भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

called Nawabs, Nizams, Raos, Kings and courtiers presented themselves in
the magnificent Darbar in the afternoon. Everyone of them, the political as
well as the civil administrators, nay, even the imperial army in Punjab,
vowed allegiance to the Peshwa at Poona and Raghunathrao was honoured
as the representative of that Peshwa. Every one of them tendered his
homage in the form of rich gifts to Raghunathrao. At night, the whole city
was gloriously illumined. Dazzling fireworks were displayed everywhere.
Even the neighbouring cities round about Lahore celebrated that feast of
light and fireworks display.
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, Shahjahan 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 congratulatory 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-Padpadshahi 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
unconceivable Maratha victory, that they could not convey their feeling 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 5th 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 acquistion of the terrirories there? (Your Excellency’s)
fame has spread far and wide in Hindusthan (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 Hindusthan (North India)!
As such, your Excellency’s success vies with the mountains! Your
Excellency is (destined to be) successful. How can this poor servant of