Vol. III — Life of Guru Har Gobind

and organized against the Guru. The belief was that the principal part of the Guru’s army had been slain at Amritsar, and that he was now comparatively defenceless. It was also supposed that the few men the Guru had now with him were a worthless rabble, since they had been enlisted from the dregs of the people. It was said that they consisted only of strolling singers, barbers, washermen, cobblers, and such like, who would disperse the moment they found themselves confronted with regular troops. As to their numbers they resembled a small amount of salt in a large amount of flour, and were unnoticeable and negligeable.

When the Guru heard of Ratan Chand’s indictment and the preparations for an expedition to Sri Har Gobindpur, he simply said, * What pleaseth God is the best.’ The subadar’s army is said to have amounted to ten thousand men, and to have descended on the Guru like a swollen tropical river making its way to the sea. Abdulla Khan disposed his forces into divisions. Bairam Khan received command of one thousand men ; Muhammad Khan a tried warrior in many a field, a similar number; Balwand Khan too received a divisional command. A division was entrusted to Ali Bakhsh, a renowned marksman. Imam Bakhsh was made commander of the fifth division. These five generals with their troops advanced and took the field. To each of his two sons, Nabi Bakhsh and Karim Bakhsh, who rode on chargers with gold embroidered saddles, the subadar gave the command of two thousand men. He retained one thousand horse as his own bodyguard.

When the Guru marshalled his army Bhai Jattu, an excellent marksman, appeared in the van with

matchlock in hand. The Guru gave him command

of two thousand horse. A troop of one hundred

was given Bhai Kalyana. The Guru, seeing Bhai

Nano well equipped and mounted, gave him also

to8 ; THE SIKH RELIGION* *;

a troop of one hundred horse. To Bhai Piraga, already tried in warfare, five hundred men were entrusted with orders to resist the first onslaught of the Muhammadans. A troop of four hundred horse was placed under the command of Bhai Mathura. Bhai Jagannath; popularly knownas Jagana.a powerful and trained soldier, also received command’ of a similar force. Troops of horse mustering one hundred each were placed at the disposal of Bhai Shaktu and Bhai Paras Ram, both accomplished archers. Jati Mai, Bhai Molak and other officers were told off to support Bhai Bidhi Chand. Thus the Guru divided his army into eight troops or companies.

It was as if the Guru were founding another city, and desired to give a feast on its inauguration. The Muhammadan army came as if they were Brahmans who desired to eat to repletion. The feast provided for them was shields for plates, swords for pumpkins, bullets for sweets, daggers for jalebis, arrows for gul-i- bihisht, 1 and other weapons for other dainties. Before coming to blows Abdulla Khan sent an envoy to endeavour to come to terms with the Guru, and induce him to abandon the city he was building. The Guru replied, * You rely on the Emperor alone; I rely on the Immortal God. The great Guru hath granted me temporal as well as spiritual authority, and made me a lord of war as well as of hospitality; but war I desire not, and shall not assume the aggressive. Unless you attack me I shall bear you no enmity. I covet no one’s property. If you quarrel with me I shall send you where I sent Mukhlis Khan. Should you fight with me, it can only lead to your, own destruction. If you go home I will not pursue you. But you have only two means of safety, either make peace with me or flee,. Should you fight, victory shall never be yours.’,' .This answer was not conciliatory, and both sides

" 1 Jalebis and gul-i-bihisht are Indian sweetmeats.

LIFE OF GURU HAR GOBIND 109

made preparations for the conflict. The Guru from the top of his rampart observed the enemy approach, and addressed his army. ‘ Brother Sikhs, this contest is not for empire, for wealth, or for land. It is in reality a war for our religion. Wherefore turn not your backs on the foe, but confront them and destroy them. Let each commander keep watch over his men. Kill not those who flee or surrender. Lose not your courage, but fight to the death/ Every species of weapon then known to Asiatic warfare was brought into play. It is said that the Guru’s braves danced like peacocks, and the cowards among the enemy hid themselves like snakes on the approach of winter. As the battle advanced such was the melee that it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe.

