Jahnavi Sanskrit E-Journal (The First Unpaid Sanskrit E-Journal by सार वत-िनके तनम्) published by Dr.

Bipin Kumar Jha Since 2009

Avilable at jahnavisanskritejournal.in Issue 38 Vol- II Year 10. Date 16 July, 2019. ISSN- 0976-8645
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Shivaji Maharaja’s An Intelligent towards the Mughals. Ch. Shivaji had

accumulated large areas of land through his
Spy : Bahirji Naik campaigns2. He had also gathered an armed
force to tackle issues with various other rulers,
Dr. Pradnya Konarde64 including the Mughals.
Newworldencyclopedia
Subscription ID 257494763 Received on- 05/04/2019
Detectives are the main pillars of the
governance of a nation. They should be
Keywords – Ch. Shivaji Maharaja, Bahirji
appointed by the king. In Mahabharata’s
Naik, spy, intelligence, army, Maratha Empire,
Shanti Parva, it is described as –
Sivarajyodayam, wars. 3
राdयं +िणिधमल
ू म् detectives are the root sources of
---------------------------------------------------------
the state. In the same way, a king is also called
Abstract – Indian history is incomplete as “Charchakshu” - it means detectives are the
without Maratha Empire. Chhatrapati Shivaji eyes of the king. They collect the latest
Maharaja conquered many battles due to his informations and help the king for his future
excellency and brave army force. Intelligence plannings. Pt. Mahadevshastri Joshi remarked
agency of Chhatrapati (Ch.) Shivaji was a collective note of ancient sources - Rigveda,
adventurous and was successful in many Manusmriti, Ramayana, Shukraniti and
battles. Bahirji Naik was an intelligent spy, Kautiliya Arthashastra, in these ancient
and an efficient soldier of Maratha army. literary sources many references of detectives
There is no concrete information about the and their successful achivements are found.4
early life of Bahirji but his bravery and Sivarajyodayam and Ksatrapatimahakavyam,
adventures as a spy in Ch. Shivaji’s army tell these are the modern Sanskrit sources where I
us of him great contributions in Maratha found the references about Ch. Shivaji
Empire. Present paper will focus on the life of Maharaja’s an intelligent detective, Bahirji
this spy and his contribution in the rise of Naik.
Maratha Empire with reference to history of
Maratha Empire and Sanskrit literature.
Bahirji Naik- A key component of Ch.
Shivaji’s army was his intelligence agency,
====================
which was adventures and successful to
inform him about the movements of enemy.
The Maratha Empire, also known as the An author remarked in an article that, Bahirji
Maratha Confederacy, dominated a large Naik was an Indian spy, Chief of Intelligence
portion of India during the 17th and 18th in the army of Ch. Shivaji Maharaja during a
century. The author of World Heritage time when Maratha Empire and Mughal
Encyclopedia stated that, the Maratha Empire Empire were at war.5 His valor bravery
formally began with the rise of Ch. Shivaji in induced the man to perform espionage in
1674. Maratha Empire is largely credited with enemy camps when the time and conditions
ending the Mughal rule in India and is often were unfriendly and treacherous. He was so
seen as a true Indian power, as it dominated perfect in his methods that history can only
the Indian subcontinent during 17th and 18th infer what he did but not how he accomplished
centuries1. his supreme feats6.

In Newworldencyclopedia, it is described as - Early Life Not much is known about the early
Ch. Shivaji’s conflicts with the Mughals, life of Bahirji but his expeditions and
which started from the year 1657, served as adventures as a spy in Ch. Shivaji’s army tell
one of the primary reasons for the hatred us of him great contributions in Shivaji’s
Empire. There is no concrete information
64
Assistant Professor & Head Dept of Sanskrit, available in the death of Bahirji. It was found
Deogiri College, Aurangabad
in Burhan, that he died while espousing
Bhopalgad. His tomb is now situated on

पृ सङ् या- 21 कुलपृ सङ् या- 78

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Banurgad or Bhupalgad in Khanapur taluka of Varnekar stated about Bahirji in

