unbridling of the horses should be entrusted to Kasera. They had become attached to him on account of his great attention to them day and night. Sondha Khan then told Bidhi Chand his principal duty would be to groom the horses. He needed only go occasionally for grass. Bidhi Chand replied that he was not above any service whether it were to go for grass or remain and groom the horses. He spoke civilly to every one and won all hearts without paying any money.
Whenever for the future Bidhi Chand went for grass he brought a large stone concealed in it. At midnight he used to fling the stone into the river which then flowed under the fort. When the stone fell into the water it made a great noise, and awakened everybody in the neighbourhood. Bidhi Chand’s object was, that people might suppose it was a fish or the falling of a wall or of a stone off the parapet; and that the occupants of the fort would gradually become habituated to the noise, and take no notice of it when he leaped one of the horses over the battlement into the river. If he once succeeded in getting the horse outside the fort walls, he knew he should succeed in taking him to Bhai Rupa, the Guru’s residence at the time.
The Emperor once went to see the horses and was very pleased to observe their excellent condition. He admired Bidhi Chand, said he appeared a smart servant, and ordered the stable-keeper to treat him well, that he might remain in his service. He then made him a suitable money present. Bidhi Chand, who lived on Jiwan’s earnings, entrusted the money to the stable-keeper, told him to retain it, and also his monthly salary until such time as he required funds for his expenses. The stable-keeper was deceived by this apparent generosity. He thought that Bidhi Chand, who was really greedy to obtain the horses, had no greed in his heart, and he continued to repose the utmost confidence in him. He deemed him the best of all his servants and made the others sub-
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ordinate to him. Though Bidhi Chand thus became their superior officer, he used to treat them affectionately, so that they might be on his side in the hour of need.
Bidhi Chand congratulated himself on his progress thus far. The next object of his ambition was to obtain a saddle for one of the horses to assist him in his escape. He accordingly set to work to secure the friendship of the man who kept the keys of the Emperor’s storehouse where his costly saddles were kept. In this also he succeeded by flattering and soft speeches. All the time he managed to conceal his extraordinary cleverness, and to pass for an ignorant villager of mean understanding. As his fellow- servants listened to his simple talk, they began to love him and he gratified them in every way in his power. One day he said in their presence, ‘ These are very fine horses. Does his Majesty keep them to look at, so that his heart may rejoice ; or do they always remain standing like this in the stable ? Have they any saddles, and if so what are their saddles like ? Will you show them to me ? ’ Somebody said to him in reply, ‘Thou simpleton, their saddles are very costly, set with pearls and well-cut diamonds, and inlaid with glittering gems which shine like the stars in heaven. The saddles are each worth a lakh and a quarter of rupees. The like of thee can never have seen such saddles. Who would show them to ignorant villagers ? And who could possess them but emperors with unbounded wealth ? ’
Bidhi Chand humbly represented, ‘ Pray consider me as one of yourselves. I am a servant of the horses of the true King. I live among you day and night. If my desire to see the saddles be not gratified, then everything I do is in vain. I have never seen a saddle of such value. Where did you have saddles made worth a lakh and a quarter of rupees each ? I am astonished at hearing such a thing. I have therefore a great desire to see them,
M 2
and I beg you to gratify me.’ Another servant replied, ‘ The saddles are kept under lock and key and continually guarded. He in whose custody the keys are will show them to thee. Speak to him, he is here now.’ The custodian of the keys said he would be very pleased to show the saddles, if he received the stable-keeper’s permission, but otherwise he would be afraid to do so. The stable-keeper happened to arrive at the time, and asked the servants what plot they were concocting. They replied, ‘ Thou hast employed Kasera, a very simple-minded fellow, who says things to set us all a-laughing. He desireth to know how a lakh and a quarter of rupees could be spent on a saddle.’ Bidhi Chand himself then told the darogha he could not rest until he had seen saddles of such astonishing value.
