8-21 The Battle at Night

Bhai Lakhoo ji took his regiment and fought with the Turks.  Bhai Lakhoo ji was a great warrior.  He used to be a dacoit (Daku) near Lahore.  He came into the Sangats of Sikhs and began to do 21 Paaths of Japji Sahib a day.  He was the Sikh of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He became powerful to the point where his words became reality.  He was fighting with his regiment.  He would shower bullets on the enemy.  Kaalay Khan’s army did not come to the front.  Kaalay Khan got mad and yelled: “why are you scared?  Don’t delay.  Why aren’t you charging?  You are trying to save yourselves.  The Guru’s army are low in numbers.  It’s like salt in the flour.  Let’s charge all at once with the swords swinging.  We should win before the sun comes up.”  When Kaalay Khan yelled out, the generals of his army charged.  The generals yelled out to their soldiers: “go ahead!  Why don’t you go ahead?  Why did you take this job if you love life so much?  You are salaried soldiers of the Shah.  Fight like warriors.”  A regiment of 20,000 men charged on ahead.  The horses ran like the wind.  The men yelled out with their rifles in hand.  It was a fierce charge.  They pushed on ahead.  It was dark and hard to see.  Many warriors fell and died.  Many were trampled by the horses and couldn’t get up again.  Some were left with rifles in their hands.  Some were dropped by their horses.  Some were trampled.  Many died without being be shot or sliced.  Some tried to hide from the bullets.  The 20,000 men were face by 900 Sikhs.  The 900 were stronger, as they had the support of the omnipotent Guru.  They stood at the front and fired their rifles and guns.  They shot at the chests of the enemy.  They killed the enemy quickly.  The Turks piled on the ground.  Every bullet hit a target.  The Sikhs were amazing marksmen.  They were taught by Guru ji himself.  The teachings of the Guru: Raag Viday, Shaster Vidya and Brahm Vidya; were unmatched in the world.  Guru Nanak Dev ji brought this Vidya from Sach Khand.  The Shaster Vidya was given to Baba Buddha ji.  Baba Buddha ji gave this Vidya back to the Guru Ghaddi, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  The Sikhs meditated in the morning which gave them patience.  This made them excellent marksmen.  Not a single bullet or arrow was a miss.  900 Mughals were killed with one round.  The Sikhs prepared for another round by loading the gunpowder.  They rammed the barrels with the ramrod.  They loaded 2 bullets at a time.  The lit the “paleetas” and pressed the “tora.”  They twisted the “Kalah” and pulled the trigger.  Sparks would come out.  They held the rifles with one hand and fired with the other.  They would kill the enemy with one shot.  The sparks from the rifles would illuminate in the night’s darkness.  It was like fireflies in the night; like lightening in the clouds.  The enemy fell like mountains. 

Many Nagaras were playing, sounding like thundering clouds.  The bullets showered like hail on the fields, destroying the crops.  The Sikhs fired the second round and killed another 900 Turks.  Only fire could be seen.  The darkness blinded the enemy.  There was chaos.  Many died.  The Turks didn’t know what to do.  Some horses died; some men died.  The blood flowed.  It was a fierce battle.  It was like the ocean stopped by a mountain.  The charge was pushed back.  The Turks did not wish to come ahead.  They ran back and did not want to come again.  They changed their direction and wanted to attack from another side.  The Sikhs were there as well.  They fired their bullets from the other side.  The Sikhs pressed the charge with their bullets.  The Sikhs fired more rounds quickly.  The enemy tried to enter Kartarpur but they failed.  They were faced with many bullets.  Many Turks fell.  Hundreds of Turks died.  Some ran back.  Some fainted out of fear.  They fell face-first to the ground.  Their blood mixed into the mud.  The dust flew into the eyes of the enemy.  They couldn’t see.  The dust went up their nostrils and affected their breathing.  The gunpowder was intoxicating to them.  They fainted.  The noise popped some of the Turks ears.  The horses ran fast.  Many warriors fell.  Some had their feet still in the stirrups and were dragged by the horse.

