Vol. IV — Sikh. IV Jj, Chapter XI
As Muhammad Khan led the van, he was chal lenged by Bhai Jattu whose horse he at once killed with an arrow. Then simultaneously Jattu dis charged 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 attack. Mathura seeing the superior force directed against him said to his soldiers, ' My brethren, every one must die. Generations have died, and are dying. Others die 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 dis mounted 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 en raged, 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. Kal yana 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. Seeing this Bhai Nano opposed the onslaught. The Guru, patting him on the back, placed two hundred more 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 in
loss on the enemy. All Bakhsh took up his match lock and fired at Nano but missed him. Nano then discharged an arrow at Ali Bakhsh, which went through his body. Seeing him fall the Muham- madan 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 to enter 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