The darogha told him that on the great Id festival both horses would be saddled and led out, and then he would see such a sight as he had never seen before. Bidhi Chand, to whom time was valuable and delay a thing to be avoided, then philosophically addressed the darogha, ‘ What dependence is there on life ? It may cease within an hour. Who knoweth whether even the breath we now expire shall return again ? The moment I heard every one praise the saddles I conceived a desire to behold their wonderful workmanship. A thing worth a lakh and a quarter of rupees is a wonder to me, and I shall not be happy till I see it. I am always with thee here, and am I not to have my natural desires gratified in such a matter ? Wherefore, my master, I pray thee grant an order that their custodian show me the saddles.’ The darogha, overcome by these entreaties, ordered that Bidhi Chand should see the saddles. Bidhi Chand on seeing them pretended that he thought the diamonds were white stones, and the pearls grains of millet such as he had often chewed in his native village, and asked where the precious stones were of which he had heard so much. What
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he saw appeared to him of no value. At this every one laughed, and asked what he could know about precious stones. He had never heard of such things, and had never seen them before. Bidhi Chand, putting his hand on the diamonds, remarked that they were very hard, and would prick the Emperor’s body when he touched them. They could not possibly be comfortable things to sit on. The darogha explained to him, that what he saw were not things one could take into his hand and eat. They were for display on great occasions, and only found in the possession of emperors and great monarchs. Bidhi Chand replied, ‘ If a man like me got a thousand rupees it would last him for life. He could get a wife for himself and another for his son, when he had one, out of the money. It is only kings who squander money in vain.’
This conversation at an end, the darogha ordered Bidhi Chand to lift up the saddles and take them back into the store-room. Bidhi Chand kept his eyes well open, and took note of its interior. He also observed where the custodian laid the key after locking the door. Next day the darogha seeing him most attentive to the horses, ordered that he alone was to give them mashes and other food, and take care of them day and night. Meanwhile, Bidhi Chand carefully studied how he could take one or both away. He was ever searching for a low and suitable part of the fort’s ramparts over which he might leap them into the river. He said to himself, * I must hit on some plan by which the servants may go to sleep and not hear or see me saddling the horses. If the grooms remain awake, they will most probably catch me in the act.’
All the grooms employed on the horses were fond of music and dancing women. One day, as they were all laughing and talking together, one of them turned to Bidhi Chand and said, ‘ Look here, brother Kasera, thou art a new servant and receivest the
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highest pay of us all. Thou hast also got a large present from the Emperor, and not yet given thy fellow-servants a dinner. This is not well of thee.’ This proposal was the very thing that Bidhi Chand had desired. He replied, ‘ I am at the service of you all. Why should I not please you ? I did not think of it; you have reminded me. You have said well, and I have grasped your meaning. I am thinking, however, that it would not be proper for you who are of a different religion to receive food from my hands. I will do another thing as you ask me. You know well that I am no miser. I will spend all I have on you. I will tell you what I wish to do myself. I will give you wine—a hogshead among you—and you may enjoy yourselves and get drunk to your hearts’ content. With my own hands I will fill your cups, and you shall be delighted when I have satisfied you. Be happy in the enjoyment of God’s gifts. There is no reliance on life. The pleasure of the day is the only gain.’
The grooms on hearing this were all delighted and shouted ‘ Bravo ! Bravo Kasera ! ’ The prospect of getting drunk filled them with visions of bliss. They vowed that they would take no dinner that day, that they might the more eagerly partake of Bidhi Chand’s hospitality. They had dinner every day at home, but they had never yet joined in such a symposium as Kasera had proposed. Bidhi Chand at once saw his opportunity, and thus communed with himself, ‘ This is the eighth day of the dark half of the month, a convenient time for my purpose. It will be very dark in the beginning of the night. I will then jump one of the horses over the rampart, and after that when it is light make my way to Bhai Rupa. I will now so entertain my friends that they will curse me in the morning.’
