Shivaji was closely watching the internal tribulations of the Mughals. When the Mughal princes got busy in the war of succession, Shivaji broke the power of the Adilshahi of Bijapur and got many of its territories in his kingdom. At this time Adilshah (II) was sitting on the throne of Bijapur. It was the same Adilshahi that engulfed the small Hindu kingdoms standing on the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire and kept Shahaji in his prison for four years.
Afzal Khan's campaign
The Sultan of Bijapur understood that if strict action was not taken against Shivaji, Shivaji would swallow up the entire Adilshahi. Therefore, in AD 1659, Afzal Khan was sent on a campaign against Shivaji with a huge army. He was told that no treaty should be made with Shivaji, he should either be taken prisoner or he should be killed. Afzal Khan was a man of wide dealings and wicked nature. He never kept his words, ruthlessly killed even the enemy who had taken refuge. He had experience of many wars. He announced in the court that without getting off the horse, he would take the cunning Shivaji captive and tie him to the feet of the throne.
Shivaji's Pledge
Here Shivaji also wanted to kill Afzal Khan because Afzal Khan had killed and annihilated many Hindus by deceit. Kasturi Rangan, the Hindu ruler of Shira, had come to Afzal Khan's refuge after renouncing the war and Afzal Khan had promised to protect him. Even after that, Afzal Khan brutally murdered Kasturi Rangan along with his family. Even Afzal Khan had killed Shivaji's elder brother Sambhaji. Shivaji did not want to leave this enemy of Hindus alive at any cost.
Afzal Khan proceeded to spread fear and terror in Shivaji's army, destroying all the Hindu temples and deities along the way and destroying the villages. He camped near Bai. Seeing the preparations of Afzal Khan, Shivaji went to Pratapgarh fort. This fort was situated on a thin top of the mountain. Shivaji could neither be taken out by climbing on it nor could he be seated by encircling it. So Afzal Khan weaved a fraudulent web. He sent Kulkarni Brahmin Krishnaji Bhaskar to Shivaji and got him to say that Afzal Khan is a friend of Shivaji's father Shahji. If Shivaji makes a treaty after walking with Afzal, then Shivaji will be given a clemency from the Sultan. Shivaji warmly welcomed Krishnaji Bhaskar and his companions and arranged their stay in such a way that Shivaji could meet Krishnaji Bhaskar in private, without coming in the sight of Krishnaji's companions. Shivaji told Krishnaji and his companions that because of my foolishness I have committed very serious crimes for which I am ashamed. If Afzal Khan wants me to get pardon from Shah, I am ready to surrender and wish to return all the forts. Krishnaji and his companions were satisfied with this answer of Shivaji.
Finding solitude in the night, Shivaji reached to meet Krishna and holding the Brahmin's feet said - "Whatever I have done till date, I have done for the good of Hindu religion and Hindutva. I have been ordered by Tulja Bhavani in my dream to protect the deities enshrined in cows, Brahmins and Hindu temples. I am working to eliminate and punish the anti-religious people who are destroying the temples. It is your duty as a Brahmin to help me in this holy work. For this you will get both merit and reward.” Saying this Shivaji gave valuable gifts to Krishnaji and promised to reward a village named Dipra. He also promised to let this village remain with Krishna's family from generation to generation.
Krishnaji had come at this time as a messenger of the wicked Afzal Khan, but he too was deeply saddened by the atrocities being committed by the Muslims on the Hindu subjects. So he decided to help Shivaji, the protector of Hindu religion and Praja Vatsal King. He told Shivaji that Afzal Khan had vowed that he would take Shivaji captive and present him before the Sultan. Krishnaji advised Shivaji that it is better to make a treaty with the Sultan in any way because you cannot be victorious by any means. Shivaji agreed with Krishnaji's words and appointed his messenger Gopinath Pantoji to Afzal Khan to decide the terms of the treaty. Krishnaji Bhaskar took Pantoji with him to Afzal Khan's camp.
