for
abdicating our royal duties. You had to endure shameful insults in the Mughal camp and we had
to bear the disgrace of seeing our son, the Chhatrapati's son, the Yuvaraj, being snatched away
by the Mughals in front of the whole world.
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, we are all to blame for all that happened, what do you blame yourself
for?
Shivaji : Shambhu Raje, at the siege of Bhupālgad, Dilerkhan cut off the limbs of seven
hundred innocents. After that, the army sacked Āthani, looted the bazaars, raped women, killed
wantonly. All of this, in your name. The fingers of those hands they cut off point at us, and they
ask us the same question day and night, “Sire, for this very crime you have ordered men to lose
their limbs; ordered traitors to be thrown off the cliffs. Then why did you make an exception
when Shambhu Raje was convicted of a crime?” (Pauses) Speak, Shambhu Raje, do you have
an answer to this question?
[Shambhu Raje bows his head. Maharaj looks at him for a moment and then–]
Shivaji : Prince, we are sorry. We had to make an example of you, as an exception. Because
you are the Crown Prince. You are the heir to the throne. Someday, after we are gone, you will
occupy it in our stead.
Sambhaji : (impulsively) No, no ... Aba Saheb, we don't want the throne, we don't seek power.
We throw ourselves at your mercy. We will happily eat milk-rice and live under your benevolent
shelter.
Shivaji : Wake up, prince, open your eyes. The days of eating milk-rice and living under our
shelter are over. Your childhood has passed. Even if you ask for it, no one will be able to give it
back to you, and you will not be spared the responsibility of becoming Chhatrapati. Embrace
your destiny and win the hearts of the people through your actions.
Sambhaji : Your command is sacrosanct, sire.
Shivaji : The Mughal way is different – their sons battle it out for the throne, even while the
father is alive. The history of the Mughal throne is a history of deception, murder and fratricide.
Yes, the throne of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is also made of gold and gemstones. But why did
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it take us so many years to collect the gems and thirty-two mana of gold? If only gold and gems
made a kingdom, even thugs and burglars would have been enthroned in their dark caves. Isn't
that true, prince?
Sambhaji : Yes Aba Saheb.
Shivaji : Prince, you should know that the Chhatrapati's throne is not made, it takes birth in the
hearts of the people, there it grows and only by the will of the people does a king occupy it. It is
our dream that you be such a ‘king’ – a ruler of people’s hearts.
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb, we are truly blessed to hear these words that are worth their weight in
gold. Before this day, we caused you nothing but sorrow and suffering. But henceforth, we shall
spend the rest of our life seeking only your happiness.
Shivaji : If that happens, then that would indeed be the grace of Goddess Bhavāni. But you still
have a long way to go. The way back is long and hard. There is much you have destroyed. You
have hurt many … Now, your future depends on how well you endure adversity and how you
bring people together, wisely.
Sambhaji : Yes Aba Saheb, we realize that now. We beg you to give us a second chance.
Shivaji : (begins pacing the room with hands folded behind his back) Yes. You deserve a
second chance. And you must get it. You will get it. The Council of Ministers will not defy us if
we order it. But, we must give them one assurance on your behalf. Prince, we have many
enemies. Just because you have escaped from the clutches of one Dilerkhan, do not
complacently assume the coast is clear. You will be shown newer, different lures and
temptations, and when that happens–
Sambhaji : No, no, Aba Saheb, what happened once will never happen again. We understand
fully now that whether it be the Pātshāhi of the Mughals or the Pātshāhis of Bijāpur or
Bhāgānagar, our value to them is nothing more but that of a treasonous fool. That is why, Aba
Saheb, with only a word from you, we surrendered ourselves to you, out of shame and
embarrassment. (Suddenly, his eyes well up again and he falls at Shivaji's feet) Please, Aba
Saheb, just this once … place your faith in us … give us one more chance!
Shivaji : (overcome with emotion, for the first time) Faith! Dear prince, what else can a father do
besides believing in his son? We leave for Raigad today placing our faith in you. Prince, think
deeply on our words to you. Burn them into your very soul.
Sambhaji : Yes, yes, Aba Saheb.
Shivaji : Now, prince, you must be very tired, go get some rest. We shall meet again. There is
much to talk about. A lot of ground we must cover.
Sambhaji : (takes his leave) As you wish, Aba Saheb.
[Just as he is leaving]
Shivaji : Prince – (as Shambhu Raje spins around–) We cannot help but give you one final
word of warning. Never, ever again let yourself fall into the clutches of Ālamgir through your own
complacence or negligence.
Sambhaji : (comes forward) Aba saheb–

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Shivaji : Twice now you have stepped on the tail of that serpent and escaped from his hold –
but prince, if he ever again finds you in his grasp, remember, Aba Saheb will not be there to
rescue you again.
Sambhaji : But, Aba Saheb–
Shivaji : (Raises his hand) Prince, only remember what I have told you … and now you are free
to go. The princess awaits you.
[Shambhu Raje leaves]
Hambirrao : (overwhelmed) Your highness, I cannot comprehend – is your heart as hard as a
diamond or as soft as a flower?
