Part 31 The Sakhi of Bhai Mehtaab Singh

Sri Vahiguru ji ki Fateh Hai.  Listen to the Sakhi of Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji.  Harbhagat Niranjania of Jandiala had taken on the task of arresting Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji.  He was given a huge army of the Mughals.  They were looking to arrest Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji who had many Singhs with him.  A few people could not arrest Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji.  He was a true warrior.  The enemy would go far away from Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji, hearing his name.  Whoever would say his name while fastening their weapons, they would be ready to fight.  Wherever the spies had told Harbhagat of the whereabouts of Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji, he would go there.  The Singhs lived in the jungle, in hiding.  The army would fear going into the jungle.  The Turks would kill Singhs.  The Singhs would kill anyone they grabbed.  They spent many days looking for Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji.  Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji heard that Bhai Taru Singh ji went to Lahore with the Ahdeeyas.  He thought to himself: “he is going to give his head to the Turks to make them guilty.  He will be an inspiration.  He will make the Navaab of Lahore guilty.  He will take him to Hell.  He will fulfill his Sikhi with his Kes and his breaths.  The Turks will be severely guilty by this.  Bhai Taru Singh ji will accept this as the will of the Guru.  He will see his life as a success this way.  The Singhs are great who fight in the war of the Dharam.  The Singhs are great who account their heads to the Turks’ guilt.  Death hangs over the heads of all.  The death is great that is sacrificed for the Dharam, for Sikhi and makes the Turks guilty.  Great is the body of Bhai Mani Singh ji who had his limbs cut.  Great is Bhai Dayal Singh ji of the Shah Village who kept his Dharam and went upon the Charkhari.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji Jambher and his son were great who chanted Akaal and went upon the Charkhari.  Great are those Singhs who gave their lives for the Satguru.  What life am I living, hiding and living?  What did I earn?  How will I sit with the Shaheeds in the Great Court?  How will I meet with those Shaheed Singhs?  How can I go to them?  This body is fragile.  I have lived a long enough life.  Without fighting the Turks and dying, what’s the point?  I won’t get the Shaheedi status then.  My life and death will be damned if I die without fighting the Turks.”  In this way Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji thought of this: “I should go to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  We have a deep love for each other.  I will let go of my body with him.”  He said to his companion Singhs: “I wish to die with Bhai Taru Singh ji.  You stay here.  I wish to go to Lahore to Bhai Taru Singh ji.”  Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji headed towards Lahore after speaking to his fellow Singhs.  He gave them all of his weapons.  He only kept a Salotar with him in his hand.  He didn’t want to give the weapons to the Turks.  He wanted to die fighting with the Salotar.  He wanted to take the Salotar to the Navaab. 

Harbhagat was looking for Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji, but he came to him.  The Turks saw him and arrested him right away.  Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji beat up the Turks close to him who came at him.  The Turks overpowered him and arrested him.  They tied his arms and legs with chains.  They tied him to iron nails on to a cart.  They tied his arms and head to a wooden board.  They brought the Singh to Mira Kot in this way.  Hundreds of Turks were there.  Many people of Mira Kot were called to recognize Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji to make sure it was really him.  Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji played a trick.  He winked and waved his finger to his fellow villagers to deny that they knew him.  The villagers denied they knew him.  The soldiers asked but the villagers refused.  They said: “recognise him or else you will be converted.”  The villagers refused to recognize him as they did what Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji said.

Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji was taken to the Navaab.  The Navaab told the soldiers to lock him up with Bhai Taru Singh ji.  The Singh’s wish was fulfilled.  He was killed by the Charkhari.  Great was his life and great was his Karma that he maintained his Sikhi.  Bhai Taru Singh ji was happy to hear that Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji attained Shaheedi upon the Charkhari.  Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji met Bhai Taru Singh ji before being tortured.  This gave him great joy.  Bhai Taru Singh ji called Bhai Mehtaab Singh ji great for coming to meet him before sacrificing his life.