The warriors of the Sikhs stood in lines.  They killed many Turks.  Kaalay Khan and the others were upset.  Kaalay Khan said to Kutabh Khan: “you said we will catch the Guru at night.  The night is almost over.  We couldn’t catch the Guru yet.  We couldn’t even enter the boundary of the city yet.  We were supposed to loot the city of Kartarpur.”  Kutabh Khan heard this.  He spoke with patience: “Khan Sahib, you are from a cold area.  Dust flies quite a bit in Punjab (Speaking in metaphor, saying Punjab has stronger people).  It’s not easy to fight here.  The people are fierce.  We will need to apply more effort.  The enemy is low in numbers.  We will do a fierce charge and enter the city.  We will kill all of the Sikhs.  We won’t let them get up again.  We will trample them with our horses.  Our people fought fiercely but we couldn’t do anything.  Wait till the sun comes up, then we will kill the Sikhs.  Let’s not have our men die.  We will take the city slowly.”  Painday Khan said: “this is right.  Get everyone to stay in attention.  It’s almost morning.  We will charge together and catch the Guru.  I will attack too.  I will go straight to the Guru.”  In this way, the Khans spoke to each other.  The battle was fierce.  They wanted to see what was happening as they were shocked how the Sikhs were killing their people.  Many bullets were fired that busted the bodies of the Turks.  They lost their lives and the bodies fell.  The bodies piled up.  Many piles were seen.  The bodies were on the ground.  Many were injured and yelled in pain.  They were shot in various places, bleeding.  Only a few Sikhs were injured.  They were in shelters and trenches.  Guru ji, the Prabhoo Maharaj, was protecting the Sikhs.  Thousands of Turks died in the first charge.  They mixed into the dust and looked like they were sleeping with a red comforter.  There was mud on the ground.  Many warriors died. 

The night was done.  The king of the day, the sun, came and illuminated the place.  The warriors could now see each other.  They could now aim at each other.  The big spears flew.  Some fought with swords and shields.  They men fought each other.  The Khandas with double edges shined.  The clothes were red with blood.  They looked like red flowers in a garden.  It was like Kesu flowers blossoming; like Gulaal was thrown during Holi and singing songs (as they yelled: “Kill them”).  The warriors fought with enthusiasm.  The vultures came and shrieked with eagerness to eat the flesh.  They ate the flesh with joy.  The other scavengers came to eat the flesh.  The Kaljognis came to drink the blood.  They drank blood in human skulls to their satiation.  They burped after drinking the blood.  They sang songs and danced.  The crows cawed.  The big vultures came to eat meat.  The ground was red.  The battle was fierce.  Many men and horses laid on the ground.  The scavengers made scary noises.  Kaali Mata (the Goddess of Death) came and laughed out loud.  She drank a skull-full of blood.  Her hair was flowing at the back.  She put the blood in her hair and hung the skulls around her neck.  The Kaljognis danced, while clapping. 

The bullets blasted the Turks.  The warriors fell to the ground.  It looked like Kartarpur was a Diva; Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was the flame; the Turks were like moths, flying over and burning in the flame.  There were piles of bodies everywhere.  There was chaos everywhere.  Kaalay Khan saw his dead men and said: “I am shocked to see this.  What happened?  Thousands were killed in a little time.  Looks like half of our army is dead.”  He saw this and got scared.  The fear made him shocked and quiet.   

8-22 The Battle in the Day

It was morning.  The sun shinned through.  Kutabh Khan, Painday Khan, Anwar Khan and the other generals saw the dead men.  They were strong but thought deeply.  Kaalay Khan was really mad.  He spoke in anger: “he doesn’t have a fort, no cliff; you should be ashamed of yourselves.  His people are killing us.  Half of the army is dead.  The Guru or the Sikhs aren’t caught.  Why don’t you go ahead?  Let’s attack at once.  We will make them run and catch the Guru.  The delay is causing damage for us.  Surround them.  Attack all at once.  Kutabh Khan!  Go towards the east.  Take 10,000 men and attack the city.  Kill them and make them upset.  Anwar Khan and Usmaan Khan, attack from the south.  Go close to Kartarpur and fight a fierce battle.  Take 10,000 men and charge.  When you charge it should be fierce.  Use your swords and shields and go to the village.  I will be on the west side and enter through there.  I will kill with the sword.  Whoever survives, Painday Khan, the mighty, will see to them.  Painday Khan, attack from the north and cause chaos.  Kill them all and enter the city.  Catch the Guru.”  They planned this strategy and took 10,000 men each.  They attacked from every direction.  The 4 generals attacked from their respective sides.  They showed their strength.  The Nagaras were sounded.  They all went with eagerness.  The army divided into 4 regiments to attack from all sides.  Kaalay Khan took his army.  They all drank alcohol.  They were ready to fight.  They had their regiments and wanted to enter the city.  They yelled and attacked.  They shouted their slogans.  They asked: “where is the Guru?  Find out where he is.  He says he is strong.  He is never caught.  Painday Khan, catch him.  Catch him or kill him.”  They all shouted and attacked.  They wished to catch Guru ji and take him to the Shah.  They attacked from 4 directions.

