Yesubai ably fulfilled the roles of both the Crown Princess and the Maharani of Swarajya. Yet, in later times, she also stoically endured the bitter agony of her husband's harrowing assassination and the self-imposed captivity she accepted for the sake of the kingdom's welfare. Reading the letter she wrote to the deity of Chinchwad while in captivity, and noting her constantly shifting places of confinement, gives one an idea of ​​just how arduous her life as a prisoner was.

Just as Sita in the Ramayana had to renounce royal comforts and spend a testing period of her life in a humble forest hut, or as Yajnaseni (Draupadi) in the Mahabharata—despite being an Empress—faced the struggle for even two square meals a day during exile, Maharani Yesubai too had to confront dire, wretched conditions while held captive by Aurangzeb.

In a film like *Baahubali*, when the heroine Devasena voluntarily accepts captivity under a cruel enemy after her husband's death, waits unwaveringly for the right moment for twenty-five years, and finally returns to her rightful kingdom as the Queen Mother, the steely resolve of her character leaves a deep, lasting impression on us. Yet, Yesubai’s captivity was far more immense. Her adversary was vastly more powerful and the very embodiment of cruelty. It is a cruel irony of fate, then, that we do not seem to attach enough importance to elevating and celebrating her character. It would have been virtually impossible for any ordinary woman to achieve what Maharani Yesubai accomplished while in captivity—maintaining immense dignity and composure without ever compromising her life, honor, or faith.

One of the reasons the Maratha chieftains were imbued with the fierce martial spirit needed to battle and subdue an enemy like Aurangzeb was the fact that Yesubai—a woman of resolute action—remained in captivity. For these brave warriors, who had sworn solemn oaths of loyalty to the Chhatrapati’s throne, liberating Yesubai and Shahu Maharaj was an imperative duty. To fulfill this primary obligation, Maratha swords continued to clash against Aurangzeb even when Swarajya faced near-total devastation; consequently, Aurangzeb’s dream of extinguishing Maratha power—after having annihilated other kingdoms—remained unfulfilled. Ultimately, he was forced to breathe his last in the very soil of Maharashtra, a defeated and desperate man.

In today’s world, one often witnesses an obsessive desire to install one’s children on the throne, regardless of their lack of understanding regarding politics or social welfare. Observing this makes one truly appreciate the historic significance of Yesubai’s decision: she chose not to succumb to maternal attachment but instead accepted captivity alongside Shahu Maharaj, entrusting the mantle of the Chhatrapati to her brother-in-law, Rajaram Maharaj.

Even amidst adverse circumstances, Yesubai resolutely made decisions in the best interest of the kingdom, keeping her personal grief locked away in a corner of her heart. She fully justified the trust Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj had placed in her—symbolized by the royal seal bearing the inscription *'Shri Sakhi Rajni Jayati'* (Victory to the Queen)—demonstrating remarkable fortitude. Dr. Sadashiv Shivde’s book, *Maharajni Yesubai*, offers us a glimpse into Maharani Yesubai’s leadership qualities, her magnanimity, and her extraordinary powers of endurance.

In the chronicles of history, the credit of most events about the rise and fall of empires is given to the men who fought battles and occupied thrones. However, Maharani Yesubai is an excellent example of the women who, often behind the scenes, played an equally important role in sustaining what was created, through their courage, sacrifice and foresight.