Chapter XI

As Muhammad Khan led the van, he was challenged by Bhai Jattu whose horse he at once killed with an arrow. Then simultaneously Jattu discharged his musket at Muhammad Khan, and Muhammad Khan another arrow at Jattu. Bullet and arrow both took effect, and the two heroes fell mortally wounded. When Muhammad Khan fell, his division fled. To take his place Abdulla Khan ordered Bairam Khan to advance with his men and not retreat, so that it might never be said they had run away as cowards from the Sikhs. Bairam Khan with his thousand men crying ‘ Strike ! strike !' advanced and was received by Bhai Mathura: who had been ordered by the Guru to resist his attacks Mathura seeing the superior force directed against him said to his soldiers, ‘ My brethren, every one must die. Generations have died, and are dying. Othersdie in vain, but if you die, your death .’shall be profitable, since you give up your lives as an offering to the Guru, and shall join the court of

no THE SIKH RELIGION >

heaven; but if, on the other hand, you vanquish your enemies, then empire shall be yours, and you shall enjoy uninterrupted happiness and repose. In either alternative great shall be your gain.’

The Sikhs fought with desperation and drove the enemy before them. Mathura disabled Bairam Khan’s horse with a bullet. Bairam Khan’s troop was then surrounded by the Sikhs and fought heroically. Seeing this. Mathura in a rage dismounted and rushed on Bairam Khan. Both heroes, brought by their impetuosity to close quarters, could not use their missiles, and engaged each other in a wrestling contest. Mathura got the better of the struggle, and throwing his adversary, snatched his sword from his scabbard and cut off his head. Bairam Khan’s army witnessing this, became enraged, surrounded Bhai Mathura, and cut him to pieces.

The Chief on seeing Bairam Khan slain ordered Balwand Khan to advance. Ali Bakhsh proceeded to support him. The Guru sent Kalyana to oppose them. Balwand Khan fought with great bravery and with his lance dispatched several Sikhs. Kalyana seeing this took steady aim with his matchlock, and shot him through the heart. Seeing him lying on the field Ali • Bakhsh called on his troops to avenge him. They surrounded Kalyana, but he kept them at bay with flights of arrows. When his quiver was empty he resorted to his sword. He was, however, no match for the numbers opposed to him, and gloriously fell with many wounds. His courage never failed him to the last, and he died repeating ‘ Wahguru ! ’

Ali Bakhsh again directed his troops against the Guru. Seeingthis Bhai Nano opposed the onslaught. The Guru, patting him on the back, placed two hundred nfiore men at his disposal. Thus Bhai Nano had three hundred in all at his command. They fought with great determination and inflicted great

LIFE OF GURU HAR GOBIND hi

loss on the enemy. Aii Bakhsh took up his matchlock and fired at Nano but missed him. Nano then discharged an arrow at Ali Bakhsh, which went through his body. Seeing him fall the Muhammadan army began to flee. It was, however, rallied by Sardar Imam Bakhsh, who now came up with his division. Meanwhile Nano continued to slay the Muhammadans. Imam Bakhsh hastened to stop his career. Nano on seeing him fixed his thoughts on the Guru, and drawing his two-edged sword struck off his left hand. Imam Bakhsh without faltering used his remaining arm on Nano and killed him, upon which Nano’s troops retreated.

The Guru extolled Nano’s bravery, and asked if there was any Sikh who could now sustain the fight. Bhai Piraga came forward and said, * My Lord, by thy favour I will destroy the army of the enemy.’ Bhai Jagana, Krishan, and other faithful officers with their troops went to Piraga’s support. When Bhai Jagana and other distinguished Sikhs were slain, Bidhi Chand came forward and asked the Guru’s permission to join the combat and support Bhai Piraga. This being granted, Bidhi Chand and the Sikhs fought with their usual valour, the result of which was that the Muhammadan army became demoralized, turned, and fled. Abdulla Khan, the Muhammadan chief, came on the scene with a stick in his hand to strike and restrain the fugitives. He then appealed to Karm Chand and Ratan Chand to enter the combat, show their bravery, and not allow it to be said that ten thousand imperial troops were killed in vain. The Chief also ordered his eldest son Nabi Bakhsh to advance with the troops under his command.

When the Guru heard of this he was very pleased and thought the time had arrived for himself rtb eater the battle. It is said that when he twanged his bow his enemies trembled, and that when the neighing of his horse was heard as he entered the

battle-field, there was widespread consternation in the Muhammadan ranks.

When the Guru showed himself fully accoutred to his troops, he called on them to slay Abdulla Khan and thus put an end to the combat. Karm Chand, Chandu's son, said that he would now avenge his father’s death by killing Bidhi Chahd and capturing the Guru. Bidhi Chand replied, ' Take care ! I will send thee to thy father.’ Karm Chand discharged showers of arrows. One of them struck Bidhi Chand and lodged in his body. Bidhi Chand drew it out and hurled it back on Karm Chand. It missed him, but struck his horse, causing the animal to reel and fall. Bidhi Chand then bound Karm Chand, dragged him before the Guru, and addressed him, ‘ Thou didst owe one debt to the Guru, in that thy father killed his, and now thou owest him another for having made war on him.’ Bidhi Chand offered to put him to death if the Guru allowed him. The Guru seeing him in that miserable plight took compassion on him, and ordered his release, saying it was not proper to kill a defenceless prisoner.