Shivaji : Is our heart like a diamond or like a flower? (Laughs) Hambir, let's save that question
for later. For now, in two days we will march to Raigad. Send word to Janārdan Pant. Tell him –
until we return, Shambhu Raje is to stay here, on Panhāla Fort, with our daughter-in-law. Ask
him to keep an eye on both of them. They are not in custody; but he must keep a close eye on
them, nonetheless.
Hambirrao : (surprised) Maharaj … What do you mean?
Shivaji : We only mean, Hambir, that as far as the prince is concerned, we will not leave
anything to chance.
[Hambirrao performs the Mujra and leaves. Darkness slowly descends as Shivaji Maharaj is lost
in thought, looking up from the arch at the scene beyond]
Curtain

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Act Three

Scene Two
[The same palace on Raigad that was seen in Act I. About two-and-a-half months have passed
since the events of the previous scene. An evening in Shaké 1602 (1680 CE), March, Chaitra
Shuddha Paksha. Maharani Soyarabai enters, followed by Annaji Dutto and Moropant]
Annaji : Whatever you may say Pant, but it was not right that the Maharaj blamed us in the
whole Shambhu Raje affair. I was greatly offended and hurt, personally. All my years of faithful
service counted for nothing.
Moropant : No, No, you misunderstood his highness. He only meant that–
Soyarabai : That we did not show kindness to the prince – right? His lordship may say this
freely. We know all about that. That's why we have sent off that royal headache far away to
Panhāla.
Annaji : We anticipated that Shambhu Raje would return to Raigad again, using the pretext of
Ram Raja's marriage and–
Soyarabai : Oh yes, of course – but before that, we would have had to formally invite him,
right? His lordship, of course, was insistent, but we warned him – “If the Prince sets foot on
Raigad, we swear we will not touch even a single drop of water”. That finally shut him up.
Annaji : Pant, we hear that the Maharaj has placed Shambhu Raje under house arrest at
Panhāla, is it true?
Moropant : Not in actual custody, but Janārdan Pant has been asked to keep a close eye on
the prince's movements. That is what we heard His Highness say.
Annaji : Of late, we find it difficult to understand what's going on in his mind. Maharaj seems to
not yet trust the prince completely, but cannot cut him off either.
Moropant : Rani Saheb, why did His Highness leave for Sajjangad again just now?
Soyarabai : For an audience with the Samartha, what else? He is weary of these worldly cares,
isn't he? So now he seeks refuge in spirituality.
Moropant : But when the Maharaj left, he was running a fever. You should have stopped him,
Rani Saheb.
Soyarabai : We tried to, but does he listen to us?
Moropant : It seems to me that his health has worsened since the Jālnā campaign.
Soyarabai : Shouldn't he act his age now? He has been complaining about fever for many days
now, but still he refuses to rest or to take his medicine. The minute he feels a little better, off he
goes!
Annaji : There is no doubt that His Highness suffered a lot on account of the Shambhu Raje
affair.
Moropant : I say, all's well that ends well. Shambhu Raje was contrite, he returned. He
reconciled with Maharaj. There the matter ends.
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Soyarabai : You are deluded, Pant! In a few months, when the prince is fully rehabilitated, that
is when he will show his true colours.
Moropant : I am not saying that is not possible, but–
Annaji : Oh, you will see it is possible, Pant! Most certainly so. I am willing to bet – in the next
six months, if the prince does not instigate another crisis on the Fort, I–
[The same instant, a horn is blown and an announcement is heard.]
Moropant : (hurriedly) Not now! It seems His Highness has returned to the fort.
[The same instant, a frightened Rajaram comes running and–]
Rajaram : Maa Saheb ... Maa Saheb ... something has happened to Aba Saheb.
Soyarabai : (panicking) Oh no … Where is he? Pant – Annaji–
Moropant : That is what we tried to tell him … to not travel when he had a fever. Where is his
highness?
Rajaram : He is on his way here. On our way up, twice he felt dizzy while climbing the fort.
Soyarabai : Then for heaven's sake, prince, why did you not call for a palanquin to carry His
Highness?
Rajaram : We did ask for one – but Aba Saheb–
Annaji : Here is His Highness, himself.
[Shivaji Maharaj enters slowly, supported by two stewards. As he enters, Maharaj pushes the
stewards away and says - "No, no, there is no need to help us in. We have climbed all the steps
of the fort by ourselves. Now we don't need help walking inside our own home. Thank you lads,
we feel much better now. You may go!" Moropant, Annaji and Rajaram run to his aid.]
Shivaji : Hey hey, why are you all making this fuss?
Soyarabai : Why work yourself to death like this, we ask you?
Shivaji : (laughs) We see, so Ram Raje ran ahead and ratted on us, did he?
Moropant : You should have at least called for a palanquin!
Annaji : If you had only sent word from Pāchad, I would have come personally to fetch you.
[Maharaj comes in and sits down]
Shivaji : But why? All that happened is we caught too much sun while we were running a fever.
Soyarabai : But why ride around in the first place when you are clearly not well? Surely your
audience with the Samartha could have waited until you were fully recovered?