The battles were fierce.  The rifles fired.  The horses ran.  The noise was loud.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji saw the 4 regiments trying to surround them.  He figured out what was happening.  He knew the strategy.  He was great at battle strategy.  Baba ji went around the city.  He saw that they had 4 regiments and wished to attacked.  He went to Guru ji and told him what was happening: “they have made 4 regiments and are speaking nonsense.  They want to enter the city.  They are pushing hard.  They are advancing.  We need to do something so that they are destroyed.”  Guru ji heard this and said: “divide our army in 4 regiments.  East side should be covered by Bhai Jatti Malik ji to face the enemy head on.  Bhai Mehar Chand ji and Bhai Ameeya ji should go to the south.  Bhai Lakhoo ji should go towards the west.  He will face the enemy.  Don’t let the enemy come in.  shower bullets.  Bidhi Chand ji, you should go towards the north.  Tell everyone not to go ahead.  Don’t get surrounded.  Stay within your lines.  If the enemy comes, kill them.”  Baba Bidhi Chand ji heard this and obeyed.  He divided the regiments.  The Sikhs were fearless.

Where Kaalay Khan was, he attacked fiercely.  Bhai Lakhoo ji faced him and fought hard.   Rifles were fired.  Spears were thrown to pierce the chests.  Many arrows were shot.  Metal clanked.  The saangs and swords struck.  Bullets were fired.  Bhai Lakhoo ji and his men stood like pillars.  They didn’t move back.  They stood there.  Their eyebrows were arched like bows.  They killed many Turks.  The Turks fell from their horses.  They didn’t move back.  Many Turks got hit.  Many died.  It was a fierce battle.  Many were hit.  The double-edged khandas swung and cut the limbs.  Many prides were broken.  The heads rolled.  The swords cut arms and legs.  The dead were laying on the ground.  Some without heads.  When the enemy came near, they were hit with spears.  Rifles were fired.  Some were hit with bullets.  Some were hit with Saangs.  The cowards ran away.  Metal hit metal.  Blood made the dust into mud.  Heads rolled.  They fought hand-to-hand.  The enemy was a lot.  The sharp arrows flew like flying snakes.  The Nagaras and rifles made a lot of noise.  The Sikhs yelled Jaikaras.

Guru Hargobind Sahib ji got ready to see the battle.  He wore his battle gear.  He wore chainmail.  He wore chakras on his Dumalla.  He had a heavy Khanda that he wore.  He fastened a heavy shield to his back.  He was radiant.  He tied his quiver full of arrows to his shoulder.  There was gold on the arrows.  The quiver had gold, diamonds and pearls on it.  Guru ji got ready.  He took his fierce bow.  The pull strength on the bow was 9 Tonkas.  The bow fired far.  Guru ji called for Jaan Bhai, his horse.  There was a lot of noise.  Guru ji saw every direction.  The battle was fierce.  Metal was clashing.  The battle was happening near the walls of the city.  Many soldiers fought.  Guru ji released arrows and hit the enemy that came in front.  It passed 4 or more at a time.  Whoever came in front, it killed everyone.  Nobody could stop the arrow.  With one arrow, Guru ji killed many men and horses.  His arrows went through horses, like wind pulling banana trees.  The Mughals were uprooted with one arrow.  Many Turks fell.  Guru ji released a second arrow, by pulling it to his ear.  When it flew, it made a loud noise, from the friction of the wind.  It sounded like a snake hissing.  Nobody could figure out how fast the arrow went.  Guru ji released many arrows.  He went towards the 4 directions.  He fought where the charge was strong.  He released arrows, one after the other.  The arrows were sharp.  They were like flying snakes.  Men and horses died.  There were many dead bodies.  The Turks attacked hard.  They got hit with arrows and swords.  Guru ji pushed the Turks back.  They couldn’t enter the city.  They were afraid of Guru ji’s arrows.  Nobody had courage anymore after Guru ji came.  Bullets busted the limbs.  The warriors swayed and fell.  They became one with the dust.  They were afraid to come ahead now.  As soon as anyone was hit with Guru ji’s arrows, they died right away.  Guru ji fired in all 4 directions.  The bodies piled.  Men and horses died.  The Turks scattered.  They got hit and ran back.  Kaalay Khan was very surprised as to what was happening to his army. 