Bidhi Chand then addressed his brother grooms— * Let no one take dinner to-day. I adjure all of you to assemble here this evening. I will go and fetch
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the wine. When you have drunk it, you may eat as much as you please. After, that you may go home to your wives. If you do not wish to go home, then remain here. Have no anxiety whatever to-day. Enjoy for the moment the pleasures of love and wine. I will arrange everything for you.’
Bidhi Chandwent to his friend Jiwan, took twenty rupees from him to buy strong wine, 1 and going to a publican asked for his most potent liquor. The publican told him he would charge him fifty per cent, above ordinary market price for a special distillation which he kept in his private house, and which he would not sell to ordinary customers. The publican described its virtues, ‘ If a man drink even a little of it, he will so lose his senses that he cannot find even his own door. What higher praise can I bestow on it ? ’ Bidhi Chand told him that he would give him not fifty but one hundred percent, above market price, if he supplied him with wine possessing four times the ordinary strength.
When Bidhi Chand met his guests he told them all the trouble he had taken to procure them excellent wine, again pressed them to enjoy themselves, and assured them, with a covert meaning, that whenever he left them they should all remember him. Having addressed them loving words of that description he handed round the wine, but at first in small quantities. He then engaged them in pleasant conversation, and they were delighted when he agreed with everything they said. As intoxication gradually came on, some were laughing and others thought they were in the seventh heaven. Hitherto he had taken care not to give them too much lest they should suspect his designs ; but, when a watch of night had elapsed, he began to give them wine without measure, and they drank with open mouths. The sentries also joined in the carousals and said while Bidhi Chand was filling their cups, ‘ Listen, brother
168 .1 THE SIKH RELIGION
Kasera, the sentry duty is thine to-night. Thou hast been so liberal of thy wine, that we cannot possibly remain awake, so. keep guard thyself.’ Bidhi Chand replied, ‘ Have no fear ; I shall remain awake the whole night. Such is the dread of the Emperor that no one may approach. The whole country is under one powerful monarch. Who can come to spy out the land, much less to steal ? ’ .
Saying this : Bidhi Chand let the wine flow. He filled to the brim a special goblet for the custodian of the keys, who took it and laughingly said, ‘ O Kasera, seeing thy friendship I will drink this cup from thy hands. The protection of my storehouse I now entrust to thee. Thou hast not taken wine, so thou wilt remain awake and be fully on the alert.’ Bidhi Chand assured him that he would remain awake and that no stranger, however daring, should approach the premises. The key-holder might therefore sleep soundly and comfortably. All the company were reassured on hearing Bidhi Chand’s cheerful words, and began to drink on, big and little, old and young. They soon became unconscious and fell down uttering incoherent nonsense. When they could no longer speak,, they took off their clothes and rolled naked on the floor. Bidhi Chand took each man’s arm and inquired how he was, and on receiving no answer knew that his friends were disposed of for the night, and he himself, was free for action. It is true he heard the distant sentries calling, but they could not interfere with his operations.
The author of the ‘ Gur Bilas ’, or Life of Guru Har Gobind, here makes the following reflection on the use of wine. ‘ Wine is evil on this account that he who. drinketh it loses his senses. A king who drinketh becometh like a beast, and easily falleth a prey to his enemy. Good men, hear me on this subject. Monarchs who have conquered powerful enemies have been blinded by the into^dcation of wine, Their kingdoms have passed out of their
LIFE OF GURU HAR GOBIND 169
possession, and they have become poor in an instant. Men holy, clever, and great have degraded themselves to the level of brutes by the use of wine. It would hold men captive even without fetters.’
