Dadaji, established complete mastery over the Mavals. The local chiefs (deshpandes) were mostly won over. Those who defied his authority were defeated*[1] and crushed. Thus peace and prosperity were established in that region and it became a source of wealth and strength to the owner of Puna, instead of being an unprofitable and even dangerous possession. (Sabh. 7; Chit. 26.) From this region Shivaji drew his best soldiers, his earliest comrades, and his most devoted followers. Yesaji Kank and Baji Pasalkar were Mavle chieftains of his own age; they gathered round him very early and were enrolled as his first captains. So, also, was Tanaji Malusare, a young deshmukh of Konkan. (Chit. 32.)
§5. Shivaji s choice of a career.
In their company young Shivaji wandered over the hills and forests of the Sahyadri range, and along the mazes of the river valleys, thus hardening himself to a life of privation and strenuous exertion, as well
- ↑ * Raj. xv. 316 and 393 records the story of one of his reverses: "Dadaji Kond-dev came to Shivapur. Among the 12 Mavals, Krishnaji Nayak Bandal, the deshmukh of Hirdas Maval, had seized another man's lands and refused to give them up. Dadaji marched against him, but was defeated and forced to retreat to Shivapur. He then sent Kanhoji Nayak Zedhe to persuade Krishnaji and other Maval deshmukhs to come for an interview." Chitnis, 33, says that Bandal refused to come and wait on Shivaji, who marched against him, captured and put him to death. This is incorrect, as the subjugation of the Mavals was completed by Dadaji.