8-23 Khoja Anwar Dies

The 4 generals attacked from the 4 sides with their armies.  They wanted to use their strength and come into Kartarpur.  The Turks were hit with arrows and spears.  Bhai Mehar Chand ji was a great warrior.  Bhai Ameeya ji was patient and assisting Bhai Mehar Chand ji.  They were fighting with the power and radiance of Guru ji.  They fought fiercely.  Usmaan Khan was strong as well and fired many arrows.  Khoja Anwar was with him, who was beaten up by the Sikhs.  The shameless fool came back to fight the Sikhs.  Both Khans wanted to fight Guru ji.  The generals of both sides were angry.  They encouraged their men to fight ahead.  They brought their regiments and fought the battle.  There was a fierce battle towards the south.  Many soldiers died.  The bullets showered on.  It sounded like thundering clouds.  The heads exploded like clay pots.  The chests were pierced.  The Turks charged hard with their swords.  The Guru’s Sikhs were less in numbers but fought ahead.  They yelled: “kill them!”  The spears and swords were out.  Bhai Mehar ji and Bhai Ameeya ji stood in front.  They released many arrows.  They challenged the enemy and fired.  Bullets, Saangs and arrows were hit in the chest.  The swords cut the heads and limbs.  Many limbs were on the ground.  The prides were destroyed.  The soldiers fought each other.  The shields clashed.  Both sides fought.  Limbs were cut.  Clothes were red.  The swords flashed like lightening.  The soldiers fell after being injured.  They slept the permanent slumber. 

Usmaan Khan released sharp arrows.  He killed many Sikhs.  Some soldiers were hit with swords.  Limbs fell.  Spears passed through the mouth.  Some lost legs and couldn’t walk.  The south side was fierce.  The Turks attacked hard.  A Sikh told Guru ji: “from the south, the charge is hard.  Usmaan Khan and Anwar Khan are there.”  Baba Bidhi Chand ji was standing close by.  Guru ji said: “Bidhi Chand ji, go towards the south and pushed them back.  Use your weapons and stop them.  Cut the one that comes ahead.”  Baba ji obeyed and charged towards the south.  Bhai Ameeya ji and Bhai Mehar Chand ji killed many Turks.  They challenged the Turks and killed them.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji came to that fight like a lion.  He roared and said: “use the power of the Guru and kill the Turks.”  He released many arrows and pierced many chests.  He stood there like a pillar.  The Sikhs held their lines as well.  They got more courage after seeing Baba Bidhi Chand ji and fought back.  The Turks attacked hard but the Sikhs killed them.  The Sikhs held them up.  Baba ji moved to the front and fought.