Shivaji : You have been with us for so many years, but Rani Saheb, you have not understood
how our mind works. Politics is like the water on the river. Our heart was never fixated on it.
Circumstances made us the King here on Raigad Fort, but in truth, our heart always lingered in
the vicinity of Sajjangad. Besides, there is no other medicine like Samartha's voice. (Laughs)
Forget it – this is not your domain, Rani Saheb!
Soyarabai : But why ride relentlessly back and forth in the heat? A little break–

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Shivaji : Indeed, I was planning to stay at Sajjangad for a week, but then I got wind that the
Mughal forces had again raided and set fire to some outposts inside our territory.
Rajaram : Maa Saheb, a detachment of Mughals was after us on our way back.
Soyarabai : A detachment of Mughals behind you? Dear lord!
Shivaji : Nothing remarkable. For thirty-six years we have gone about with the enemy at our
heels.
Soyarabai : But surely you are not the same man you were thirty six years ago?
Shivaji : Of course, we wanted to turn around and face them head on but–
Moropant : With only your royal guard? Madness!
Shivaji : But we did not, only because Ram Raje was with us.
Soyarabai : Well, thankfully good sense prevailed in the end!
Shivaji : (mischievously) Perhaps you should experience it for yourself, Rani saheb. We mean
… this thing you just mentioned, about ‘letting good sense prevail’ …
[Soyarabai gets flustered. Just as she is about to say something back in anger, Annaji makes a
sign and silences her. Seeing this, Maharaj laughs and says–]
Shivaji : Annaji, let Rani Saheb speak her mind freely. Our armour is still strong enough to bear
her blows.
Annaji : (going pale) It's not like that, Maharaj, it's just that … because you are tired, from your
journey–
Shivaji : Oh, This is nothing unusual. Jagdamba! Jagdamba! Bring us some water!
[Soyarabai goes inside. Then approaching Raja Rama]
Shivaji : Pant, you will be happy to know … our lion cub is now ready! You should have seen
him going toe to toe with his holiness, the Samartha!
Moropant : He is your son, your highness. Naturally–
Shivaji : Well, we do not say this lightly or only because he is our son. But you will be amazed
to hear Ram Raje when he is in full flow.
Annaji : His maturity and wisdom is often a source of astonishment, even to us old men of the
court.
Shivaji : But isn't it a pity that the old men of the court do not seem to learn anything from him.
What do you say, Pant?
[Just then, Soyarabai enters with a jug of water. Maharaj drinks water from the jug. ‘Jagdamba!
Jagdamba!’, he exclaims. Maharaj addresses Soyarabai–]
Shivaji : We were praising the ingenuity of the prince. There is no doubt in our mind that he will
accomplish something great in the future.
Soyarabai : (caustically) What's the use of complimenting him merely verbally?

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Shivaji : (laughs) What then? One half of the kingdom when we are gone? If that is what Prince
Raja Ram wants, he will get it.
Soyarabai : Ha! If only it were that simple.
Shivaji : If you are alluding to Shambhu Raje, then we can vouch for him. You only have to ask
him for your rightful share. We guarantee you, he will not only honour your request but he will
even step down as Crown Prince the minute you ask him to.
Soyarabai : You seem to have developed a lot of faith in the prince, of late.
Shivaji : Faith? Remember that faith breeds faith, and the tree of doubt only bears the
poisonous fruit of doubt, Rani Saheb!
Annaji : Excuse me, your highness. But with your permission, may I speak a little more clearly?
Shivaji : (Laughs) Speak Annaji, speak your mind. Speak clearly, loudly, openly. Much better
than whispering and conspiring in some dark corner!
Annaji : Maharaj, if you have not yet decided the line of succession–
Shivaji : We have not decided anything yet. (Locks eyes with Annaji) What is your advice,
Annaji?
Annaji : Although Shambhu Raje has returned, to be clear, we do not trust him.
Shivaji : We understand your concern. So what do you say we do?
Annaji : Either you give Ram Raje his rightful share, or–
Shivaji : So we must divide this realm, you say. What is your advice, Pant?
Moropant : (evasively) I mean, Maharaj, the thing is–
Shivaji : Don't beat around the bush, Pant! This lack of forthrightness will be your downfall one
day!
Moropant : That's not it, sire, it's just that–
Shivaji : While advising us to divide the realm, Annaji, you do not seem to have looked into the
distant future. Have you calculated that if we divide it two ways now, how many ways will it be
divided in the generation after that? What if our realm descends into civil war once our
descendants start fighting among themselves for their rightful shares? Have you accounted for
that eventuality in your plan?
Moropant : Spoken wisely, Maharaj, I also feel very uneasy about this plan.
Annaji : Then, your highness, we have only one option left. For the sake of the future of this
realm, we firmly believe that of the two brothers, Ram Raje is most deserving of the post of
Yuvaraj.
Shivaji : If we are forced to, we may consider that option. But Annaji, Shambhu Raje deserves
one chance, at least.
Annaji : But your highness–
Shivaji : We are under no illusions. The prince does have his faults. But who here is without
blemish? Who hasn't made mistakes, Annaji?
