"Even if Bajirao the First, that means your father, had he been here, he would have listened to me. Because I'm an old timer who worked with your father."

The Physical Block:

Raghunath Rao not ready to back down
Horkhar got off the horse
Grabbed the horse's leg of Raghunath Rao
Said: "Get off the horse and then go forward"
"First go over me and then only you can go forward"

Translation: Over my dead body. 💀

The Result

Raghunath Rao Backs Down

What Happened:

Raghunath Rao got very angry
But he came back to his tent
Didn't fight Najeeb Khan
Horkhar successfully stopped the battle

The Father-Son Bond

Why Horkhar Protected Najeeb Khan

The Count:

"Horkhar had saved the life of Nazeep Khan twice because of some objective that was inside him, which was difficult to fathom for others."

He Only Knew: The real reason was known only to Horkhar.

The Relationship:

Horkhar considered Najeeb Khan as his son
Najeeb Khan considered Horkhar like his father
Deep personal bond
Not just political alliance

Why It Mattered:

"Nazeep was really lucky that Horkhar was willing to go to bat for him."

The Future Problem

A Headache for Marathas

The Situation:

In the future, this was going to be difficult for the Marathas
Nazeep Khan was going to be the problem
Horkhar was willing to safeguard him

The Assessment:

"This was not the best way forward, but this was going to be a headache."

Why:

Not very sustainable for Marathas
To just let Nazeep run without any consequence
But Horkhar kept protecting him
Created ongoing problem

The Holy Dip

After Putting Delhi in Order

What Happened:

After putting Delhi in proper order
Went to holy place for dip in the Ganges

Why the Ganges:

For Marathas: Ganges and Yamuna both holy
But more Ganges is holy river in itself
Not something they could do every day
They lived in far south
So it was a big occasion when they could do such things

Najeeb Khan's Retreat

Leaving Saharanpur

What Happened:

Najeeb Khan and his army
Left the Saharanpur area
At the foothills of Himalayas

The Result:

Now Marathas were having access to all that area

His Thinking:

"This is getting too hot. So he just decided to retreat."

About Saharanpur:

Their natural area for Rohila Khand (Rohilas)
That's where they spent a lot of time
But they retreated from there

The Tribute Collection Spree

Kunjapura & Sirhind

Kunjapura:

Went up to Kunjapura
Got tribute of 5 lakh rupees
From some strong man there
Majabat Khan or somebody like that

Sirhind:

Abdas Samad Khan (or whoever) was at Sirhind
Sirhind = one of the towns before Punjab
If you go west of that, then you get into Punjab
He took control of Sirhind

The Assessment:

"He was having a good spree. Winning spree."

The Sikhs Rising

New Power in Punjab

What Was Happening:

The Sikhs were now getting some power
Along with them (Marathas), they got hold of Sirhind

Important: Sikhs were beginning to emerge as a force in the region.

The Punjab Invitation

Adina Beg's Call

New Part:

Adina Beg gave the invitation for Marathas to attack Punjab
(Was he Punjab Subedar? Will come up later)
But yeah, he invited Marathas to attack Punjab

The Context:

Adina Beg came to power after "this lady" was kicked out
The one who invited Abdali to India
(Name forgotten in conversation)

Why Punjab Matters

The Strategic Importance

The Geography:

Punjab is on the border
Once you cross Punjab, you get into Afghan territory
West of Punjab = more Afghan

The Historical Context:

When Aurangzeb was around
Even that area was under Mughal control
But then Abdali came
Started making things difficult

How Much Has Changed:

"Much has changed here in the last 50 years since Aurangzeb's death."

Delhi's Security = Punjab Control

The Weakest Link

The Reality:

"Delhi's security was dependent on Punjab's being able to control Punjab. Because that's how Abdali would come into India."