When Karm Chand, thus released, found his way to the Chief he gave him the following version of the incident. ‘ I went to the Guru to reconnoitre his army. He arrested and tortured me, but I escaped by stratagem and force of arms, and have brought thee this information. The Guru hath a very small army ; make a rush and we shall capture him with all his property.’ The Chief accordingly ordered his troops to charge, upon which there arose a sanguinary engagement on both sides. Nabi Bakhsh led : one wing of the Muhammadan army, and his father the other. Karim Bakhsh, the Chiefs second son> on seeing his father personally engaged, hastened to his' assistance. Their army, hoWever; was destroyed like dry grass by a fbrest fire, prin* cipally owing' to the exertions and bravery of Bhai Shttktu. ■ ■ •

LIFE OF GURU HAR GOBIND 113

Nabi Bakhsh discharged an arrow at Paras Ram, one of the Sikh leaders, and severely wounded him. The Sikhs with Shaktu at their head gathered round and rescued him. After recovering consciousness he rushed with his sword on Nabi Bakhsh, and cut off his head with one blow. The Muhammadans on this attacked Paras Ram and Shaktu, and killed them both. The Chief wept aloud at the loss of his son, and expressed a pious wish that he himself had been slain instead. Karim Bakhsh, the Chief’s second son, went to console his father, saying he would avenge his brother, and either kill the Guru or be killed himself—a resolution which the chief applauded. As the youth advanced he descried the Guru. He asked those who had no fear in their hearts or those who had no loved ones, to accompany him to seize and kill the Guru. They who chose might retire from the conflict. The Chief hearing his words and fearing he was too sanguine of success, warned him not to advance, but hold his ground where he was, for the Guru was not merely the bravest of the Sikhs, but a veritable messenger of death. The rash youth heeded not his father’s counsel.

The Guru on seeing Karim Bakhsh at a distance called out to Bhai Bidhi Chand, ‘ Lo ! the Chief’s young son hath come to avenge his brother. The slanderers have incensed his mind. Now exert thy strength and engage him. He hath come to assault thee, but do thou assault him.’ Bidhi Chand shouting defiance advanced. The Chief sent Ratan Chand and Karm Chand to his son’s assistance. Then arose a desperate effort to capture the Guru. They cried out that the Guru had no array, that he should become their easy prey, and that they should receive suitable rewards from the Emperor. Such was the fury of the imperial troops that some of the Sikhs were on the point of giving way when they were kept in position by Bidhi Chand. Karim Bakhsh couching his lance directed it at Bidhi Chand,

but it only lighted on his saddle-bow. Bidhi Chand and Karim Bakhsh now rushed at each other with drawn swords. Karim Bakhsh dealt 1 a blow at Bidhi Chand from which he was again providentially saved. It then for a time became a play of fence, when sword clashed against sword, until with one swashiiig blow Karim Bakhsh shattered Bidhi Chand's weapon in twain. Bidhi Chand turned his horse and ran for another sword. On his return with a better tempered blade he dealt Karim Bakhsh a blow which terminated the combat.

The sons of Chandu and Gherar, on seeing this, fled from the field, but were afraid to show their faces to the Chief, and so remained at a distance. Several followed their example, and were pursued by Bidhi Chand and other Sikhs at the head of their troops. The runaways told the Chief of his second son’s death, and the intelligence made him for a time unconscious. On being partially restored he began to mourn, ‘ Alas! fool that I was not to consider that I was powerless against him about whom the Emperor was silent even after the loss of his army. Both my sons are dead, yet I behold the light of day. A curse on me and my life! I have been untrue to my Emperor and also to my relations, who warned me not to contend with the Guru. He hath killed five of my bravest officers and my two darling boys. My progeny is at an end, and there will be none to preserve my name in the world.’

The Chief endeavoured to rally Ratan Chand and K^rm Chand:—‘ About two hours of day still remain. Advance and fight, and perhaps the Guru may come into our possession. Your boasts have all been in vain. Like jackals you are only fit to bark. There is even yet time to restore the fortune of war. Let me behold your manliness.' Either conquer or die.’ The Chief then gave the order for

a general advance.