"Phaad Denge Mughal Sultanat Ki Chaati Agar Maratha Samrajya Ke Virodh Sochne Ki Jurrat Ki!"
These words, roared in the film Chhaava, are not just dialogue. They are the spirit of a warrior who refused to kneel. They capture the fire that burned within Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a king who lived and died for Swarajya. His life was not just about war—it was about unbreakable will, betrayal, pain, and an undying fight for freedom.

Sambhaji was not just a ruler; he was a son who carried his father’s dream, a leader who fought against impossible odds, and a man whose body was torn apart, but whose spirit remained unshaken.

This is not just a story from history. This is the story of a man who chose suffering over surrender, pain over betrayal, and death over dishonor.
The Rise of a Warrior King Born on May 14, 1657, at Purandar Fort, Sambhaji was raised in the crucible of war and politics. As the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his childhood was shaped by relentless conflicts against the Mughals, Adilshahis, and Portuguese. He mastered warfare, statecraft, and diplomacy at an early age, preparing for the battles that would define his life.

At just nine years old, he was imprisoned along with his father by Aurangzeb in Agra. But their daring escape became the stuff of legends, proving the tactical brilliance of the Marathas. However, Sambhaji’s greatest battle was yet to come—not against an external enemy, but within his own kingdom.
After Shivaji’s death in 1680, a conspiracy led by his stepmother Soyarabai attempted to place her son Rajaram on the throne. But Sambhaji, known for his sharp intellect and strategic mind, overcame this betrayal and was crowned Chhatrapati in 1681. His ascension marked the beginning of an era where the Marathas would no longer just defend—they would attack.

A Warrior Who Knew No Defeat
Unlike his father, who strategically built alliances, Sambhaji chose direct confrontation. His reign was marked by unrelenting warfare. In 1681, he launched a surprise attack on Burhanpur, a wealthy Mughal city. His forces plundered it, sending a message to Aurangzeb—the Marathas would not bow down.

This attack enraged Aurangzeb, who personally led his imperial army to crush the Marathas. What followed was an eight-year-long war, where Sambhaji used guerilla tactics to inflict massive damage on the Mughals. Despite being outnumbered, he turned the Deccan into a graveyard for Mughal forces, forcing Aurangzeb into a drawn-out struggle he never anticipated.

One of his most remarkable campaigns was against the Siddis of Janjira, a powerful naval force allied with the Mughals. Though unable to completely capture Janjira, Sambhaji’s relentless assaults weakened their dominance, marking a significant shift in coastal power.

A Scholar and Just Ruler
Beyond the battlefield, Sambhaji was a scholar and a patron of knowledge. Fluent in Sanskrit, Persian, and Portuguese, he authored Budhbhushanam, a Sanskrit treatise. His rule upheld justice and religious harmony, continuing Shivaji’s policy of secular governance. Unlike Aurangzeb’s oppressive rule, Sambhaji ensured that all communities lived with dignity under Maratha rule.

The Betrayal and Martyrdom of a True King
But even the bravest of warriors are not immune to treachery. In 1689, Sambhaji was betrayed by his own people—his brother-in-law Ganoji Shirke, who revealed his location to the Mughals. Captured near Sangameshwar, he was taken in chains before Aurangzeb.

The Mughal emperor, in an attempt to break him, offered mercy in exchange for conversion to Islam and surrendering the Maratha Empire. Sambhaji’s response was unshakable:

“I would rather die a Hindu warrior than live as a coward.”
Aurangzeb’s frustration turned into rage and cruelty. For weeks, Sambhaji was subjected to inhumane torture—his eyes were gouged out, his tongue cut off, his flesh ripped apart—but he did not beg for mercy. On March 11, 1689, he was executed, his body cut into pieces and thrown into a river.

Aurangzeb believed that killing Sambhaji would crush the Maratha spirit. He was wrong.

A Legacy That Shook the Mughals

Chhava movie

Sambhaji Maharaj’s brutal execution did not weaken the Marathas; it strengthened them. His death became the rallying cry for a new wave of Maratha resistance. His younger brother Rajaram, his widow Yesubai, and the brave Maratha warriors continued the struggle.

The very empire that tried to erase him was, within a few decades, brought to its knees by the relentless Maratha resurgence. By the mid-18th century, the Marathas had shattered Mughal dominance, rising as the most powerful force in India.

Remembering the Unyielding Spirit
For centuries, Sambhaji’s legacy remained overshadowed by Shivaji’s. But today, his courage, intellect, and sacrifice are being rediscovered. The novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant and the 2025 film Chhaava have rekindled public interest in his extraordinary life.

Vicky Kaushal role of Chhava

His story is not just history—it is a lesson in resilience, leadership, and unwavering defiance against oppression. Sambhaji Maharaj did not die; he became immortal in the spirit of every warrior who refuses to surrender.

As a Marathi ballad rightly says:

“The lion may have fallen, but his cub still roars,
In the heart of the Deccan, his legacy soars.”

The echoes of Sambhaji’s roar still resonate, reminding us that some warriors never truly die—they live on in the blood and fire of history.