Anwar Khan saw his men running back.  He was longing for revenge as he was insulted.  He thought to himself: “why does the army not fight?  Who is here that doesn’t let us go forward?”  He took his horse to the front, bringing the best men with him.  They swung their swords and came to the front.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji saw Anwar Khan coming.  Both faced each other.  Anwar Khan recognized Baba Bidhi Chand ji: “he is close to Guru Hargobind ji.  He’s his main general.  He is his special man.”  He said to his men: “surround this one from every side and kill him!”  Usmaan Khan and Anwar Khan brought the best men to kill Baba Bidhi Chand ji.  A lot of noise was heard.  The Guru’s Sikhs showered bullets.  They held weapons and fought with attention.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji fought with anger.  He released many arrows.  He killed many Turks, piercing their bodies by aiming at them.  The ones who were hit, died right away.  The arrows went through the bodies.  Anwar Khan faced Baba ji and said: “you insulted me and beat me up!  You dishonoured me in the court.  I will kill you and take my revenge.  Forget about living.  I will kill you.  I will kill you and then capture your Guru.  We will tie him up and take him to Lahore.  You don’t fear the Badshah.  We have a big army.  We are the leaders.  You are Fakirs.  You did to me what you were not supposed to.  I will kill you in the battlefield and take my revenge.”  Baba Bidhi Chand ji, the mighty, heard this and said: “I have killed many deer like you during my hunts.  I can’t count how many I killed like you.  I have killed elephants like Kumber Beg, Lalla Beg, Mughlas Khan and Abdul Khan.  You are a deer.  If a deer wakes up a sleeping lion, it should not forget about staying alive.  You woke me up now.  I will kill all of you.  All of you woke us up.  We won’t let you all go back.  You can dance but you won’t go back.  If you want to live, I will give you a chance to run away.”  Anwar Khan got angry and released an arrow before Baba Bidhi Chand ji finished talking.  The arrow hit the saddle of Baba Bidhi Chand ji’s horse.  Baba ji controlled his horse.  He moved around and then took out a Khapra arrow.  He mounted it on his bow and pulled it to his ear.  He released it, aiming at Khoja Anwar’s forehead.  The arrow flew fast like a snake and hit Anwar Khan in the forehead.  The arrow came out the other end, ripping his helmet.  The feathers were stuck between the eyebrows.  It looked like the Red Tilak of a Pandit; like the leaf of a pomegranate was attached to the forehead; like a baby chick was peaking its head out from its nest.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji was angry.  His anger killed Anwar Khan.  His anger was sitting on the forehead.  Anwar Khan fell to the ground, like a tree uprooted by the wind and hitting the ground.  The Turks saw this and got scared.  Some yelled and ran away.  The Sikhs were motivated and attacked hard in a fierce way.  Their shining swords sliced the Turks.  The ones that ran away, had cut limbs.  Usmaan Khan tried to stop his men from running but he saw his own death and moved back as well.  The Sikhs stood their ground.  The Turks ran back.  The Sikhs fought with power.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji won this battle.  He came to Guru ji and told him that Anwar Khan died: “he came to take his revenge but was killed by your blessing.  He has been sent to Hell.  The Sikhs are killing the Turks with their bullets.  The battle is fierce but the Turks are moving back.  The south is light now.  The Nagaras of your victory are being played.  Everyone is shouting out Jaikaras.” 

8-24 The Battle Continues

Sri Satguru ji was a great warrior.  He released sharp arrows that killed many with one shot.  The Turks fell to the ground, one after the other.  Many warriors fought; their bodies pierced.  They came to the front with courage; they were hit with arrows and bullets.  The bullets were fired that busted the limbs.  Nobody raised their heads.  Their bodies were filled with blood.  Many horses ran without riders.  The riders died.  Guru ji released arrows in anger.  He didn’t let anyone go.

Painday Khan released arrows.  He couldn’t hit anyone.  He missed every time.  He was amazed at why he was missing: “where are my arrows going?  The Sikhs are fighting and not being injured.  They are still standing.  Many Turks have killed.  Many are dead on the ground.”  He grinded his teeth with anger.

Kaalay Khan was upset.  He yelled: “be brave and fight!”  They were being hit and falling to the ground.  They Turks did not want to advance.  On the east side, Kutabh Khan fought.  He was faced by the Pandit who released many arrows.  Kutabh Khan wanted to go into the city to kill Guru ji.  When he attacked, he came with 10,000 men.  Pandit Jatti Malik ji stopped him with his arrows.  He killed the Syeds, Mughals and Pathaans.  Many fell by his arrows.  The Sikhs were strong.  They fought without doubt.  They knew that victory or death was good for them.  The Sikhs shouted Jaikaras when they died.  They weren’t afraid of death because they knew they were going to Sach Khand to be with Guru Nanak Dev ji.  They killed many of the enemy.  Pandi Jatti Malik ji fired arrows like a machine, one after the other.  The Turks attacked hard and made a lot of noise.  The rifles fired loud.  The warriors yelled.  They had shields and swords in their hands.  Some had Sirohis and some had double-edged Khandas.  They cut meat like preparing pieces to distribute.  The warriors were cut.  Many slept in death on the ground.  Many lost their heads.  The cowards went pale and ran away, seeing the dead bodies.  The Khanda danced naked on the field.  It made 2 from 1.  The clothes were ripped.  The flags were all cut.  The battle was fierce. 