The Logic:

Punjab you have to control
Otherwise, very easy for Abdali to come into India
It's the weakest link

Who Needs to Control It:

Has to be in the hands of either Mughals or Marathas
Mughals now were not very powerful (implied)

The Punjab Power Structure

Taimur Shah vs Adina Beg

In Lahore:

Taimur Shah (Abdali's son)
Was like in his teenage (11 years old mentioned)
Was the Subedar
Supposed to be taking care of Punjab
Lahore = capital of Punjab

In Jalandhar:

Adina Beg
His writ went up to Jalandhar
Not quite as west as Lahore
Living in kind of uneasy peace with Taimur Shah

Adina Beg's Betrayal

Breaking with Taimur Shah

What Changed:

Adina Beg did not cooperate with Taimur
Called Raghunath Rao for help
Basically decided not to cooperate with Taimur Shah anymore

Why:

Share the power or income or whatever
Taimur Shah was in Lahore
Hoping to get control of entire Punjab
That was Abdali's dream

The Problem:

"That wasn't their conventional kingdom or conventional province because that has nothing to do with Afghanistan."

But:

Because Abdali was a strong man
He thought he had to get Punjab
Keep it going

The Hatred of Jahan Khan

Punjab's Resentment

Who He Was:

Jahan Khan = commander-in-chief of Abdali
People in Punjab hated him

The Threat:

"At any given time, there could be a revolt against the Afghan rule in Lahore."

Why He Was There:

Probably stationed in Lahore
Because Taimur Shah was barely a teenage boy
Obviously doesn't know how to wage war
Jahan Khan = adult in the room
He was the commander-in-chief

The Money Offer

One Lakh Rupees Per Day

Adina Beg's Promise:

Promised Marathas he would help them
By giving them 1 lakh rupees a day 💰
Hundred thousand rupees EVERY DAY

Why Marathas Agreed:

"It was a monetary offer that they thought was attractive. They were working like soldiers of fortune, more or less."

The Common Theme: Getting paid lots and lots.

Abdali's Punjab Problem

The Back-and-Forth

The History:

Abdali had tried to take control three times before
Failed - meaning it was going back and forth
He's installing his Subedar
Then Marathas or Mughals would drive them out
In contention

Now:

Marathas were thinking of getting their control on Punjab
That was their objective

The March to Lahore

From Sirhind

What Happened:

Marathas took off from Sirhind toward Lahore

Jahan Khan's Response:

Was in Lahore (commander-in-chief of Abdali)
Decided to go meet Marathas midway (probably)

The Problem:

Because of huge force that Marathas had assembled
He kind of lost his courage
Maybe didn't have enough army with him
Just thought: not going to be easy to win that battle

The Result:

"He lost his will to fight."

Abdali's Afghan Problem

Can't Send Reinforcements

The Hope:

Jahan Khan and Taimur Shah were hoping
They will get some extra troops from Abdali in Afghanistan

The Reality:

Abdali himself was trying to pacify the revolt
In certain areas of Afghanistan
There are lots of tribes
They have local strongholds

What Abdali Was Trying to Do:

Develop a nationwide government presence
Make sure all the tribes come with him
But they're fiercely independent tribes

The Challenge:

"He was trying to bring it under one rule (his rule), but that was not going to be easy. He has to basically pacify them in their own stronghold areas."

The Consequence:

He couldn't send any extra troops
Because he needed them himself
Couldn't afford it
Stretching too thin

The Ravi River Crossing

Afghan Retreat Strategy

What Happened:

Afghans left Lahore
Crossed the Ravi
Probably felt a little safe

Why:

By crossing the river, thought they wouldn't be followed
And even if they were:
Crossing the river for Maratha army = not a given
Difficult maneuver

The Logistics:

For such a big force
Wasn't happening easily
Would be easily noticeable
With all your camels, elephants, horses
Would take some time

Afghan Mastery of Rivers

Their Secret Advantage

The Skill:

Afghans had mastered that art
Not of "retreat strategically"
Of crossing the rivers

Why They Had To:

"To come to Delhi, he had to cross at least four or five rivers."