Sangli district. Bahirji Naik was the native of Sivarajyodayam- Suratdahanam chapter. The
Hungewadi Tq. Srigonda7 He was brave and discription matches clearly to Bahirji’s
adept in making any changes in fakir, qualities, his intelligence, and adventures.
Vasudev, Koli, Beggar, Saint, oldman, etc. In अनीि6त: के निचद8य$माëिहिज.नामा स बिहज.गाम।9
any way. He had the tact of stealing the words Bahirji Naik was not only a detective but also
from their mouth without knowing the other a soldier. He was brave in the sword-racket, as
person. He was very adept at copying and he knew that secret spies would have to face
transmitting anybody and very smart in any occasion. If he wants to spread a scuff, or
speaking. In Arthasastra, Kautilya says- a spy wants to give wrong information to enemy,
should be a cook, a spreader of bed, water- then being alert, he was cleverly working.
servant, hump-backed person, a dwarf, a Bahirji’s contribution in wars and covert
pigmy(kirata), the dumb, the deaf, the idiot, operations found in Sanskrit Literature
the blind, artisans such as actors, dancers,
singers, players, on musical instruments,
Bahirji Naik was involved in every incident of
buffoons, and a bard; as well as women shall
Ch. Shivaji Maharaja’s life as a detective. In
espy the private character of these
all such incidents, Bahirji would have done
officers.प\रचारका:रसदा:,कुCजवामनिकरातमक
ू बिधरज half of the work of Maharaja in the slaughter
डा ध|छžान: नटनत.कगायकवादकवाNजीवनकुशीलवा: of Afzal Khan, Torna fort, Surat loot, Attack
on Shahista khan, Escape from Agra, etc.
ि@यWाQय तरं चारं िव::ु ।8
Above described qualities of spy were found 1. Torna Fort – An author stated about
in Bahirji. Knowing these qualities of Bahirji, Torna fort adventure that, “Bahirji Naik,
Maharaja got him involved in his secret works. and his team observed Torna, Rohida and
Murumdev forts were neglected by
He was the chief of intelligence and Maharaja Adilshah. He brought all details and
honored him the status of Sardar. Historians planned graph of fort to make attack on the
believe that around 3,000 detectives were same.”10 Ch. Shivaji modified his army and
operating under Bahirji. All these secret made attack on the same forts and
detectives were spread in Bijapur, Delhi, succeeds.
Karnataka, Pune and other cities. Bahirji had 2. Demoralized the Afzal Khan’s army
created a language like an Intelligence Service. (Battle of Pratapgad)- When Afjal Khan
The language was only heard by the detectives started his journey towards Maratha Empire
of him. There were voices of birds, voices of with a promise to Adilshah to kill or
animals in it. Any message to be given was capture Shivaji. The detective agency of
given in that code language. Bahirji was the Bahirji brought a lot of information against
first to know which mission will be going on Afzal Khan i.e., his height, his family
today. The rocks of the place should be background, his past, even his food as well.
collected by him and reached to Ch. Shivaji Bahirji poisoned the lead flag bearing
Maharaja as early as possible. elephant on the first day of his march.
Death of flag bearing elephant was
Bahirji and his spouse used to be known considered as a bad omen by Afjal Khan,
Sadhus, Beggar, Bairagi and took the and the act of Bahirji was successful. In
information about themselves in the form of Sivarajyodayam Varnekar described this
text and paragraphs. By extracting information incidence such as-
and co-ordinating information on the distant
army and the fortresses, the work was भयाकुलो द:ु शकुनं बभाषे मृतो महाUदा\र गज$तवेित।11
accomplished by the system of Bahirji. It During the meeting at Pratapgad, detectives
would not be exaggerated if Shivaji brought informations about Afzal Khan’s cruel
Maharaja’s every triumphant victory was intensions towarsd Ch. Shivaji Maharaja and
made by Bahirji Naik and his headlines, and his planning. Ch. Shivaji Maharaja
saying this would not be unfair to anyone. Sri. implemented on the same and killed Afzal

