An Ode To Panipat 3 Poem by Thinker Shah

When India in suppliance bent, trembled seeing Abdali's scourge,  
From distant Deccan, a gritty and dauntless people did emerge.

While the 'great' Mughals shivered, seeing invincible Durrani's power,  
There were hardy-heroic Maratha men who simply refused to cower.

Abdali's dark shadow eclipsed the land, India's head was cast low,
But from Deccan's heart, a warrior band, rose up to meet the wily foe

The Swaraj seed that Shivaji Raje sowed, had grown into a huge tree,
True to Raireshwar oath, Marathas always fought to keep India free. 

The news from Burari Ghat reached Pune, of Dattaji's severed head,  
'Let's crush Gilchas and save Bharat', Nanasaheb Peshwa sternly said.

From Udgir marched Sadashiv Bhau with his contingent of Maratha men,  
For a showdown with the brute who ravaged India, every now and then.

Was joined by Gardi brothers who were true to their country's salt,  
Prepared to thwart on mother India, looter Afghan's vicious assault.

Rajputs, Jats, or Sikhs; Bhau found support from absolutely none,  
Najib, Waliullah, and Shuja-a traitorous net for Marathas was spun.

At Kunjpura, Decannis made early gains and did trounce Afghans well,  
But the delay and wait cost them dear, and life slowly turned into hell.

The war Council met Bhau, with Maratha swordsmen by their side,  
It was now time for ultimate glory and with Afghans they'd collide.

Bereft of help, deprived of food, the Marathas still chose to bravely fight,  
For Dev, Desh, and Dharma on a distant land, they did golden history write.

At early hours on that Sankrant day,   Marathas made their wild charge
Gardi's booming guns worked wonders with thunderous cannon barrage.

Sadashivrao Bhau struck into Shah Wali's formation, like a bolt of thunder,  
Dazed, stopped dead in tracks, the Afghan army was almost split asunder.

Abdali's left flank faced Maratha guns and was being slowly chiseled away,  
Vithal Shivdev, Damaji, Malharrao, and Jankoji, Marathas really held sway.

Guns boomed, muskets fired, swords clanked, amid smoke and gore,  
With primal roars heroes grappled, utter carnage on the crimson floor 

Marathas piled the ground with Durrani's men; they still wanted more,  
Some panicked  Afghans began to flee, Abdali was shaken to his core.

Just when it looked the invaders were done, a glorious victory was earned,  
Fickle fingers of fate worked against Bharat, and the winning tide turned.

Vishwasrao fell by a stray shot, Commander Sadashiv Bhau lost his mind,  
Jumped off his howda and went after Afghans in a fit of rage, very blind.

Evil Afghan had his plan and unleashed reserves on tired Marathas brave,  
Tables turned, heroes fell, results for Bharat were dark and grave.

A tumultuous battle, a Pyrrhic victory, which even Abdali would regret,  
Soaking the motherland in blood, gallant Marathas paid off their filial debt.

'2 pearls dissolved,27 gold coins lost, of Silver-Copper, there's no count, ' 
In these coded words Nanasaheb Peshwa got the battle's final account.

Triumphant Abdali entered Delhi, trampling on the bodies of heroes slain,  
Perfidious Mughals welcomed him and brazenly switched sides again.

Every house in Deccan lost a man, of broken bangles was many a heap,  
Like phoenix, but Marathas rose; in a decade, they did most of India sweep.

Who actually won and who lost, we can today always dissect and debate,  
The heroes who selflessly died for Bharat we must admire and adulate!

Even Abdali sang paeans for Maratha bravery, but we've forgotten it all,  

Those who forget their past, are condemned to repeat every historical fall!