Kutabh Khan faced Bhai Jatti Malik ji, fiercely.  The two regiments fought with bullets and arrows.  The Turks attacked from every direction.  The bodies of the Turks pilled up as Guru Hargobind ji killed many with his arrows.  His arrows passed through many at a time.  Horses and men were passed with a clean shot.  His arrows were 4 fingers thick.  Their speed was fast.  They couldn’t be stopped.  They passed right through the chests.  The cowards saw this and got scared.  Guru ji was a brave and strong warrior.  His arrows were like flying snakes.  He killed many Turks with many arrows.  He called for more quivers full of arrows.  He emptied many quivers.  He fired many arrows continuously.  The arrows went through 2 and then a third.  They went through 4 and then a fifth and a sixth.  They went for miles on end.  If someone came within his range, they were hit by his arrows.  His arrows went really far.  The arrows cut the limbs and killed the person right away.  His arrows were thick and scary.  The Khapra arrows were made of Faulaad.  They were really sharp.  They ripped right through chainmail. 

The Turks that were still alive, they got scared of Guru ji’s arrows.  The Pathaans said: “who is this warrior that is shooting these thick arrows?  They are going for miles.  Who is able to shoot these thick and heavy arrows?  There is no one else in the world that can do this.”  The arrows passed through 20 at a time.  Thousands died by Guru ji’s arrows.  The Turks saw the wounds and decided to run away.  The arrows flew like snakes.  They were like canon balls causing damage.  Nobody was safe.  The shields and armour did nothing to stop the arrows.  The men and horses were pilling up on the ground.  Many were injured and were dying on the ground.  They asked for water but were too tired to drink.  Many were killed who were hit in the chest with Guru ji’s arrows.  Many limbs were cut.  Heads exploded.  Chests were pierced.  The Turks were running away from where the arrows came from.  They avoided going there to save themselves.  Nobody came to the front.  Nobody wanted to fight anymore.  They regretted coming: “why did we ever attack?”  They said to others: “why don’t you move away from the arrows?” 

Many bullets were fired.  The bullets showered like hail.  Gunpowder was loaded and rammed with a ramrod, after the bullet was loaded.  Guru ji’s Sikhs fired two bullets at a time.  They fired, which made a loud noise.  They fired, one after the other.  The warriors were angry and fighting.  There was a lot of noise.  Many rifles and arrows were cutting the limbs.  Spears were flung onto the Turks.  The Turks pressed on.  Just as a jungle catches fire in the night, the moths come to the light and burn in the fire.  That is how the Turks were, coming towards Kartarpur.

Kaalay Khan motivated his men to fight.  He wanted to surround the city closer.  They attacked harder.  The Sikhs prepared their rifles and fired when the Turks came close.  Painday Khan was attacking from the other side.  Usmaan Khan was on the other side.  The army all attacked at once.  They pushed through, hard.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji went where the attack was fierce.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji motivated the men himself.  He and Baba ji released many arrows to kill the Turks.  Guru ji observed the battle and released his arrows.  He cut many limbs with his arrows.  The red colour flowed through the battle.  The noise of the rifles firing was loud.  There was a lot of smoke from the rifles.  The dust flew from the horses running.  It was like the black clouds of Saavan (July/August) came.  The bullets were like hail.  The smoke from the gunpowder, the fire from the rifles were like lightening, within the dark clouds.  Kartarpur was covered in smoke.  The warriors died on the battlefield.  The fairies of heaven married off the martyrs.  The vultures and crows came to eat the flesh.  They shrieked in joy.  Other scavengers came.  Jackels and dogs came to eat the flesh.  They pulled the bodies away.  The Kaljognis danced and sang.  They drank the blood.  The Nagaras and Dhols were played with Pattas.  The ransinghas played with conches.  It echoed in the sky.  The warriors would get pumped hearing these sounds.

