As soon as he reached Gwálior, he commenced hostilities against Ráná Chattar Singh, who possessed all the country round Gohad, and laid siege to the town itself. Godh is the name of a city, founded by the aforesaid Ráná. It is fortified with earthen towers and battlements, and is situated eighteen kos from Gwálior. Mádhú Ráo, during the continuance of the siege, kept constantly sending messages to Ráná Chattar Singh, telling him to persist in his opposition to Raghunáth with a stout heart, as the army of the Dakhin should not be despatched to his kingdom to reinforce the latter. In a word, for the period of a year they used the most arduous endeavours to capture Gohad, but failed in attaining their object. During this cam­paign, the sum of thirty-two lacs of rupees, taken from the pay of the troops and the purses of the wealthy bankers, was in­curred by Raghunáth Ráo as a debt to be duly repaid. He then returned to the Dakhin distressed and overwhelmed with shame, and entered the city of Násik, whither Mádhú Ráo also repaired about the same time, to see and inquire after his fortunes. In the course of the interview, he expressed the deepest regret for the toils and disappointment that the Ráo had endured, and ultimately returned in haste to Púná, after thus sprinkling salt on the galling wound. Shortly after this, Kankumá Tántiá and his other friends persuaded Raghunáth Ráo to adopt a Brahmin's son. ^{* *} Accordingly the Ráo attended to the advice of his foolish counsellors, and selected an individual for adoption. He constituted Amrat Ráo his heir.

Raghunáth Ráo's imprisonment at Púná.

Mádhú Ráo no sooner became cognizant of this fact, than he felt certain that Raghunáth Ráo was meditating mischief and rebellion, and seeking to usurp a share in the sovereignty of the realm. He consequently set out for Násik with a force of 25,000 horsemen, whilst, on the other hand, Raghunáth Ráo also organ­ized his troops, and got ready for warfare. Just about that period, however, Kankumá Tántiá and Takújí Holkar,* who were two of the most powerful and influential men in Raghunáth's army, declared to him that it was necessary for them to respect their former obligations to Mádhú Ráo, and therefore improper to draw the sword upon him. After a long altercation, they left the Ráo where he was, and departed from Násik. Raghunáth, from the paucity of his troops, not deeming it advantageous to fight, preferred enduring disgrace, and fled with 2000 adherents to the fort of Dhúdhat.*

Mádhú Ráo then entered Násik, and commenced seques­trating his property and imprisoning his partisans; after which he pitched his camp at the foot of the above-named fort, and placed Raghunáth in a most precarious position. For two or three days the incessant discharge of artillery and musketry caused the flames of war to blaze high, but pacific negocia-tions were subsequently opened, and a firm treaty of friend­ship entered into, whereupon the said Ráo came down from the fort, and had an interview with Mádhú Ráo. The latter then placed his head upon the other's feet, and asked pardon for his offences. Next day, having mounted Raghunáth Ráo on his own private elephant, he himself occupied the seat usually assigned to the attendants, and continued for several days travel­ling in this fashion the distance to Púná. As soon as they entered Púná, Mádhú Ráo, imitating the behaviour of an in­ferior to a superior, exceeded all bounds in his kind and consoling attentions towards Raghunáth Ráo. After that he selected a small quantity of goods and a moderate equipment of horses and elephants, out of his own establishment, and having de­posited them all together in one of the most lofty and spacious apartments, solicited Raghunáth Ráo in a respectful manner to take up his abode there. The latter then became aware of his being a prisoner with the semblance of freedom, and reluctantly complied with Mádhú Ráo's requisition.

Rája of Nágpúr.

As soon as Mádhú Ráo had delivered his mind from all apprehension regarding Raghunáth Ráo, he led his army in the direction of Nágpúr, in order to avenge himself on Jánújí Bhonsla, the Rája of that place, who had been an ally and auxiliary of Raghunáth Ráo, in one of his engagements. The Rája in question, not finding himself capable of resisting him, fled from his original residence; so that for a period of three months Mádhú Ráo was actively engaged in pursuing his adversary, and that unfortunate outcast from his native land was constantly fleeing before him. Ultimately, having presented an offering of fifteen lacs of rupees, he drew back his foot from the path of flight, and set out in safety and security for his own home.

Mádhú Ráo's Death.

After chastising the Rája of Nágpúr, Mádhú Ráo entered Púná with immense pomp and splendour, and amused himself with gay and festive entertainments. But he was attacked with a fatal disease, and ^{* *} his life was in danger. On one occasion he laid his head on Raghunáth Ráo's feet, and ^{* *} asked for­giveness for the faults of bygone days. Raghunáth Ráo grieved deeply on account of his youth. ^{* *} He applied himself zealously to the cure of the invalid, and whenever he found a trace, in any quarter or direction, of austere Brahmins and skilful Pandits, he sent for them to administer medicines for his recovery. At length, when the sick man began to despair of living, he imitated the example of his deceased father, and placed his younger brother, whose name was Naráin Ráo, under the charge of Raghunáth Ráo, and having performed the duty of recommend­ing him to his care, yielded up his soul in the year 1186 A.H. (1772 A.D.). The duration of his reign was twelve years.

Naráin Ráo, son of Bálájí Ráo.

Naráin Ráo, after being seated on the throne of sovereignty, owing to his tender age, committed various acts that produced an ill-feeling among his adherents, both great and small, at Púná; more especially in Raghunáth Ráo, on whom he inflicted un­becoming indignities. Although Mádhú Ráo had not behaved towards his uncle with the respect due to such a relative, yet, beyond this much, that he would not grant him permission to move away from Púná, he had treated him with no other incivility; but used always, till the day of his death, to show him the at­tention due from an inferior to a superior; and supplied him with wealth and property far exceeding the limits of his wants. In short, Raghunáth Ráo, having begun to form plans for taking Naráin Ráo prisoner, first disclosed his secret to Sakhá Rám Bápú, who was Mádhú Ráo's prime minister, and having seduced that artless courtier from his allegiance, made him an accomplice in his treacherous designs. Secondly, having induced Kharak Singh and Shamsher Singh, the chiefs of the body of Gárdís, to join his conspiracy, he raised the standard of insurrection. Accordingly, those two faithless wretches one day, under the pretence of demanding pay for the troops, made an assault on the door of Naráin Ráo's apartment, and reduced him to great distress. That helpless being, who had not the slightest cog­nizance of the deceitful stratagems of the conspirators, despatched a few simple-minded adherents to oppose the insurgents, and then stealthily repaired to Raghunáth Ráo's house. Kharak Singh and Shamsher Singh, being apprised of the circumstance, hurried after him, and, unsheathing their swords, rushed into Raghunáth Ráo's domicile. Raghunáth Ráo first fell wounded in the affray, and subsequently Naráin Ráo was slain. This event took place in the year 1187 A.H., so that the period of Naráin Ráo's reign was one year.