The two met in a hut at the foothills of Pratapgad fort on 10
November 1659. The arrangements had dictated that each come armed only
with a sword, and attended by a follower. Shivaji, either suspecting
Afzal Khan would attack him[6]:47–52[27] or secretly planning to attack,[28] wore armour beneath his clothes, concealed a bagh nakh (metal "tiger claw") on his left arm, and had a dagger in his right hand.[23]:22 Accounts vary on whether Shivaji or Afzal Khan struck the first blow:[27]
the Maratha chronicles accuse Afzal Khan of treachery, while the
Persian-language chronicles attribute the treachery to Shivaji.[29][30]
In the fight, Afzal Khan's dagger was stopped by Shivaji's armour, and
Shivaji's weapons inflicted mortal wounds on the general; Shivaji then
signalled his hidden troops to launch the assault on the Bijapuris.[28]
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