Krishnaji explained to Afzal Khan that Shivaji was ready to make a treaty because he knew that he could not win by fighting Afzal Khan. Gopinath Pantoji was a shrewd politician. He persuaded Afzal Khan to meet Shivaji in the presence of one of his bodyguards and Shivaji also came to meet with one of his bodyguards. If Afzal Khan takes the responsibility of protecting Shivaji, Shivaji will surrender to the Sultan. Afzal Khan had great faith in his physical strength. He was pleased to think that Shiva was coming to get himself trapped in the net woven by Afzal Khan, so he agreed to meet Shivaji at the bottom of Pratapgad fort.
Preparation to kill Afzal Khan
On November 10, 1659, between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, it was decided to meet between the two. Shivaji made all possible preparations to deal with Afzal Khan. He erected a canopy on the sloping ground below the Pratapgarh fort, which was open from all sides. To reach there, a road was made by cutting trees and bushes from bottom to top and all other routes were well closed with thorny bushes. Shivaji hid his Mavli army under the leadership of Netaji Palkar and Peshwa Moropant in mountain caves and bushes who could reach out to Shivaji and help him in any crisis. He was also instructed that as soon as there is the sound of cannon firing from the fort, the Mawli army should immediately attack Afzal Khan's army.
At the appointed time, Afzal Khan left for Pratapgarh fort with about one and a half thousand soldiers with him. Gopinath Panto asked him to leave his bodyguards here otherwise Shivaji would not come to meet him. On this, Afzal Khan left the army at the foot of the fort and started climbing the hill of the fort with his bodyguard Syed Banda and mediator Krishnaji Bhaskar. On the other hand, Shivaji started preparing for this meeting from the morning itself. He worshiped Tulja Bhavani. Wearing an iron mesh dress on the body and wearing loose-fitting clothes over it. He wore a steel cap under the headdress, and hid the tiger in his left hand and the nettle under the right hand. On completion of all the preparations, Shivaji grabbed the feet of Mata Jijabai and sought blessings and left for the destination. Two bodyguards named Tanaji Malsure and Jeevamahala accompanied Shivaji.
Afzal Khan reached the awning before Shivaji. Luxurious precious carpets were laid in the awning. Seeing them, Afzal Khan took a sarcasm that the boy of a vassal does not suit so much elegance. Then Gopinath Panto replied - 'Huzur, all this stuff will be presented to the service of Bijapur Sultan with Shivaji's surrender.' Shivaji had not come yet, so messengers were sent to bring him. Afzal Khan started getting angry at this arrogance of Shivaji. After some time Shivaji appeared with Tanaji Malsure and Jeevmahala coming near the shamiana. Afzal Khan's bodyguard, Syed Banda, was also a very strong and well-mannered person like Afzal Khan. Seeing him, Shivaji stood standing outside the awning. Afzal Khan understood his problem after seeing Shivaji, who had a simple body of short stature and asked Syed Banda to retreat. Shivaji came inside the awning and greeted Afzal Khan. Afzal Khan asked Krishnaji Bhaskar, is this Shivaji? When Krishnaji Bhaskar said yes, Afzal Khan asked Shivaji- "Why did you loot our forts and make them desolate?"
Shivaji replied- "I have served the state, I have driven the dacoits and robbers out of the forts and got Shah captured. I should be rewarded, not punished."
Afzal Khan angrily said- "You have become so fearless now that you are not even afraid of Shah."
Shivaji said- "No Khan sir, I am serving Shah and will always be his servant."
Afzal Khan said- "Well whatever happened, now you return all the forts to me and go with me to Bijapur to ask Shah for forgiveness of your crimes."
Shivaji said- "If I get such a decree from Shah, I will follow it by keeping it on my head."
Then Krishnaji Bhaskar said- "You are now under Khan's protection, bow down and salute and apologize, Khan will forgive you."
Shivaji replied- "Khan and I are the servants of the Sultan, then how can Khan forgive my crimes? Still, if you tell me, I cannot disobey your orders and lay my head in Khan's lap." Saying this Shivaji and Khan proceeded to hug.
