6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

440 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
1068. What was the setting or the location of this
triumphant assembly,—this feast of light ? It was no other
than the recreation grounds of the greatest of the Moghal
Emperors, like Akbar, Jahangir, Shahajahan and others—the
extensive courtyard of the most famous Shalimar gardens of
Lahore*' !! The Marathas had thus reduced the Muslim
imperial power to serfdom !
1069. At the news of this glorious Maratha victory,
there was literally a shower on Raghunathrao of the congra­
tulatory letters written not only by the numerous kings and
courtiers, Sardars of various ranks and the learned Shastri-
pandits, who were openly or secretly endeavouring beyond
all measure in the cause of Hindu-Patpadshahi throughout
the length and breadth of India, but by the self-less ascetics,
also. As has been said in paragraph 991, the various writers
of these multifarious congratulatory letters were so much
overcome by a sense of pride and jubilation over this uncon­
ceivable Maratha victory that they could not convey their
feelings in simple prose. These could only be conveyed
through some mythological imagery, a sample of which can
be had in this one sent to Raghunathrao on the Sth of May,
1758 by a Maratha General in Delhi, Antaji Mankeshwar who
was in the habit of writing nothing but simple political
reports and yet who was one of the higher officers in the
Maratha army.
1070. "Received your Excellency's favour (of 13th
April). How can I express adequately the excessive joy I
felt at the news in your Excellency's letter about the victory
at Lahore, the destruction of the enemy and the acquisition
of the territories there ? (Your Excellency's) fame has spread
far and wide in Hindustan (North India). The high-born
Emirs and Umraos and Governors, all are overawed ! It is
your Excellency alone who avenged (the wrong of the whole
of Hindustan (North India) ! As such your Excellency's suc­
cess vies with the mountains ! Your Excellency is (destined
to be) successful. How can this poor servant of your Excel­
lency have the ability to dilate upon this topic ? The Vazir