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Annaji : It's not a question of faults and mistakes. But Maharaj, Shambhu Raje does not have
enough administrative experience, he cannot take people along, and– (hesitates)
Shivaji : Got it! You mean he does not have the maturity needed for the job? Pant, Annaji, you
should have seen the prince after his return. You would have seen a different man, one who has
been humbled by his humiliation under the Mughals. You would have witnessed, first hand, the
change in his attitude and in his thinking. For that reason alone, we wanted to bring the prince to
Raigad and–
Annaji : But Maharaj–
Shivaji : We don't mind your suspicions about the prince. But you should know that we have
never had the time at our disposal to shape his character. A child is like a lump of clay. It takes
the shape that you give it. Pant, Annaji, don't you remember how we were like, when we first
met?
Moropant : That cannot be denied, your highness, but–
Shivaji : (laughing resignedly) But! But! But! Your ‘but’s will never end and you will never
comprehend our vision. Pant, Annaji, if people only learnt how to forget with a large heart, how
many conflicts will end in an instant, no? (Laughs) But it will not happen!
Annaji : I do not fault your intent, your highness. But–
Shivaji : We are simply asking you for one chance, give the boy some time. Annaji, Pant, we
have shaped hundreds of men with these very hands. We now struggle to finish the last act of
our play. If by the grace of God, we live that long, Pant, we may yet pull off one last miracle. This
very Shambhu Raje, about whom you harbour so many doubts, we will show you how we – (just
then Maharaj becomes dizzy and faint) Jagdamba! Jagdamba! Water –
[Everyone panics. Someone brings water. Maharaj recovers for a moment. Takes a sip of water.]
Soyarabai : (touching Maharaj's forehead) Your body is burning up! Your Highness, You must
rest now.
Moropant : We can continue this conversation later, Maharaj.
Shivaji : Alas! It seems that Lord Shambhu Mahadeva will not grant our last wish.
Annaji : Maharaj, what are you talking about? I am sure this illness will pass. Why this talk of
death?
Shivaji : It is now clear why the Samartha warned us today to ‘detach ourselves from worldly
matters’. Looks like we'll have to leave this world before we can untangle this mess!
Moropant : Maharaj, if you start talking like this, who should we look to? We shall summon
every doctor from every corner of the world if need be. But–
Shivaji : (laughs) You are crazy, Pant ... Do you think that we are afraid of death? We are ready
to move our abode, once we get our marching orders. Pant, Annaji, remember what we said.
Think about it. Who knows when we will speak again. Do what you think is right, but do not
divide this land. Shri Shankar! Don't be afraid. Just a little pain in the chest.
Soyarabai : Please, your highness, no more talk. You must rest – Pant, we suggest you call
the royal surgeon, immediately.
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Moropant : We were going to suggest the same, Rani Saheb.
Shivaji : No, no – we will be fine in only a moment, (Soyarabai, not believing, hurries inside into
the inner chambers to fetch the surgeon) We would have liked to have met Shambhu Raje once
more.
Moropant : Then should we summon the prince, Maharaj?
Shivaji : No, no. The sweet boy, he will be worried sick. We have deliberately kept him occupied
in work. No, as soon as we feel better, we will go to Panhāla ourselves for a few days. Dear
Goddess Bhavāni, I pray to you … By your grace we shall not leave Shambhu Raje's fate
unresolved! Shri Shankar! Jagdamba! If only Hambirrao were here. There is still a lot that
remains to be done, Pant.
Moropant : Just tell us what you need us to do, your highness!
Shivaji : (laughs) To you? Not you, Pant. It is enough if you take care of yourself. Where is our
little princeling?
Rajaram : (Standing behind until now, steps forward) I have been here by your side, all along,
Aba Saheb.
Shivaji : Come here son, stay here with us. Place your hand in ours.
[Rajaram sits near him. He gives his hand to the Maharaja]
Shivaji : Pant, fetch all the correspondence that has piled up in our absence. Summon our
scribe, Balaji Pant. At least we can answer a few letters while we lie here.
Moropant : As you wish, your highness.
[Salutes and exits]
Shivaji : Annaji, meet all the Subhedars and Sardars who came today for an audience. Meet
them personally. It seems we will not be able to attend the court today.
Annaji : Do not worry, your highness. It will be done.
[Salutes and exits]
Shivaji : (regards Rajarama with great tenderness) Son, looks like the gods have decided to rob
you of your childhood. Did you think you would grow up slowly, gradually get to know our mind
and only then accomplish many great things? No, none of that! Prince, your father is not that
patient. You have to grow up now. You have to know our mind now. Will you grow up, prince?
Rajaram : Yes Aba Saheb.
Shivaji : And how tall will you grow? (Laughs) As tall as us? No, that will not do. You have to
grow even taller than us. You will have to achieve greater feats, and care for this realm even
more deeply than we did. But son, don't ever get greedy or covet the throne.
Rajaram : No, Aba Saheb, we will not be greedy for the throne. We promise you.
Shivaji : Will you be loyal to your brother?
