Sant Shri Rāmadasa's letter to Chattrapati Shambhuji Maharaja on the day of his coronation (16th January 1681) —
• "Be always on your guard and never off your guard. Control your temper and be tender and kind towards others.

• Forgive your subjects and their faults and bind them to your person by making them happy.

• The happier they are, the easier will be your duty. If they turn against you, your duty will be hard. If you and your Sardars fall out, your enemies shall profit. Let all of you live in unity.

• Seek out your Musalman enemies and remove them from your path. Create fear in others not by your cruelty but by your valour.

• Otherwise your Kingdom will be in danger. Deal with each difficulty as it arises. Keep your anger under control or at least do not betray it in the presence of others. Make your subjects your friends. Let them love rather than fear you.

• Make the people One; fill their minds with the single thought of resisting the Mlecchas!

• Protect what you already have; add on to it with your own exertions and so extend on all sides the Kingdom of Maharashtra.

• Respect yourself and wield the sword of ambition. That way lies the path of success.

•Bear Shivraya in mind. Deem your life as a worthless trifle and try to live by your fame both in this world and the next forever. Keep before your eyes the image of Shivraya. Think always of his valour. Remember always what he did in battle and how he acted towards his friends.

• Forsake sloth and love of ease. Keep before your eyes a certain goal and strive to win it...

• Never forget how Shivraya won the kingdom...

• ...IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A MAN, TRY AND DO BETTER THAN EVEN HE DID!"

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From "A History of the Maratha People, Volume - II, by C. A. Kincaid",