Part 32 The Sakhi of Bhai Taru Singh

Now I will come back to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Listen oh saints with focus.  The Navaab called Bhai Taru Singh ji to his court.  Bhai Taru Singh ji came and said the Fathe of Vahiguru out loud.  He shouted out “Akaal, Akaal!”  The Navaab heard this and his mouth went dry.  It was like cutting a person’s finger and putting salt on it.  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “listen Navaab.  What did I ruin of yours?  What am I being tortured for?  I didn’t take your land or ruin it.  We pay your taxes for the land.  The business or farming we do, we pay tax for that too.  Whatever remains after paying your taxes, that we eat.  We stay hungry but still give donations.  What are you losing?  Why are you punishing us?”  The Navaab got angry and spoke harsh words: “I want you to become a Mussalmaan.  I will let you live then.”  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “we don’t fear you.  How can I become a Mussalmaan.  Do Mussalmaans not die?  If I am still to die then why should I lose my Dharam?  My Dharam is precious to me.  I wish to live out my Sikhi with Kes and my breaths.”  The Navaab said: “you are young still.  I will let you live.  If you wish for anything else, you can ask for it.  You can have wealth, land or the country.  You can have the daughters of the Mughals and Pathaans.  You will get mansions to live in.”  Singh ji then spoke: “give me what I wish for, what I like.  If you are generous, then don’t ask me to become a Mussalmaan.  Tell us a way which we can live out our Sikhi by our Kes and breaths.”  The Navaab got angry and spoke: “beat his head with a shoe till his hair doesn’t fall out!”  He commanded the barber to cut Bhai Taru Singh ji’s hair.  Bhai Taru Singh ji cursed the Navaab: “those shoes will beat your head and take you to Hell.  The Sikhs of the complete Satguru, their Sikhi is followed through by their Kes.”

The barbers were called.  When they tried to cut Bhai Taru Singh ji’s hair, their clippers went blunt.  As they tried more, their hands wouldn’t move properly.  Their hands trembled and couldn’t cut.  The Navaab scolded them even more but their hands got weaker.  The power of the Khalsa came into effect.  The barbers couldn’t see anymore.  They went blind.  The Navaab said: “he has done some magic!  These barbers must be bribed.  Go and bring the leather cutters.  Tell them to take his scalp off with their scalpers.”  Singh ji was happy to hear this.  He said to Guru Sahib: “my skull will go with my hair.  My words will remain.  The honour of the Kes will remain.”  He chanted: “Akaal, Akaal!”  The Navaab and the Qazis covered their ears with their fingers.  The Navaab got really angry and commanded the leather cutters: “take his scalp off along with his hair!  Cut it with your blades!”  The butchers did as they were told.  The blade was sharpened.  The blade was placed on Bhai Taru Singh ji’s forehead and pressed.  The leather cutter ran the blade like a plough through a field.  He cut the skin to the ear and then around the neck, back to the forehead.  Bhai Taru Singh ji did not make a noise.  His scalp was pulled off along with his hair.  Great was the Gurmukh.  Everyone said this.  The people who saw this were amazed.  There were many people who witnessed this.  Everyone who heard this said: “hai, hai!”  They were shocked.  The wise ones said: “their kingdom will not last now.”  It was 1802 Vikram when this happened, the tragedy of Bhai Taru Singh ji.  1791 Vikram was when the Navaab had Bhai Hakeekat Rai ji killed.  Bhai Hakeekat Rai ji was a Sikh but nothing happened to the Navaab by his killing.  The Navaab’s confidence got bigger.  He tortured more and his glory grew.  The Singhs were upset and the Mussalmaans were happy. 

Bhai Taru Singh ji did not die.  He was taken to the Dharamsala in Lahore by the Sikhs.  The Sikhs were told: “when he dies, you can cremate him.”  Singh ji did not make noise from his pain.  His head was bleeding.  He kept chanting “Guru.”  His body was bathed by his blood.  He considered himself pure like taking a bath in the Ganga.  As Mansoor had his hands cut, he did the Wazoo from his own blood and recited the Nimaaz.  His Nimaaz was accepted in the Great Court.  The Mullahs’ and Qazis’ Nimaaz was not accepted.  The same day, the Navaab sent a message: “you said you would live out your Sikhi with your Kes and breaths.  You have been proven false.  We have your hair and your scalp.  Your body is without your hair.  Your words are false now.”  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “Navaab, you didn’t understand.  The hair remains attached to my scalp.  Both your questions are false.  My breath is in my body.  I can stay alive as I wish.  I will die when I take you towards your death by the beating of my shoe on to your head.  You have never met such an Ustaad like me before.  You digested the murder of Bhai Hakeekat Rai ji but now I will beat your head with my shoe and take you to your Paikamber.  If I leave you alive, you would think that you are powerful.  I will take you to your Paikamber and throw you into his court.  I will see if he gives you a false reference for you.  He will be dragged into your faults as well.  You survived the murder of Bhai Hakeekat Rai ji but you won’t survive this now.  If your Paikamber gives your reference, he will go to Hell as well.  Stay strong now.  I will kill you by blocking your urine and feces.  Get ready to go to Hell now.  I will take you by beating your head with my shoe.” 