Rajaram : Yes, Aba Saheb, we will obey our brother.
Shivaji : And will you … take care of him?
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Rajaram : Take care of Dada? Us? Aba Saheb, are you pulling our leg?
Shivaji : No son. Shambhu Raje is brave, he is kind – but he is also rough, he is impulsive, he
is stubborn. If someone lays a cunning trap, he is so naive that he will fall straight into it. So we
worry for him! Dear prince, we put your older brother, our son Shambhu Raje, in your care.
Rajaram : Aba Saheb, we will never leave his side. We will be his shadow. We shall protect him
with our life!
Shivaji : Bravo, son! Shree Shankar will bless you, Mother Bhavāni will give you every success.
Bravery, accomplishments – these are gifts from the Gods! They are not about the youngest or
the oldest. Lord Krishna was born after Balarāma, as the younger brother; He may have been
last but he certainly wasn't the least. He founded Dwārkā, recited the Gitā and supported the
Pāndavās – Lord Krishna did all of this, did he not?
Rajaram : Yes Aba Saheb!
Shivaji : Prince, son, think about it. We had such amazingly brave companions – Tānāji, Bāji
Prabhu, Murārbāji! All of them, greater warriors than us. If they had ever desired the post of
Chhatrapati, would they have been wrong?
Rajaram : No, Aba Saheb!
Shivaji : But they did not! They never even even dreamt of it. We were all under the same spell,
propelled by the same madness. Son, becoming a king is a matter of destiny and luck! But if a
kingdom has to stand, it must stand on the shoulders of its foot soldiers. Oh, the cramps, they
return — Jagdamba! Jagdamba!
[Again has a spell of dizziness. As Rajaram is frightened, he shouts "Maa Saheb, Maa Saheb ...
Pant, Annaji". A frightened Soyarabai enters. Moropant and Anna also follow. They sprinkle
some water on the Maharaja's forehead. He regains consciousness]
Soyarabai : We keep telling you not to speak and to get some rest. But you won't listen.
Shivaji : Don't worry. We are fine. Just a little–
Soyarabai : Now we won't leave you here for a moment longer. You must go to your bed
chamber and get some rest. The surgeon will be here soon.
Shivaji : Alright, as you wish! Mother Bhavāni though seems to have other plans for us. Shree
Hari! Shree Shankar!
[Moropant, Annaji, Soyarabai and Rajaram support Maharaj and take him inside. A sinister
darkness descends on the stage, indicating not only an impending tragedy but also a cruel
passage of time]
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Act Three

Scene Three
[As the sinister darkness, portending ominous events, fades away, the stage slowly brightens
again and the same palace is seen. Shaké 1692 (1680 CE), July, an evening in the month of
Āshādh. Much has happened during the intervening period. The throne where Maharaj used to
sit is now empty. On the other side, Shambhu Raje sits in a mournful state, slightly behind the
arch, gazing into some distant void. Yesubai and Rajaram are standing by. There is a
momentary silence. Then Maharani Yesubai approaches the incumbent King–]
Yesubai : (affectionately) Why are you so silent? How many days will you continue to mourn
like this?
Sambhaji : (still lost in thought) How many days? (with a jolt, comes to his senses) How many
days? How many days? How many days? If only time could imprison grief in a cage of hours
and days.
Yesubai : That's true, but you haven't even touched any food today.
Sambhaji : (Sadly) It will be three months since Aba Saheb passed, isn't it?
Yesubai : Even Ram Raje refuses to eat until you do.
Rajaram : (going to Shambhu Raje) Dada, are you angry with us?
[Shambhu Raje approaches Rajaram, looks at him with compassion, pats him on the back and
shakes his head, indicating “No”.]
Rajaram : (eyes welling up) We caused you grief, Dada; But we swear, Maa Saheb pulled us,
dragged us, made us sit on the throne and–
Sambhaji : No, no prince, we are not angry with you at all. We are not angry with anyone.
Yesubai : Then why are you so sad? (As Shambhu Raje lowers his head) If you unburden your
mind, you will feel better.
Sambhaji : (impulsively) No, no. No one can alleviate our grief now. We must suffer in silence
for the rest of our life. Aba saheb–
[He turns away and wipes away tears from his eyes. Seeing this, Ram Raje also starts crying.
Seeing this–]
Yesubai : How will this do! If you continue to break into tears every hour – (taking Ram Raje
close and consoles him) You shouldn't be here all the time. You should also spend time with
Maa Saheb. She is all alone in the palace, isn't she?
[Rajaram wipes away his tears, purses his lips tightly as if trying hard not to cry, turns and
leaves]
Yesubai : (approaching Shambhu Raje) What is the point of constantly dredging up sad
memories?
Sambhaji : (Gets up and paces restlessly) Aba Saheb left us. He left us again without a word,
without meeting us!
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Yesubai : You weren't destined to meet again, what else is there to say?
Sambhaji : Aba Saheb left us – but before that, he also turned his back on us. He left with
anger, with suspicion in his heart. He was consumed by his worry for our future.
Yesubai : Who told you this? Where did you get such an idea? Such things happen, we have to
move on.