The roads going to Kartarpur were blocked by dead bodies.  There were dead bodies of men and horses everywhere.  Many bodies of warriors were rolling on the field.  The blood was mixed into the ground.  It was like red soil from the Gheru Mountains had come down (these mountains have red soil on them).  Just as small rivers would flow from the Gheru mountains, red in colour, that is how Kartarpur had many red rivers flowing.  The bodies made mini forts all over the place.  The Sikhs used them as shelters.  Flesh, blood and bones were everywhere.  Intestines were seen everyone.  Hands and legs were all over the ground.  Heads were rolling.  It was hard to cross over the piles to go into the city.  The horses would get scared going over the dead bodies.  The horses would fall, tripping over the bodies. 

Rifles were fired and busting the limbs.  The bodies became red from the blood.  The warriors and horses were laying on the ground.  The bodies looked like small mountains.  The cut heads looked like boulders and rocks on the mountains.  The limbs looked like cut dry wooden branches.  The blood flowing was like rivers flowing from the mountain.  The fat from the bodies looked like the bubbles in the river.  The cut tails from the horses were like the grass on the mountains.  Many Turks were dead.  The Turks were amazed to see their damage.  They said: “this looks like Judgement Day!  Who killed so many of our people?  The enemy was so few in numbers.  Looks like death inspired this battle.  Did death itself come to kill all these people?”  The fools were insulted by this battle.  They went quiet and couldn’t figure out what went wrong.  They didn’t understand the power of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.

8-25 The Battle Continues

When many from the enemy army were killed, only a few men remained.  There weren’t many to attack as most of them were injured.  The Turks stood far away.  They were worried and watching from the back.  Kaalay Khan thought to himself: “my army has decreased and is moving back.  They aren’t fighting and just standing around in the different directions.  They are scared.  Nobody is charging.  They have lost their morale.  They are not attacking or showing their strength.  I should collect the army and not divide them in 4 parts.  We should attack as one.  We should kill the Sikhs and catch the Guru.”  He pulled his Khanda out and said: “let’s make the Guru our prisoner.  Kill anyone who comes foreword.  Painday Khan is strong and fearless.  He knows the Guru’s ways.  We will watch the drama.”  The army began to gather.  Kaalay Khan told them all to get together in one place.  The officers gathered behind Kaalay Khan and fired their bullets. 

Usmaan Khan ran and came.  He commanded the remaining army to follow him.  The Nagaras played but the horses were tired.  The warriors were drenched in blood.  Their clothes were ripped.  They had no will to fight.  They felt as though they were going to lose.  They looked scared.  Kutabh Khan came behind Kaalay Khan, bringing his regiment.  The remaining army gathered playing Nagaras.  It was like a tsunami going towards a mountain and being stopped.  This army was trying to go ahead but the Sikhs were the mountain that stopped them.  They were going back after getting beaten up badly.  Painday Khan took his best men to go behind Kaalay Khan.  Kaalay Khan had all of the Umraavs behind him.  It was like all of the water collecting and going towards a lower elevation.  Many warriors discussed.  Kaalay Khan spoke: “just as the other battles were lost, looks like we will lose this one too.  Let’s fight together and attack at once.  Let’s not try to surround the city.  We faced a lot of damage this way.  If we catch the Guru, our task will be a success.  The Badshah will be happy with us and increase our salaries.  Painday Khan, stay in attention.  What you said in the Badshah’s court, do that now.  The Shah will give you a Siropa if you succeed.  You will be wealthy.  Otherwise, it will be better to die.  Understand this.”  After Kaalay Khan said this, Kutabh Khan said: “this is right.  This is what we need to do now.  Catch the Guru now.  We will fight from the two sides.  If we fight like this, we will win.  How long can we fight?  The Guru will kill everyone.  The one who started the battle, nobody is catching him.”  Painday Khan spoke with ego: “I have been trying to find the Guru.  He is far away from me.  I will attack with my full strength and catch him.  We should all go and attack.  Then I will show you my skills.  You should watch me how I grab the Guru.  I will tie him, throw him in a cage and take him to Lahore.  I want the army to keep the Sikhs away from the Guru.  When I fight the Guru, the Sikhs should be stopped.  If you stop the Sikhs, I will do the task quickly.”  Usmaan Khan heard this and said: “don’t worry Ubbha Jaan (father), I will release many arrows.  No Sikh will come close.  I won’t delay.  We will catch the Guru today.  The Guru seems to be afraid of you.  He’s far away.”  The fools discussed in this way and made plans.  They were inspired by Death’s guiding hand.  The Nagaras were sounded.  The strategy to surround Kartarpur was discarded.  They all gathered and prepared to attack at once.