Bidhi Chand finding all his guests lying on the floor in Bacchanalian slumber tied his waistband and adjusted his turban for action. He then went to the niche in the wall where he knew the key of the harness-room was kept and immediately found it. Having taken out a saddle he went to Dil Bagh and undid his silken headstall. Caressing the animal he put on his bridle and drew the reins over his neck. He then laid on the saddle-cloth and the saddle, and fastened tight the soft silken girths. He attached on either side the golden stirrups, and further secured the saddle by carefully passing the crupper under Dil Bagh’s tail. This done he untied the horse’s heel ropes. He then mounted, taking in his hand a whip with a golden handle which he found attached to the saddle. He cantered the animal backwards and forwards until he found that he had got into his full stride. Then applying the whip he faced him at the fort-wall over which he was to leap. The horse, which had never previously been struck even by the stalk of a flower, on receiving a cut with the whip roused himself at the unusual summons, gathered his strength, set his limbs, and on Bidhi Chand lifting the reins cleared without hesitation the high battlement with a bound, and plunged with his rider into-the river. Bidhi Chand, well skilled in horsemanship, steadied the animal in the water and guided him safely to shore.
The residents of the fort who were awake had become accustomed to the report of bodies falling into the water, and thought the splash they had heard was due to the falling of one of the battlements as the result of erosion of the river. Bidhi Chand drawing in his reins on the bank patted the horse, and encouraged him after the fright he had sustained.
While Bidhi Chand had been originally meditating this enterprise, he used to note every wall and rivulet and tree in the neighbourhood, and now carefully examining them took the road and directed his course to Bhai Rupa. The horse bounded along like the wind while Bidhi Chand gaily sang—
May the Guru and God be always with me !
Remember, remember Him who ever protecteth . 1
The moon rose two hours after his departure, and then he was able to steer his way by its position in the sky. He avoided all towns and villages. On reaching Harike at the junction of the rivers Bias and Satluj, he introduced Dil Bagh again into deep water by plunging him into the foaming Ghara. 2 The horse was found to correspond exactly with the description the Kabuli Sikhs had given. Dil Bagh appeared as if he had sprung from a sea of beauty by the combined agencies of exquisiteness and strength.
Chapter XVI
The morning after Bidhi Chand had departed from Lahore the darogha Sondha Khan, finding one of the Emperor’s favourite horses missing and all the sentries and grooms asleep, was not in an enviable frame of mind. The grooms and guards, when roused up, maintained that they had been watchful during the night, and said the horse must have sunk into the earth or soared to the celestial regions. The "SLinpeTor Shah 3 ahan bemoaned his irreparable loss— Who hath taken my most favourite steed and thus hastened his own destruction ? Can there be any one in the whole earth who hath not the fear of me in his heart ? When the kings of other lands cannot keep a particle belonging to me in their pos-
* The Satluj is so called after its junction with the Biis.
LIFE OF GURU HAR GOBIND 171
session, who hath two heads that he can afford to sacrifice one of them for stealing my horse ? If my enemy were to hide himself in the retirement of the mountains or in desert fastnesses, my army would not desist till it had found him. Whoever hath taken my steed is now my greatest enemy. I will assuredly put him to death whoever and wherever he may be.’ The Emperor sent trackers with an escort in every direction to endeavour to trace the missing animal, but no clue could be obtained.
The Sikhs who had brought the horses from Kabul, on receiving charge of Dil Bagh in BhaiRupa, observed that he did not eat his corn with a will, that tears were flowing from his eyes, and that his heart was sad. It was not known how he had become so weak. He was well groomed and treated with the utmost care. Rai Jodh thought that the horse had become weak as it was the first time he had been ridden any distance. He had previously been unaccustomed to travel and exertion. The Sikhs, however, came to the conclusion that the water which flowed from the horse’s eyes was simply the pain of his heart projected on his body, and must be caused by separation from his hitherto inseparable stable companion. Bidhi Chand was easily able to confirm this opinion. ‘ This Dil Bagh of ours and Gul Bagh were tethered together. They used to eat corn, grass, and mashes of different sorts side by side, so that affection sprang up between them. Manifestly it is on account of his separation from his brother that tears are flowing from his eyes.’ This speech convinced everybody.
Bidhi Chand therefore decided on bringing Dil Bagh’s brother to him from the Lahore fort, so that the horse might no longer suffer from the pangs of separation. He said to himself, ‘ Although hundreds of thousands of brave men with arms in their hands were on the alert, I could so deceive them, that I would take the horse away before their very eyes.’