Tanaji buckled his sword and stepped out of
the room. He ordered his men to be ready to accompany
him. The news spread and soon the
soldiers assembled outside his house.
After his wife had applied 'tilak' on his forehead
and performed the 'arti\ Tanaji took leave of her.
Leading an army of horsemen, he rode fast to
reach Raigarh fort. Tanaji walked straight into
Shivaji's room and found him sitting in a pensive mood.
"Raje, I'm here at your service," said Tanaji bowing.
"Oh! my Sivnha has come!" exclaimed Shivaji.
He embraced Tanaji and said, "Come, sit down.
We have a difficult assignment. Ma Sahib* feels
that the other forts are not safe so long as we
do not recapture Kondana fort.
"Udai Singh Rathor is in command of the
Mughal forces. His men are guarding the three
gates. His sons are also with him. All of them are
brave fighters. There is also the killer elephant
Chandrawati. She is a force by herself. I have
thought and thought, but can't find a way of capturing
the fort. You are the only one who may
be able to find a way."
The lines deepened on Tanaji's brow. Then
he spoke. "I have a plan. The fort is guarded only
on three sides. We will try to enter from the west."
"What?" Shivaji sprang up. "Enter from the
west? You're not planning to climb that precipice?
It is unassailable."
Tanaji said coolly — "No, Raje, it is not the
way I intend doing it." He then explained his plan
to Shivaji in detail.
"It is a daring plan," said Shivaji anxiously.
"Very difficult to execute. Everything depends on
just one thing."
"Yes, it is difficult, Raje, but not impossible.
4 Queen Mother.
We will prepare well and we will succeed."
Tanaji sounded confident.
"Very well, go ahead with your preparations.
May Goddess Bhawani* bless you."
Tanaji bowed to Shivaji and left. He called
Suryaji and some of his personal friends who were
waiting in the adjoining room. He swore them to
secrecy and then told them of the plan.
"We begin preparing at once. Drill the soldiers,
perfect them in the use of arms, but do not tell
them for what. We have to take the enemy by
surprise.'
