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

Consequently, when the Marathas themselves advanced menacingly towards Sirhind, there was a great commotion caused in the Muslim ranks even before a regular battle was joined, and they were completely routed in the initial skirmishes and their commander was caught alive. This news made Taimurshah, the son of Abdali and his governor of Punjab, and his commander-in-chief, Jahankhan, leave off their original plan of defending Lahore and in the face of this forceful and precipitate Maratha counter- offensive, both of them struck an honourable retreat to Kabul along with all their army, hardly daring to face the Marathas on the battlefield. Abdali had strictly urged upon them that they were under no circumstances to let the vast treasures of millions (crores) of rupees, which was still in their possession, to fall in the enemy hands. As such, they tried utmost to carry it safely, retreating in as orderly a manner as was possible. But the Marathas not only pursued them even beyond Lahore but they played such a havoc in the Muslim ranks that Traimurshab crossed Attock and fled to his own province, leaving behind at various places all his elephants, horses, camels, and all the treasure in cash and jewellery, gold and silver. He had nothing to carry home of the vast plunder from India, except his own life! Whatever else belonged to him, was either sacked or destroyed by the Marathas. Whatever little of his Afghan army escaped only with their lives to Kabul like their governor, were the only ones that remained alive! All of the veteran Pathan army of fifteen to twenty thousand strong, which was kept behind in Delhi and Punjab by Abdali to annihilate the Hindus and the Hindu religion throughout India, was attacked group by group and massacred by the Marathas in the battles and skirmishes fought with them. 1065. Thus, by inflicting crushing and humiliating defeats on Emperor Ahmadshah Abdali and by reconquering from the Afghan empire the whole vast region from Sindh to Multan and Multan to Sirhind, the Marathas once again gained the de facto control over the governance and administration of this extensive province which they had earlier gained by a paper treaty with the Moghal emperor! But the then Moghal emperor and his Vazir, Gazi-ud-din, themselves knew very well that in their own interest, too, it was essential that the Marathas should do this. Hence, the Emperor himself gave order that Raghunathrao’s formal triumphant entry into Lahore for the settlement of the affairs there, was to be celebrated publicly with all pomp and festivities. All the Hindu chieftains of Kashmir, Dogra nobles, Missals of the Sikhs and the so-called Muslim Empire,