THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

484 The Harmony of VirtueJ AI SINGHYour political ideal was great but your standard of means wasabhorrent to our morality. Ruse, treachery, pillage, assassination,these were not excluded from your action!S HIVAJINot for myself I fought and ruled, but for God and the Maharashtradharma, the religion of Hindu Nationality, which Ramdasenunciated. I offered my head to BhavÀni and She bade me keepit to scheme and plot for the welfare of the nation. I gave mykingdom to Ramdas and he made me take it back as a gift fromGod and the Marhattas. Both commands I obeyed. I slew whenGod commanded, I plundered because He pointed out that asthe means He had given me. Treacherous I was not, but I helpedmy weakness in resource and numbers by ruse and stratagem,conquered physical force by keenness of wit and brain-force.The world has accepted ruse in war and politics and the chivalrousopenness of the Rajput is not owned either by the Europeanor the Asiatic nations.J AI SINGHI held the dharma as supreme and even the voice of God couldnot persuade me to abandon it.S HIVAJII gave up all to Him and did not keep even the dharma. His willwas my religion; for He was my Captain and I his soldier. Thatwas my loyalty, not to Aurangzebe, not to a code of morals, butto God who sent me.J AI SINGHHe sends us all, but for different purposes and according to thepurpose he moulds the ideal and the character. I am not grievedthat the Mogul has fallen. Had he deserved to retain sovereigntyhe could not have lost it, but even when he ceased to deserve, Ikept my faith, my service, my loyalty. It was not for me to disputethe will of my emperor. God who appointed him might judgehim; it was not my office.