Sambhaji : (Impulsively) But divine men like Aba saheb do not simply shrivel and die for no
reason, Rani Saheb! (pauses) Even Maa Saheb said so the other day–
Yesubai : What did Maa Saheb say?
Sambhaji : That we were the cause of Aba Saheb's ill health and–
Yesubai : And you believed it?
Sambhaji : How else could such a mountain of a man be brought low?
Yesubai : Maa Saheb will now go around saying whatever she wants, so you–
Sambhaji : We didn't take Maa Saheb's words seriously at the time, Rani Saheb. But ... but
then our mind went back to when Ram Raje had his thread ceremony on the Fort, and then his
wedding, and we weren't even invited for any of it.
Yesubai : Didn't Hambir Rao tell you what happened? When the invitations were about to be
dispatched, Maa Saheb raised such a hue and cry that–
Sambhaji : That's it! That's it! Aba Saheb bowed before Maa Saheb's demands!
Yesubai : We should try to put ourselves in the Maharaj's shoes. When a wife is unreasonable
even the manliest of men becomes impotent!
Sambhaji : What a heartfelt conversation we had at Panhāla! How enthusiastically we planned
for the future! Aba Saheb said goodbye to us with such a happy heart and yet now we learn that
since that time, all kinds of ugly conspiracies have been brewing on Raigad. Was that all a
dream, or is what we are seeing and hearing now – is this a dream? We cannot understand.
Someone poisoned his mind against us for sure – and that broke his heart!
[Just then, Hambirrao enters and bows]
Hambirrao : Your highness, Annaji and Moropant–
Sambhaji : Hambirrao, you put your life on the line for us, but to be honest, we are now repelled
by the idea of sitting on the throne!
Hambirrao : That won't do, Maharaj.
Sambhaji : Since coming here, at every step, we have felt that this throne is not ours. We do
not have the right to even set foot on the throne unless we know exactly what Aba Saheb's last
wish was.
Yesubai : If His Highness had not wanted you to be the ruler of this realm, would he have
moved heaven and earth to bring you back from Dilerkhan's camp?
Hambirrao : Moreover, even our ancient law books clearly state–

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Sambhaji : Enough! We are not satisfied with your answer. Answer this basic question. What
was Aba Saheb’s plan for the line of succession? What was his last wish?
Hambirrao : Who can we rely on who can say this conclusively, and how?
Sambhaji : There ends the matter! There is no room for any further argument!
Yesubai : You are needlessly splitting hair on this one issue–
Sambhaji : You cannot comprehend the tumult in our mind. This realm was created by Aba
Saheb, its future should also be decided as per his last wishes. Even if it means us being
banished forever into exile! We do not seek anyone’s pity. We do not want a throne that falls into
our lap because of our birth or because of some rule in some ancient law book. We would even
reject lordship over the three worlds, if it were accursed and tainted.
[Meanwhile, Moropant and Annaji enter. Both of them are under guard and in chains. Moropant
is swaying back and forth, whimpering like a child. Annaji, however, is standing up straight,
defiantly. Seeing them in this state–]
Sambhaji : (Shocked) What is this? These two, in shackles?
Hambirrao : That is their just reward, Maharaj! Traitors who betray the faith reposed in them by
the realm–
Yesubai : It’s enough to keep them under house arrest. Why shackle them like this?
Hambirrao : (hesitating) But Rani Saheb–
Sambhaji : (immediately) Hambirrao, Rani Saheb's word is our word! Please, unshackle these
two!
[As the soldiers start removing the shackles–]
Sambhaji : Pant, you arrogantly gathered an army and marched with it to dispatch us
permanently. But now the tables are turned, your die is cast. You have failed. What is your wish
now?
Moropant : (still weeping) My luck has deserted me, your highness. As the Lord is my witness, I
swear I was not a part of the conspiracy to install Ram Raja on the throne. Yet, today I was
paraded like a criminal in the same place where once my own authority prevailed as Prime
Minister. I would rather have thrown myself off the cliffs of Raigad.
Hambirrao : These are but lamentations and regrets after the fact, Pant. If we had joined forces
with you and if you had laid your hands on His Highness, your demeanor would have been very
different.
Yesubai : It was the Mother Jagadambā herself who came to our rescue, Mama Saheb, that
you stayed loyal to the realm. Moropant, at least you had the wisdom to not try to arrest us
when we arrived at the Fort.
Sambhaji : If he had even dared to, the gates of the Fort would have been drenched in blood.
Hambirrao : Let me tell you something funny, Rani Saheb. When we found these two, when we
unsheathed our sword – Moropant here – he wrapped his hands in his scarf and lay prostrate
before us, in surrender. Do you remember, Annaji?

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Annaji : We are not in the habit of handcuffing ourselves for our own actions, taken deliberately
and with forethought. His Highness is gone, our faith in this realm has been destroyed.