Part 33 The Navaab Can no Longer Urinate

As soon as Bhai Taru Singh ji spoke, the Navaab could no longer urinate.  He suffered like a fish on land.  He would lay on the floor sometimes and sometimes on his bed.  Sometimes he would sit and sometimes he would move around.  He would stand and sometimes lay on his stomach.  He would yell and cry in pain.  The Qazis, Mullahs and doctors came to treat him but all failed.  They read Qalaams but nothing worked.  The Navaab was more in pain.  The Shaheeds made him suffer more.  The Navaab would see the Shaheed Singhs wearing blue Cholas who would give him pain.  The Shaheeds had Salotars with them which they would beat him with.  They were the Salotars used to grind cannabis.  As the Navaab remembered his Peers and Paikambers, the more the Shaheeds would beat him with their Salotars.  The Shaheeds would say to him: “you sinner!  Go run towards your death now!”  They gave the Navaab pain.  The Navaab could see the Shaheed Singhs.  They had Kards on their heads and Chakars spinning in their hands.  The Navaab would see them and tremble in fear.  He would chant the name of his Paikambers.  He would send donations to the Peers but the Peers would see the Shaheeds and run away.  The Peers or Paikambers he would call out to, they would come but the Bhujhangi Shaheeds would stand in front.  The Peers and Paikambers would run away seeing the Shaheeds.  The Shaheeds would make them run away with their Chakars, Kataris and Kards.  When the Navaab saw his Peers and Paikambers run away, he lost hope of Qazis and Mullahs.  The Navaab lost his hope.  He then looked towards the Khalsa.  A person who is in pain, everything looks bad to them.  Deen and religion look bad.  They leave Peers and go to the true Guru.  Only people in pain go to them.  When one can’t help them, they go to others.  They serve others.  They wander from place to place to serve others.  The fool loses their own Deen.  There are only a few warriors who have faith.  They only have faith upon their own Guru.  There are few Sikhs that do not leave the Guru in pain.  The Navaab released the Singh prisoners by doing Salaam to them.  The Navaab was still not cured.  The Navaab then thought: “the Singh cursed me.  He must complete it.  Only the Sikhs can save me now.  The Sikhs can ask Bhai Taru Singh ji to save me.  The Sikhs of the city were called.  The City Sikhs came in fear.  The Navaab folded his hands towards the Sikhs and said, standing: “ask Bhai Taru Singh ji to forgive me.  Forgive me.  Put his scalp on top of his head again.”  The Sikhs went to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “why is the Navaab asking for forgiveness now?  Why is he putting my scalp back on my head?  Tell him that if he has any strength left, he can use it now.  I won’t leave him in this world.”

The Navaab knew in his mind: “nobody can save me now.  If someone asks for forgiveness on my behalf, they will die too.”  As the Shaheeds beat up the Navaab, he felt the pain.  The Shaheeds would scare him.  The Navaab would breathe heavy.  The Navaab thought to himself: “the Khalsa can help me.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji was released from jail and brought to the Navaab.  He said to Bhai Subegh Singh ji: “the Shaheeds don’t leave me alone.  I remembered the Peers and Paikambers.  They would come and then run away seeing the Shaheeds.  I only have hope in the Singhs now.  The Khalsa can kill me or keep me now.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji shook his head and said: “the curse of saints cannot be erased.”  The Navaab got really scared hearing this.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji continued: “the sleeping lion should not be awakened.  I’m afraid that he may curse me too.  The curse can go to many generations.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji went quiet and couldn’t think of what to make of it.  The Navaab then touched Bhai Subegh Singh ji’s feet.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji thought to himself: “as the Navaab says, I will go and speak to Bhai Taru Singh ji.”  The Navaab said: “say my Salaam (to Bhai Taru Singh ji).  Tell him to forgive me and bless me with peace.  Touch his feet for me.  Whatever proclamation you want from me, I will write it.  I won’t kill Singhs again, if you keep my breath.  If you don’t forgive me, I will suffer to death.  Even if I die, please let me urinate.  I don’t want to be in pain when I die.”  The Navaab gave his message. 

