Question

While returning from Agra, Shivaji had left Sambhaji Raje at ________
A.Lucknow
B.Mathura
C.Delhi
D.Surat

Answer 1

Hint:Shivaji was invited by Aurengzeb to the royal court at Agra in 1666. Shivaji accepted the invitation and took his eldest son Sambhaji Raje along with him. After reaching Agra, Shivaji realized that it was a trap to make him and his son captive.

Complete answer:
Aurengzeb had invited Shivaji to Agra to consolidate the northwestern frontier of the Mughal empire and had planned to send Shivaji to Kandahar , which is presently in Afghanistan. After Shivaji reached the royal court in Agra, he was made to stand behind military commanders (mansabdars) by Aurengzeb. Shivaji felt offended by this behavior and he went out of the court and was put under house arrest. During his arrest, Shivaji pretended that he had been affected by severe illness. He requested his contingent to be sent back to the Deccan and also requested as offerings for his health, that he should be allowed to send sweets and gifts to temples and fakirs. After many days of sending out offerings, Shivaji changed his appearance and acted as one of the labourers carrying baskets and thus, escaped on 17 August, 1666. His son was sent out of the prison before his escape because being a child he had no restrictions. Later some trusted men of Shivaji sent Sambhaji to Mathura after he was removed from Agra. While returning from Agra, Shivaji had left his son Sambhaji Raje at Mathura.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:One of the recent researches suggest that Shivaji was successful in escaping from Agra by mingling with the priests that were departing after he performed religious rites at haveli grounds and disguised himself as a Brahmin priest.