While hugging, Afzal Khan grabbed Shivaji's neck tightly in his arms and tried to strangle him. Shivaji was nothing compared to Afzal Khan in terms of physical strength, he could barely reach Afzal Khan's shoulders. Shivaji, in order to get rid of Afzal Khan's grip, took out his intestines by striking him on the stomach with a tiger tied in his left hand, which loosened Afzal Khan's grip. As soon as he got the opportunity, Shivaji inflicted more severe blows on Khan's stomach with the nettle stuck in his right hand. Afzal Khan cried loudly. Seeing both of them, their attendants also went to the awning. Syed Banda inflicted a terrible blow on Shivaji's head with his sword. Due to this the steel cap placed under Shivaji's turban was cut and Shivaji was also hit on his head. Jeevmahala also came running and he cut off the hand of Syed Banda by striking him with a sword. Syed Banda continued to fight with the other hand. Meanwhile, the Kahars of Afzal Khan picked up Afzal Khan and put him in the palanquin and started running away with him. Then Shivaji's soldiers, hiding nearby, came out and beheaded Afzal Khan and took him and fled towards Pratapgarh fort. There he was hanged in a high bamboo and displayed it from the turret of the fort and shouted the sky piercing. The murder of Kasturi Rangan and his innocent family was well avenged. The Hindus who were killed by Afzal Khan very cruelly and deceitfully, the hero of the same Hindus had cleared the account of Afzal Khan.
When Shivaji reached the fort safely, a cannon was fired from the fort. Netaji Palkar and his Mavli army came out of the forest and attacked the Bijapuri army. The Bijapuri army was very large, but due to the sudden attack and the non-return of Afzal Khan, he became bewildered and disoriented and started running here and there. The Mavli army was cutting the Muslim soldiers at a very high speed, so many Muslims surrendered by keeping their weapons. Knowing him as a refuge, his life was spared.
Huge war material and money receipt
Shivaji received a huge amount of weapons, tents, cannons, elephants and horses and ten lakh rupees in cash from Afzal Khan's tents. Shivaji collected his soldiers and distributed the money to them in prizes. The injured and the dead were assisted by giving money and pension. The news of this victory of Shivaji spread like fire far and wide. His miraculous tales started spreading among the Hindu subjects. The subjects started to feel that this king was sent as divine help to protect the Hindus.
Slaughter of Khanduji
There was a general named Khanduji Kakre in Shivaji's army. Afzal Khan's family caught his hand while fleeing from Bijapuri Dera. Afzal Khan's family begged for their lives by bribing Khanduji. In the greed of money, Khanduji evacuated this family safely to Kurat on the banks of river Kuyana. This thing became known to Shivaji. By the orders of Shivaji, the treacherous Khanduji was beheaded.
Defeat of Fazal Khan and Rustam-e-Jahan
Shortly after the killing of Afzal Khan, in January 1660, Adilshah sent Afzal Khan's son Fazal Khan to punish Shivaji. A noble named Rustam-i-Jahan also joined Fazl Khan with his army. Malik Itbar, Aziz Khan's son Fateh Khan, Sarjerao Ghatge and other chieftains were also sent with Fazal Khan. Shivaji gave a tremendous dust to this huge army of Bijapur. Snatched 12 elephants and 200 horses from the Muslim army.
Treaty between Shivaji and Shahji
After the failure of Afzal Khan, Fazal Khan and Rustam-i-Jahan, Ali Adilshah (II) entrusted the responsibility of Shivaji's father Shahaji to make a treaty with his son Shivaji on behalf of Bijapur State. When Shivaji got the news of Shahji's arrival, he walked for many miles and reached to receive his father. Father and son met in a temple. Shivaji made Shahaji with respect in a palanquin and himself walking barefoot with the palanquin brought him to his residence. Shahji stayed with Jijabai and Shivaji for about one and a half months in this journey. शिवाजी ने अपने पिता को वचन दिया कि अब वह अकारण बीजापुर राज्य पर आक्रमण नहीं करेगा। उसने शाहजी को सुझाव दिया कि मुगल फिर से दक्खिन को रौंदने के लिए आ रहे हैं इसलिए शिवाजी, बीजापुर तथा गोलकुण्डा, तीनों मिलकर एक संघ बनाएं और मुगलों का सामना करें। डेढ़ माह बाद शाहजी, शिवाजी से विदा लेकर पुनः आदिलशाह के पास लौट गया।