पृ सङ् या- 22 कुलपृ सङ् या- 78

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Khan very sharply and succeed a great war 4. Attack on Surat – Twice, Shivaji
against Adilshahi Saltanate. Maharaja attacked on Surat, Aurangazeb’s
financial capital and carried away much of
3. Attack on Shahista Khan- Bahirji its wealth. Mr. Sardesai remarked that, two
Naik was expert in detective work, he or three Banian merchants lost several
entered in Lal Mahal to bring all plans and millions, and the total loss was estimated at
information of Shahiste Khan. He brought 30 millions.15 An author reported the
total information of Khan, his body guards, openions of some historians that Inayat
his bedroom, his kitchen, entertainment Khan was the chief of the Surat city during
yard and so on. An author compared the the attack by Marathas. The city was
army forces of Shaista Khan and Ch. secured by 10,000 soldiers but Bahirji and
Shivaji and he stated that, Lal Mahal was his detectives reported to Maharaja that on
guarded by 1,00,000 soldiers and warriors. paper there were 10,000 soldiers. But
Ch. Shivaji Maharaja chose 300 Mavale to actually city was guarded by only 1,000
implement his world’s greatest commando soldiers. Inayat Khan made fraud of 9,000
operation against Shahiste Khan.12 In this soldiers salary for his personal expenses.16
operation, Ch. Shivaji Maharaja lost only 6
Mavale. He attacked on Khan and safely This information was very helpful to Ch.
discharged from the Lal Mahal. This Shivaji Maharaja to work out his Surat attack
operation was the remarkable example for plan. This historical loot was successful and a
commandos. mile stone in the victory of Ch. Shivaji
Maharaja and Bahirji too. Sri. Varnekar
mentioned in Sivarajyodayam- Suratdahanm
In Sivarajyodayam, references are found about chapter such as-
Shahista khan’s attack. Ch. Shivaji Maharaja भयू : स भू वा बत भारवाही कोषाि तकािDOवतां चचार।
had sent detectives to collect the information
िच6ेप च6:ु ]विचद धcु पी िनगढू कोषेषु िहरIमयेष।ु ।17
about Khan’s arm...........................................
.
It means that,before Surat loot, Shivaji
त$यामेव िनशीिथ यां चरा: कपटकोिवदा:। Maharaja sent Bahirji before one month to find
\रपु xािण िवYातंु स+ं चेc: िशवाYया।।13 out the secret places, the richest merchants in
Sri. Varnekar described here about the entry of Surat. Being Blind, Labor Beggar he searched
Bahrji’s detectives, who entered in Shahista secret ways in forests and mountains and
khan’s area to find out the situations in his returned to Raigad.
army. Conclusion-
In the same way, Sri From all above the discussion, it may
Umashankar Sharma Tripathi stated in his conclude that, Historians have different
“Kshatrapatimahakavyam” about the covert opinions on how Bahirji was linked to
operations by Bahirji in Khan’s army. Bahirji Swarajya. Whatever the differences, there is
and his team enterd in Afzal Khan’s army in no doubt that Bahirji was with Ch. Shivaji
the get up of actors and dancers for their Maharaja from the very early stage of
entertainment. They took the information Swarajya. The task of keeping ‘know’ Shivaji
about the food board, how many infantry, Maharaja in all the ways is clearly
cavalcade, elephants, guns and ammunition, demonstrated by his manipulation. The credit
people close to it and the soldeir’s habits. for the making of a visualization of Shivaji
अथ सप नबलं समवेि6तंु कलियतंु च रह$यमनोरथम्। Maharaja’s conceptualisation of the film
would definitely go to Bahirji Naik. By adding
िशवचराW\रता\रिबड<बना: सिवनयं िविवशु: िशिवरं िDष:।।14 sharp wisdom and timing to adventure, he has
played unmatched performance in the history
The credit for getting rid of Shivaji Maharaja of Maratha Empire From the time of
from Panhala like Bajiprabhu and Siva Kasid Mahabharata, the doctrine of the state
also goes to Bahirji as well. government has been highlighted, the
importance of the intelligence is highlighted.18

पृ सङ् या- 23 कुलपृ सङ् या- 78

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In Arthasastra, it is stated as the It was unquestionable that Bahirji Naik and his
commander’s arms and intelligence is the eyes detectives were the best monitors of that era.
and ears of the body of the state. It is the
principle that, eyes and ears are as sensible,
sharp as the state is secure.
Now, we know that, the References
Swarajya was calm, happy and secure state,
1
its credit goes to Bahirji Naik. Mr. Prashant “The Maratha Empire”, Culturalindia
2
Aher, a reporter of Maharashtra Times focused “The Maratha Empire”,
3
this risky job of detectives in his article. He Pandeya, Mahabharata, p270, p222 and p284
4
stated there as – “Whatever the laws of Pt. Joshi, Bharatiya Sanskriti Kosha, p403
5
“ Bahirji Naik”, Wikipedia
country cannot do in the framework of the 6
“ Bahirji Naik”, World Heritage Encyclopedia
laws of the country, the government of 7
Chapter 1, Shodhganga, p11 & p12
intelligence and intelligence is needed. For the 8
Kangale P., 1982, Kautilya Arthasastra, p30
sake of patriotism, this secret to fight enemies 9
Varnekar, 1972, Sivarajyodayam, p177
of the enemy is in the land of enemy nations. 10
Chapter 4, Shodhganga, p27
11
This work is not as risky as it is in non- Varnekar, 1972, Sivarajyodayam, p80-81
12
nations. But, to get the right information from Chapter 4, Shodhaganga, p28
13
the right places, the detectives must have it.19 14
Varnekar, Sivarajyodayam, p173
Intelligence, they are from Tripathi, Ksatrapatimahakavyam p200-201 &
any age but not have glamor. Because they do p230-231
15
Serdesai, The Grand Strategist, p341
not challenge the enemy by taking a bare 16
Chapter 4, Shodhganga, p29
sword in hand. Their prowess does not come 17
Varnekar, Sivarajyodayam, p177
in front of people, because they are not a 18
Pandeya, Mahabharata, p222
witness. The fighters fight in battle, but the 19
Mr. Aher P., “World of Goblins”, 16 April 2017
detectives also have to fight in peace. This 20
“Bahirji Naik”, Wikipedia
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पृ सङ् या- 24 कुलपृ सङ् या- 78

Jahnavi Sanskrit E-Journal (The First Unpaid Sanskrit E-Journal by सार वत-िनके तनम्) published by Dr. Bipin Kumar Jha Since 2009
Avilable at jahnavisanskritejournal.in Issue 38 Vol- II Year 10. Date 16 July, 2019. ISSN- 0976-8645
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पृ सङ् या- 25 कुलपृ सङ् या- 78