Sri Gurditta ji, Baba ji, took his bow and released many arrows.  He was strong, like his father.  He was tall and handsome.  He was a skilled archer as well.  He went to where the battle was strong.  He rode his horse towards the other Sikhs.  He dropped many horses and men with his arrows.  His arrows went through the bodies.  The Turks fell from their horses.  Baba Gurditta ji rode his horse and rained arrows.  He protected the city well.  He went where the battle was loud.  When the Turks would see the son of the Guru coming, they would get scared.  The Sikhs, in turn, would get inspired at his coming.  The Turks were pierced with bullets and arrows.  Baba Gurditta ji’s arrows struck fear in the hearts of the Turks.  He emptied many quivers.  He would call for more quivers.  The servants would bring them.  His arrows were never a miss.  He struck horses and men.  His younger brother, Baba Sooraj Mal ji, fought with his bow.  He released many arrows.  Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji, at age 13, came to battle as well.  He was already taller than 6 and a half feet at this age.  The Sikhs stopped him but he still came to war (according to historians, his name was Baba Tyaag Mal ji up till this battle.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, impressed by his battle skills, changed his name to “Tegh Bahadhur” after the battle of Kartarpur).  The brothers were on their own horses.  They helped the Sikhs and protected the city from the Turks.  They killed many Turks together.  They were brave warriors.  They inspired the Sikhs to fight with bravery.  They fired rifles and sometimes released arrows. 

Where the Atari (top floor/attic/top balcony) of the Guru’s home was, Mata Nanaki ji was observing the battle from there.  She saw her son fighting.  She had her daughters-in-law, Mata Khem Kaur ji and Mata Gujri ji standing by her.  They saw the dead bodies.  Mata Marwahi ji came out to see the battle as well on the Atari.  The whole family was watching the battle.  They heard the rifles firing.  They all saw Guru Hargobind Sahib ji fighting.  The mothers prayed: “may Guru Nanak Dev ji protect them all.”  They did Simran the whole time.  They were concerned for their loved ones.  They were afraid seeing the huge army of the Turks.  They feared for the safety of their sons.  They wanted to send the servants to fight in their place.  The warriors who had the blood of fighters running in their veins, could not stay away from war.  The sons said: “we are the sons of Kshatriyas.  We wield weapons with patience.  This is why we wear weapons.  To leave the battlefield is not our Dharma.  We will kill the enemy.  Guru Pitha ji carries weapons and kills many Turks.  We will walk the same path.  We will fight and kill the Turks.”  The sons released many arrows.  When the Turks came in big numbers, they all attacked. 

Guru ji, along with Baba Bidhi Chand ji, the patient; Bhai Jatti Malik ji, the Warrior Brahmin; and others had splashes of blood on their clothes.  The Turks gathered in one force and so did the Sikhs.  The Sikhs gathered behind Guru ji.  The servants brought more quivers full of arrows.  It was like many snakes were in the quivers.  Bullets and gunpowder were given to replenish the stock.  More rifles were brought.  Food and water were distributed.  They all stood in front of the enemy.  The warriors were standing face-to-face, far off into the distance on both sides.  The Nagaras were played out loud.  Everyone was ready to fight again.  The officers wanted to come to the front.  The armies were ready to fight.  The bullets started firing.  It was around 11 am and the Turks were tired from fighting.  They fought all night and continued into the morning.  The battle started around 2 am.  Many Turks were killed.  The Turks travelled far and didn’t get anything to eat.  The omnipotent Guru, is who they had to face.  What else would they face, other than defeat?  Satguru ji killed many Turks and caused a lot of damage.