The Result:

That was something he had developed
Asked (mastered)
Strategic advantage

Key Players

Name	Role	Status
Horkhar	Maratha veteran	Protected Najeeb Khan twice, "old timer" who worked with Bajirao I
Najeeb Khan	Rohila leader	Like son to Horkhar, retreated from Saharanpur
Raghunath Rao	Maratha commander	Wanted to fight Najeeb, backed down when Horkhar blocked him
Bajirao I	Deceased Peshwa	Raghunath Rao's father, respected by Horkhar
Adina Beg	Punjab power broker	Invited Marathas, promised 1 lakh/day, broke with Taimur Shah
Taimur Shah	Abdali's son	11-year-old teenage Subedar of Lahore
Jahan Khan	Abdali's commander-in-chief	Lost courage, will to fight when saw Maratha force
Abdali	Afghan king	Busy pacifying tribal revolts, can't send reinforcements
Majabat Khan	Strongman	Paid 5 lakh rupee tribute at Kunjapura

Timeline

Date	Event
1757-1758	Cow slaughter incident at Yamuna
1757-1758	Horkhar blocks Raghunath Rao from fighting Najeeb ("over my dead body")
1757-1758	Najeeb Khan retreats from Saharanpur (foothills of Himalayas)
1757-1758	Marathas get access to Saharanpur area
1757-1758	Tribute of 5 lakh collected at Kunjapura (Majabat Khan)
1757-1758	Control of Sirhind taken (with Sikhs)
1757-1758	Adina Beg invites Marathas to attack Punjab
1757-1758	Adina Beg breaks with Taimur Shah, stops cooperating
1757-1758	Adina Beg promises 1 lakh rupees per day
1757-1758	Marathas march from Sirhind toward Lahore
1757-1758	Jahan Khan loses courage when seeing Maratha force
1757-1758	Abdali busy with Afghan tribal revolts, can't send help
1757-1758	Afghans flee Lahore, cross Ravi River

Geographic Context

The Journey:

Yamuna → religious incident
Saharanpur → foothills of Himalayas, Najeeb retreats
Kunjapura → 5 lakh tribute
Sirhind → control taken (gateway to Punjab)
Jalandhar → Adina Beg's territory
Lahore → capital of Punjab, Taimur Shah's base
Ravi River → Afghan retreat line

The Strategy:

Sirhind = before Punjab
West of Sirhind = Punjab
West of Punjab = Afghan territory

Key Themes

1. Horkhar's Loyalty

Protected Najeeb Khan twice
Father-son bond
"Over my dead body" moment
Invoked Bajirao I's memory
Stopped battle physically

2. The Future Headache

Horkhar protecting Najeeb = problem for Marathas
Not sustainable
But Horkhar won't stop
Creates ongoing issue

3. The Money Motivation

1 lakh rupees per day from Adina Beg
"Soldiers of fortune"
Monetary offer = attractive
Common theme: getting paid lots

4. Adina Beg's Game

Lived in uneasy peace with Taimur Shah
Then broke with him
Invited Marathas
Promised huge daily payment
Playing both sides

5. Jahan Khan Loses Courage

Saw huge Maratha force
Lost will to fight
Hoped for reinforcements
But Abdali can't send any

6. Abdali's Afghan Problem

Tribal revolts consuming his attention
Fiercely independent tribes
Trying to create nationwide government
Has to pacify them in strongholds
Stretching too thin

7. Afghan River Mastery

Had to cross 4-5 rivers to reach Delhi
Developed and mastered river crossings
Strategic advantage
Used Ravi as defensive line

Critical Insights

Why Horkhar's Protection Matters

The Problem:

Najeeb Khan = ongoing threat
Horkhar = powerful Maratha veteran
But protects the enemy
Creates impossible situation

The Relationship:

Father-son bond (not blood)
Deep personal connection
Loyalty overrides strategy
"Difficult to fathom for others"

The Future:

Najeeb Khan WILL be a problem
Horkhar WILL protect him
Marathas can't touch Najeeb while Horkhar lives
Not sustainable

The "Over My Dead Body" Moment

What It Shows:

Horkhar's courage (blocking his own commander)
His authority (invoked Bajirao I)
His physicality (grabbed horse's leg)
His determination (literally "go over me")

Why Raghunath Rao Backed Down:

Horkhar was respected veteran
Worked with his father (Bajirao I)
"Old timer" with credibility
Couldn't dishonor him publicly
Got angry but came back to tent

The Significance:

Shows Horkhar's power within Maratha ranks
Shows limits of Raghunath Rao's authority
Shows deep bonds transcend politics
Foreshadows problems when loyalties conflict

The Money Trail

The Offer:

1 lakh rupees PER DAY
That's 100,000 rupees daily
From Adina Beg

The Math:

If campaign lasts months...
That's millions of rupees
Very attractive offer

But:

Remember from other transcripts
They came back 80 lakh MORE in debt
So where did the money go?
Adina Beg didn't deliver?
Or it all went to expenses?

The Pattern:

"Soldiers of fortune"
Working for money
But not bringing profit home
Just spending to maintain army

Abdali's Vulnerability

The Window:

Abdali can't send reinforcements
Busy with tribal revolts
Fiercely independent Afghan tribes
Trying to create central government
Never happened before in Afghanistan

The Task:

Pacify tribes in their strongholds
Bring them under one rule (his rule)
Not going to be easy
Stretching too thin

The Opportunity:

Jahan Khan lost courage
Taimur Shah just a teenage boy
No reinforcements coming
Afghans fleeing

But:

This is temporary
Abdali WILL pacify the tribes (eventually)
Then he'll be back
With full force

Afghan River Mastery

Why It Matters:

Had to cross 4-5 rivers to reach Delhi
Developed and mastered the technique
Strategic skill

The Advantage:

Can retreat across rivers safely
Difficult maneuver for pursuers
Time-consuming with elephants, camels, horses
Easily noticeable
Gives them defensive position

The Implication:

Marathas not as skilled at river crossings
Afghans use this as defensive tactic
Natural barrier they exploit
Part of why they can raid and retreat successfully

Foreshadowing

What's Coming

The Horkhar Problem:

He'll keep protecting Najeeb
Creates ongoing headache
Not sustainable for Marathas
Eventually something has to give

The Abdali Return:

He's temporarily busy
But he's pacifying those tribes
When he's done → he's coming back
With full force
Jahan Khan and Taimur Shah waiting

The Money Problem:

1 lakh per day promised
But we know they end up MORE in debt
Something goes wrong
Either Adina Beg doesn't pay
Or costs exceed revenue

The River Crossings:

Afghans mastered them
Marathas less skilled
Will matter in future battles
Geographic advantage for Afghans

The Sikhs:

Getting "some power"
Rising force
Will be factor in Punjab
Wild card in future conflicts

1757-1758: Horkhar's finest hour and the seed of future problems. Raghunath Rao wants to fight Najeeb Khan over cow slaughter at the Yamuna. Horkhar physically blocks him - gets off his horse, grabs Raghunath Rao's horse's leg. "Even your father Bajirao would have listened to me. I'm an old timer. First go over me, then you can go forward." Over my dead body. Raghunath Rao backs down, furious but respectful. Horkhar saved Najeeb twice now. Father-son bond, not blood but deeper. Will be a headache for Marathas. Meanwhile, Najeeb retreats from Saharanpur. Marathas on winning spree - 5 lakh from Kunjapura, control of Sirhind with rising Sikhs. Then Adina Beg's golden invitation: "Come attack Punjab, I'll give you 1 lakh rupees PER DAY." Soldiers of fortune say yes. They march from Sirhind to Lahore. Jahan Khan sees the force, loses courage, loses will to fight. Hopes for reinforcements from Abdali. But Abdali's busy - fiercely independent Afghan tribes revolting, trying to create central government, stretching too thin, can't send help. So Afghans flee Lahore, cross the Ravi River. Their secret advantage: mastered river crossings (had to, coming to Delhi requires crossing 4-5 rivers). Defensive position now. But window is open. Abdali's vulnerable. For now.