Hambirrao : (jumps up) You dare speak about faith and loyalty? Even though His Highness was
dying on Raigad, you did not send word to Panhāla. Is that your loyalty? Even when his eldest
son was alive and well, you had the late king’s cousin Sāvaji Bhonsale perform the last rites. Is
this your faith? And even before the mourning period had ended, you had placed Raja Ram on
the throne and completed his coronation ceremony? Was it your faith that made you march to
Panhāla to capture Shambhu Raje?
Annaji : The roll of the dice went against me, I am now in your custody. Now you may punish
me for treason. But after all, Sarnobat, we are the servants of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj. Our loyalty was to him. If someone has betrayed him today, it is you, not me.
Yesubai : Annaji, His Highness was suffering, and he passed away in pain, but even as a
matter of custom, his son was not informed. Was this conduct worthy of those manning the
Fort?
Annaji : It would be better to ask this question to those who were on the fort at that time. When
His Highness died, I was not even in its vicinity.
Hambirrao : But when the Maharaj took ill you were there with him. Why did you not send word
to Panhāla then?
Annaji : I'm sorry, Sarnobat. Moropant brought up this question to Maharaj himself. But His
Highness flatly refused, so what could servants like us do?
Sambhaji : (hurt) His Highness flatly refused?
Moropant : Yes, Maharaj.
[Shambhu Raje, upset at hearing this, turns away. After a pause–]
Sambhaji : Annaji, we never got along with you or the Council of Ministers. Still, we have no
desire to fight with you. Just answer this one question. What was Aba Saheb’s plan regarding
the line of succession?
Moropant : His Highness lost consciousness before we could ask him, and he never recovered
after that.
Yesubai : Is that so? That's what we were saying.
Hambirrao : Then this conspiracy to install Ram Raje on the throne was entirely of your design?
Moropant : I mean, what happened is–
Annaji : Wait! If you want an answer to your question, I am ready to answer it. But the prince
must agree to hear the truth, however bitter it may be.
Hambirrao : Not ‘prince’, Annaji, address his highness as ‘Maharaj’. Weigh your words
carefully.
Annaji : There is only one heir to the throne of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and he is only
crowned once.
Hambirrao : Indeed, Annaji. We have weighed our words very carefully before we uttered them.
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Sambhaji : We do not expect any respect from the Ministerial Council who has even denied us
basic justice all our life. But Annaji, we are eager to hear your ‘bitter truth’. We don't think it will
be as bitter as your tongue.
Annaji : Then listen, ‘prince’. The last I spoke with the Maharaj was the day he got sick. I did not
meet him after that. Although Pralhad Niraji repeatedly asked him, Maharaj did not break his
silence until he lost consciousness. His Highness clearly disapproved of any division of the
realm and as far as his successor is concerned, you know towards whom he was more inclined.
Sambhaji : Annaji, do not beat around the bush. We want to hear Aba Saheb's exact words.
Annaji : Alright. I will. Maharaj said to Pant and to me – “Do what you think is right, but do not
divide this land.”
Yesubai : And that was why you cooked up this conspiracy?
Annaji : Princess, no matter how bitter the truth is we will repeat it in front of everyone, once
again. It is a hard truth that giving the throne to Shambhu Raje would be disastrous for the
safety of this realm.
Hambirrao : (angrily) Think carefully before you speak, Annaji–
Sambhaji : Hambirrao, what is the point of shouting at Annaji? Aba Saheb delegated the
decision to the Council of Ministers. The Ministers did what they thought was right. The case is
closed. There is no more room for speculation.
Yesubai : Wait. We are not convinced. Annaji, How do we know what you say is true?
Annaji : This Annaji speaks harshly, Princess, but he never lies. Pant was present at that time.
Besides–
Hambirrao : Very convenient. Pant now has no choice but to corroborate your statement.
Sambhaji : (paces back and forth, with a heavy heart) We yearned for the moon and in the end
we crashed back to earth. We never ever learned the secrets of Aba Saheb's heart. He said one
thing, but thought something else. If all you wanted was to torment us like this, Aba Saheb, why
did you bring us back?
Yesubai : But we say–
Sambhaji : (Tersely) There is nothing left for anyone to say. We have lost the one battle we set
out to win. Now what are we going to do with this material realm of stone and soil? (Pauses for
a moment) Hambirrao, we have made up our mind. We shall leave Raigad immediately. We
shall leave this realm forever.
Hambirrao : But Your Highness–
Sambhaji : Even though Aba Saheb suffered a lot throughout his life on our account, perhaps
his soul will find salvation in the afterlife, knowing that Shambhu Raje remained a faithful
devotee of his father. We accept his last wish gracefully. Pant, Annaji, you are free. Place Ram
Raje on the throne and rule the state with care. We are leaving the fort. From us, you–
[Ram Raje, who has been listening and watching for so long, comes running and screams, “No,
no, Dada, you should not leave the fort!”]

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Sambhaji : (Taking Rajaram close) Don't be sad, your highness. It's not your fault. Maybe it is
better for everyone that you become the master of this realm.
Rajaram : (Trembling with excitement) No, no, Dada, we don't want the throne, we don't want
the kingdom, we want you! We want you!
