When Sambhaji Maharaj Braved 40 Days Of Aurangzeb’s Torture And Refused To Surrender – News18

Last Updated:April 04, 2025, 09:33 IST

Aurangzeb subjected Sambhaji Maharaj to brutal torture for 40 days, but he refused to surrender or change his ways.

The son of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a courageous warrior and a dedicated defender of Hindu Dharma. He remained steadfast even after Aurangzeb cruelly tortured him for more than 40 days. His heroic actions against the Portuguese and the Mughals had a profound impact on Indian history and contributed to the establishment of Hindu dominion in North India.

On 11 March 1689, Sambhaji Maharaj, then 31 years old, was brutally executed in Tulapur, on the banks of the Bhima River near Pune.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj: His Life And Fight for the People

At the age of eight, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj first visited Aurangzeb’s court with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who had a vision of Swarajya. This marked the beginning of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s journey. Even at such a young age, Sambhaji dared to challenge the Mughal ruler, stating that he had gained power at the cost of his own siblings’ lives.

Born at Purandar Fort, Gehrapurandar, on 14 May 1657, Sambhuraje, as he was affectionately known, lost his mother when he was just two years old. He was raised by Jijabai, his paternal grandmother, who instilled in him the ideals of Swarajya and Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy.

Sambhaji was not only a skilled warrior but was also well-versed in both Islamic and Hindu literature, having studied Sanskrit and Persian.

In 1665, Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughals signed the Treaty of Purandar at Sambhuraje’s birthplace. As part of the agreement, the nine-year-old Sambhaji was sent to live as a political hostage with Raja Jai Singh I of Amber. However, Sambhaji Maharaj never missed an opportunity to outwit the Mughals, becoming even more resilient during these difficult years.

As time passed, Sambhaji remained committed to Swarajya and learned from Shivaji Maharaj the skills needed to sustain it and expand the Maratha Empire. He mastered military tactics, political strategy, and cavalry command.

The Maratha forces were strengthened by volunteers from all walks of life who were inspired by Sambhaji’s courage and charismatic leadership. In his early years, he would sit and interact with people of all castes and social groups along the banks of the Kalganga in Maharashtra.

When Shivaji Maharaj was appointed Chhatrapati of the Maratha state, he was prepared to conduct raids against the Mughals. Sambhaji joined him in several successful military campaigns in the following years.

After Shivaji Maharaj’s death in 1680, the Maratha Empire and the Swarajya movement were thrown into chaos and turmoil. However, Sambhaji Maharaj emerged as Swarajya’s guiding light. On 16 January 1681, he became the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire.

In 1682, under Aurangzeb’s command, the Mughals launched an aggressive campaign to capture the Deccan. They aimed to surround the Maratha Empire from all directions. However, Sambhaji’s extensive planning and strategic guerrilla warfare inflicted significant losses on the Mughal army.

Despite their relentless efforts, the Mughals only managed to capture Bijapur and Golconda. In 1687, when the Mughals launched another attack, the Maratha army retaliated fiercely and emerged victorious. However, this victory came at the cost of the life of Hambirrao Mohite, Sambhaji’s trusted commander and confidant.

In 1689, while in Sangameshwar for a meeting with Maratha leaders, Sambhaji was ambushed by a Mughal army. After capturing him, Aurangzeb offered Sambhaji the chance to convert to Islam. However, Chhatrapati Sambhaji refused. As a result, he was shackled, with his hands and neck bound to a wooden plank.

ALSO READ: GK Quiz: Which Maratha Leader Masterminded Guerrilla Warfare Against Mughals?

According to legend, when Aurangzeb ordered Sambhaji to lower his gaze, he defied him by maintaining direct eye contact. Infuriated, Aurangzeb ordered his eyes to be gouged out.

Historian Dennis Kinkead claims that Aurangzeb also had Sambhaji’s tongue cut off when he repeatedly refused to embrace Islam. Despite his grievous injuries, Sambhaji survived for several days, but Aurangzeb intensified the torture. His body parts were mutilated one by one until, on 11 March 1689, he was finally beheaded.

Following Sambhaji Maharaj’s death, Rajaram, the younger son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, was crowned. However, the Mughals also attempted to imprison him. During the conflict with the Mughals in 1699, Rajaram lost his life.

The life of Sambhaji Maharaj—a legacy of struggle and triumph that shaped Indian history—continues to stand as a testament to bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the dream of Swarajya.