In 1662, Shivaji was the master of the Deccan and at peace with Bijapur. But why only Deccan ? He was ambitious and that could be the reason that he tried to enter the hive of Mughal. He attacked the Mughals in 1662. The forces on the front were unequal to cope up the task, so, Aurangzeb decided to send Shayista Khan to put the affair to an end. The force left Aurangabad early in 1663 and marched towards Pune.

Hardly it had left Aurangabad than the Maratha horsemen began to follow them. Plundering the baggage and cutting off the stragglers. “Every day and on every march,’ said Khafi Khan, ‘Shivaji’s Deccanians swarmed round the baggage, and falling suddenly upon it like Cossacks, carried off horses, camels, men and whatever they could secure, until they became aware of the approach of the troops.” Shivaji retired to the impregnable fortress of Sinhagad, to watch further movement of the enemy. Shayista Khan was chagrined and hampered by the rain; the besiegers were attacked at night by the Marathas and were driven out of their trenches. Shayista Khan challenged him, he said, “You hide away in the hills,” he taunted him, “like a monkey.” “Yes”, replied Shivaji, “But remember, it were the monkeys, which destroyed Ravan and all his host !”