Sambhaji : (Caresses Rajaram's face) Prince, don't be so stubborn. We played many games
with you until today – you were this stubborn even then, so much so, that many times we would
simply give in and let you win. Now it’s your turn to obey us – you must accept the throne for our
sake! You too must obey Aba Saheb's orders, Your Highness!
Rajaram : (Trying hard not to weep) But Dada, that was never Aba Saheb’s wish.
Sambhaji : Prince, you don't know–
Rajaram : Dada, we know what you don't know. Just now, Annaji spoke very bitterly. He said
the truth, but not the whole truth.
Sambhaji : (Surprised) Prince, you mean you–
Rajaram : Sorry, Dada! We were eavesdropping. We stood at the door, fearing that this Annaji
would say something to drive you away.
Moropant : You are mad, prince. Who are we to oust Shambhu Raje?
Rajaram : (Fighting back tears but in anger) Then swear on your life, Pant, and answer – what
did Aba Saheb say to you when you asked if Dada should be called back to Raigad?
Moropant : (Confused) I can't remember his exact words but–
Rajaram : We remember those words very well, Pant, let us remind you. He said, “We would
have liked to have met Shambhu Raje once more.” On hearing this, Pant – you were standing
over there – you asked, “Then should we summon the prince, Maharaj?”
Yesubai : Then? What did Maharaj say?
Rajaram : (trying hard not to weep) “No, no. The sweet boy, he will be worried sick.”
Sambhaji : (Surprised) Prince – (Lunges at Moropant, grabs him by the shoulders) Speak,
Pant, speak–
Moropant : (terrified) Yes. Maharaj did say something like that!
[Leaving Moropant, Shambhu Raje turns back. Becomes sad again. That same moment–]
Rajaram : And Annaji, when you suggested placing us on the throne, tell us what Aba Saheb
said to you!
Annaji : I only stuck to the main point, but–
Rajaram : No, no, Annaji Pant, that's what you left out. You may have forgotten, but we
remember Aba Saheb’s every word.
Annaji : Which words?
[Rajaram sits on Maharaj's empty throne as if possessed by his ghost. At that moment,
Shambhu Raje trembles and exclaims, “Prince–”]

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Rajaram : “We are simply asking you for one chance, give the boy some time … We don't mind
your suspicions about the prince. But you should know that we have never had the time at our
disposal to shape his character.”
Annaji : (Surprised) But Your Highness –
Rajaram : “A child is like a lump of clay. It takes the shape that you give it…”
Sambhaji : Prince–
Rajaram : “We now struggle to finish the last act of our play. If by the grace of God, we live that
long, Pant, we may yet pull off one last miracle.”
Sambhaji : (Surprised, overwhelmed) What are you saying, Prince? Aba saheb … this … this is
what he said?
Hambirrao : Every word bears the stamp of His Royal Highness!
Sambhaji : Annaji, Annaji, you served Aba Saheb all your life. But you were his servant. You
never understood him. Go, go – you are free to go. Get out of our sight. At this moment at least,
we do not want to take on the sin of Brahma-Hatya, by executing Brahmins like you.
[Moropant, Annaji bow their heads in shame, make their salutations and exit]
Rajaram : (coming to his senses and getting up from the seat) Dada, We’re sorry! We forgot
ourselves as we spoke Aba Saheb’s words and sat on this throne. But we swear, we will serve
this throne for the rest of our lives! Will never sit here again.
Yesubai : (approaching Rajaram) Prince, where did you gain so much understanding, so much
wisdom?
Rajaram : Your Highness, we made a promise to Aba Saheb.
Yesubai : Promise? What promise?
Rajaram : That we will never covet the throne. We will obey our elder brother and – and –
Sambhaji : And what, dear brother?
Rajaram : (looks away) Don't be angry, Dada, but we promised we would take care of you.
Sambhaji : (Astonished) Take care of us? ... You? Prince, you promised to take care of us?
Rajaram : Dada, Aba Saheb said to us, “We put your older brother, our son Shambhu Raje, in
your care!”
Sambhaji : (overwhelmed) Aba Saheb ... Aba ... Aba ...
Rajaram : And then we said ... we said ... (begins to weep)
Yesubai : Tell us, your highness, what did you say?
Rajaram : “Aba Saheb, we will never leave his side. We will be his shadow. We shall protect
him with our life!”
Sambhaji : (Rises up and runs to Rajaram, holds him close) Dear brother, we have become
indebted to you. We never sensed the love that our father held in his heart, we are blessed that
we heard it today from your lips. Prince, you are the true heir of the Chhatrapati.

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Rajaram : Da ... da ...
Sambhaji : (grabs him and shakes him) Child ... Son ... Prince, why weren’t you born before
us? Why didn't you become our older brother?
Rajaram : Dada–
[The two don’t speak. Tears fall down their cheeks. Not only Shambhu Raje and Rajaram but
Yesubai and Hambirrao are also in tears. Just then the chorus is heard–]
Over the marked terrain of history
Where countless tears fell and dried
Today, there gushes a river of tears
To please the god of theater art
Those countless tears are on my mind
Haunted by them I wonder and ask
“Reveal the secrets of Shivaraya’s heart!”

Curtain

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