Udai Singh's sons joined in the battle and the
mahout sent Chandrawati charging into the
fray. The Marathas fought bravely. The casualties
were heavy. Among the first to perish were
Udai Singh's three sons and Chandrawati, the
elephant. Tanaji went looking for Udai Singh.
Udai Singh had by then heard of his sons
deaths. He rushed into the melee. "Tanaji,
you have a lot to answer for. You can't escape me."
"That we'll see," cried Tanaji. With drawn swords, they closed in.
Both were brilliant swordsmen. The battle
raged fiercely round them. The attackers had got
the better of the defenders. In a strategic move,
a section of the Maratha soldiers had thrown open Kalyan Gate.
Tanaji and Udai Singh were locked in a life and death struggle.
Both were tired and bleeding profusely. Udai "Elephant-driver.
Singh made a gallant effort and plunged his
sword into Tanaji's chest. Tanaji stumbled and
fell. Quite unexpectedly he sprang up and inflicted
a mortal wound on a triumphant Udai Singh.
He fell dead. Tanaji, too collapsed and died.
All was quiet when Suryaji entered the fort.
He rushed around, looking for Tanaji. He found
him lying in a pool of blood. He knelt to feel his pulse.
He looked aghast at his dead friend. His grief
soon turned into anger. "We must complete your
task", he muttered, drawing his sword.
The Marathas, infuriated by Tanaji's death,
fell on their foes like tigers. Udai Singh's death
had taken the fight out of the Mughals. After a
brief struggle, the Marathas won the battle.
Kondana fort was once again in their hands.
Suryaji returned to Raigarh fort to inform
Shivaji of their victory. He was anxiously waiting for them.
"Raje, the fort is taken," said Suryaji.
"Good. But where is Tanaji?"
Suryaji hung his head and remained silent.
"Speak, Suryaji!" cried Shivaji shaking him by
his shoulders. "What has happened to him?"
"He is dead!" Suryaji said in a broken voice.
Shivaji's face went pale as he mumbled, "The
fort is won, but my lion is gone." He turned and
walked to the window.
He stood there looking out.
A memorial to Tanaji stands on the spot where
he fell. It is called 'Sivnha Garh
"The lion's fort.
mahout sent Chandrawati charging into the
fray. The Marathas fought bravely. The casualties
Udai Singh's three sons and Chandrawati, the
elephant. Tanaji went looking for Udai Singh.
Udai Singh had by then heard of his sons
deaths. He rushed into the melee. "Tanaji,
you have a lot to answer for. You can't escape me."
"That we'll see," cried Tanaji. With drawn swords, they closed in.
Both were brilliant swordsmen. The battle
raged fiercely round them. The attackers had got
the better of the defenders. In a strategic move,
a section of the Maratha soldiers had thrown open Kalyan Gate.
Tanaji and Udai Singh were locked in a life and death struggle.
Both were tired and bleeding profusely. Udai "Elephant-driver.
Singh made a gallant effort and plunged his
sword into Tanaji's chest. Tanaji stumbled and
fell. Quite unexpectedly he sprang up and inflicted
a mortal wound on a triumphant Udai Singh.
He fell dead. Tanaji, too collapsed and died.
All was quiet when Suryaji entered the fort.
He rushed around, looking for Tanaji. He found
him lying in a pool of blood. He knelt to feel his pulse.
He looked aghast at his dead friend. His grief
soon turned into anger. "We must complete your
task", he muttered, drawing his sword.
The Marathas, infuriated by Tanaji's death,
fell on their foes like tigers. Udai Singh's death
had taken the fight out of the Mughals. After a
brief struggle, the Marathas won the battle.
Kondana fort was once again in their hands.
Suryaji returned to Raigarh fort to inform
Shivaji of their victory. He was anxiously waiting for them.
"Raje, the fort is taken," said Suryaji.
"Good. But where is Tanaji?"
Suryaji hung his head and remained silent.
"Speak, Suryaji!" cried Shivaji shaking him by
his shoulders. "What has happened to him?"
"He is dead!" Suryaji said in a broken voice.
Shivaji's face went pale as he mumbled, "The
fort is won, but my lion is gone." He turned and
walked to the window.
He stood there looking out.
A memorial to Tanaji stands on the spot where
he fell. It is called 'Sivnha Garh
"The lion's fort.
