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 Chand 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 forest fire, prin cipally owing to the exertions and bravery of Bhai Shaktu.
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 accom pany 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 army, 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,