KEY POINTS
- Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj fearlessly resisted the might of Aurangzeb’s empire for nine long years, never yielding to fear or force.
- Even after enduring 40 days of brutal torture, Sambhaji refused to convert to Islam, choosing death with dignity over submission.
- His martyrdom ignited a fire of rebellion, inspiring future Maratha leaders like Rajaram and Tarabai to continue the war and eventually weaken the Mughal Empire.
In the annals of Indian history, few names shine as fiercely as that of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj—the fearless heir of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the indomitable torchbearer of Swarajya. His life was not just a continuation of Shivjij Maharaj’s legacy; it was an escalation of Maratha pride, an iron-willed refusal to submit to tyranny, and a testament to the sheer power of one man’s resolve against the might of an empire.
A Lion’s Birth
Born on May 14, 1657, at Purandar Fort, Sambhaji Raje lost his mother Saibai at the tender age of two. But destiny had already chosen a guardian worthy of shaping a warrior—Jijabai, the iron-willed matriarch of the Bhonsle dynasty. Under her care, Sambhaji inherited not just the name of Shivaji but his unshakable courage and vision for Swarajya.
From childhood, Sambhaji’s path was filled with tests of steel. At just eight years old, he stood inside Aurangzeb’s Mughal court—not with fear, but with fire in his eyes. The Mughal emperor, who had climbed over the corpses of his brothers to seize a throne, met a child who saw through the façade of imperial might. It was at this early age that Sambhaji was taken as a political hostage after the Treaty of Purandar in 1665, placed under Raja Jai Singh I of Amber. But no chains could ever bind Sambhaji’s spirit.
Scholar, Warrior, and Strategist
Unlike the typical image of a sword-swinging king, Sambhaji Maharaj was also a scholar. Fluent in Sanskrit and Persian, he authored ‘Budhbhushanam’, a Sanskrit treatise on politics and statecraft. His grasp of Hindu scriptures and Islamic texts showed a leader well beyond his years—an intellectual warrior.
On the battlefield, Sambhaji earned the loyalty of people across caste and class. He spent his youth among the people of the land, learning their ways, earning their trust, and strengthening the core of the Maratha force. Under the watchful eye of Shivaji Maharaj, he learned the art of guerrilla warfare, political maneuvering, and cavalry leadership. He wasn’t just preparing to inherit a throne—he was preparing to defend an idea.
Crowned in Crisis, Forged in Fire
After the death of Shivaji Maharaj in 1680, the Maratha Empire faced a storm of uncertainty. But Sambhaji Maharaj rose to the occasion like thunder on the Deccan horizon. On January 16, 1681, he was crowned the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire.
Within just two weeks, he launched a stunning assault on Burhanpur, one of the Mughals’ richest cities. While the Mughals were tricked into guarding Surat, Sambhaji’s forces descended upon Burhanpur. As the Maratha warriors surged with war cries of “Har Har Mahadev!”, the city fell under Sambhaji’s direct command.
Importantly, he issued strict orders:
“Do not harm women or children. Do not kill unless attacked.”
This was not just warfare; this was warfare with dharma—principled and proud.
A Relentless Enemy
Sambhaji’s success humiliated Aurangzeb, who then left Ajmer and descended into the Deccan himself—bringing with him an army of over five lakh men. His goal was simple: to break the back of the Maratha rebellion by capturing its lion-hearted leader.
For nine long years, Sambhaji held off this enormous force, his sword always drawn, his resolve never shaken. The Deccan became Aurangzeb’s graveyard of ambition.
The Final Stand at Sangameshwar
In 1689, betrayal struck. Sambhaji was at Sangameshwar, and traitors from within—Ganoji Shirke and others—led the Mughals to him. Yet even as he was surrounded by thousands of soldiers, Sambhaji did not flee.
His comrades urged him to escape, but his reply was immortal:
“A child does not abandon his mother. I will not abandon the Sahyadris or Swaraj.”
With just a few loyal warriors—Santaji, Dhanaji, Khando Ballal, and Mhaloji Ghorpade—he took on the enemy in a thunderous clash. Blood flowed, swords clashed, and for hours, Sambhaji held off a force that dwarfed his own.
But ultimately, Mukarrab Khan and Ikhlas Khan led a brutal charge. Wounded, his horse killed, and surrounded by seventy soldiers, Sambhaji was finally captured. Not broken. Captured.
The Savage Execution That Failed to Break a Spirit
What followed was not justice—it was savagery. Sambhaji was tortured for 40 days. His eyes were burned, his skin peeled, his tongue severed, and his nails pulled out.
And yet, through this monstrous agony, he never once pleaded for mercy.
Aurangzeb sent him a final offer:
“Convert to Islam and live.”
Sambhaji’s reply?
A defiant silence—and a whispered cry:
“Jai Maa Bhawani!”
Kavi Kalash, his loyal friend, stood by him in those final moments. His words thunder across time:
“Like Hanuman in Ravan’s court, Shambhu stands in Aurangzeb’s durbar. Bloodied but burning like a firefly. Even emperors bow when lions roar.”
On March 11, 1689, Sambhaji Maharaj was executed. But what Aurangzeb could not realize was that the man he killed that day would become immortal. He wanted to break a king—but ended up creating a legend.
Legacy of Fire and Freedom
After Sambhaji’s martyrdom, his brother Rajaram, and later Tarabai, carried forward his war against the Mughals. The Maratha resistance only intensified, ultimately crushing the very empire Aurangzeb sought to preserve.
Historian Jadunath Sarkar wrote:
“Aurangzeb tried to break Sambhaji’s spirit, but instead created a martyr whose sacrifice would inspire generations.”
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s life was more than a chapter in history. It was a roaring anthem of resistance. His courage, intellect, and refusal to bend before tyranny make him one of the bravest sons Bharat has ever known.
Even in death, there was no fear in his eyes—only the fire of Hindavi Swarajya. No matter how cruel the tortures, Aurangzeb never succeeded in breaking Sambhaji’s valor. He died not as a prisoner—but as a symbol of unbreakable Maratha pride.
The Lion Lives On
Today, the spirit of Sambhaji Maharaj roars back to life in the hearts of every Indian who values freedom, dharma, and fearlessness. His story reaches a new generation through the Bollywood film ‘Chhava’, where Vicky Kaushal steps into the armor of the Lion’s Cub.
But Sambhaji’s legacy is not confined to cinema. It lives in the soil of the Sahyadris, in the chants of Har Har Mahadev, and in the memory of a man who, even in death, taught us what it means to live free, and die proud.
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