Bhai Subegh Singh ji went to where Bhai Taru Singh ji was.  Bhai Taru Singh ji was in deep Simran.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji bowed to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “you are giving the reference of a sinner?  If a Sikh comes to me for the task of another Sikh, I would make shoes out of my own skin for them.  If a person walks for a Sikh, I keep their feet on my head.  The wind that was to flow for the Navaab, that has passed.  Don’t give the reference for that sinner.  I can’t refuse you either because you are a Sikh.  If someone helps them, they will go with him.” 

Bhai Subegh Singh ji came back and told the Navaab that Bhai Taru Singh ji refused his offer.  The Navaab was in deep pain after hearing this.  As the Hakims tried to cure him, his illness got worse.  They couldn’t quiet down the Navaab.  The Navaab screamed in pain.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji was called again.  The Navaab said: “I come to the Shelter of the Khalsa.  Nobody can reverse Bhai Taru Singh ji’s curse.  Only the Khalsa can reverse it.  The water that gives birth, also kills.  The water that kills can also take across.  The Khalsa that will kill me, can also save me.  The Tatt Khalsa, wherever they are, go there.  Touch their feet from me.  Make a plea from me.  Tell them that I have sinned.  I owe you.  I am your prisoner.  Your Guru has written: there is no place for a giver of pain to a saint.  The slanderer of the saint is a great murderer.  The slanderer of the saint is beaten by the Parmeshwar.  If the saint wishes, the slanderer can be saved.  This is written in your Granth.  I have also heard that I want you to tell the Khalsa, the Guru said: “wherever 5 Sikhs stand with folded hands, I will come there.”  What is written in the Guru Granth ji, what the saints say, comes out to be true.  I want the Khalsa to show this to me and fulfill it.  I have heard in the Sukhmani of your Guru: there is no place for the giver of pain to the saints.  Nanak says, if the saint wishes, the slanderer can also be saved.  The slander of saints is the worst of worse sins.  Nanak says, if the saint wishes, the slanderer can have Moksha.  The giver of pain to the saint has no place.  Nanak says, if the saint wishes, the slanderer can have a place.  Nobody keeps the sinner of saints.  Nanak says, if the saint wishes, the slanderer can have a place.  If this Bani is true then forgive me now.  There is no sinner bigger than me.  There is no saint bigger than the Khalsa.  What is written in the Sukhmani, show it to me in reality.  The power of the Gurbani is within the 5 Sikhs.  Go to the Navaab of the Singhs.  If they don’t save my life, then at least make my pain go away.  Then Bhai Taru Singh ji can take me.” 

Bhai Subegh Singh ji Jambher went to the Khalsa.  He greeted the Khalsa with the Satguru’s Fateh.  He bowed from afar.  The Khalsa was in Divaan.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji was called with respect.  They asked how he was.  Navaab Kapoor Singh ji asked about Bhai Taru Singh ji and said: “beat the Khan with Bhai Taru Singh ji’s shoe, 7 times.  Great is Bhai Taru Singh ji.  The Khan is damned.  Great are Bhai Taru Singh ji’s mother, father and siblings.  He kept Sikhi and sacrificed his body.  Nobody else in this world has endured what he has taken upon his head.  He had his scalp removed.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji spoke of the Navaab’s request.  The Singhs heard this and felt as though they touched the fire with gunpowder.  The Singhs heard this and said: “let’s attack Lahore.  Either we should cut the Khan’s head or give our lives.”  Other Singhs said: “we can’t go now.  We are less in numbers.”  Some said: “let’s go in disguise.  We can attack at night.  Let’s kill them or die ourselves.  We can earn Shaheedi with faith.  Let’s go ahead of Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Let’s go to the Great Court and make noise to overthrow the kingdom.  Let’s make our lives a success.  Let’s do the Ardaas now.  Let’s not wait.  Bhai Taru Singh ji has prepared the ship.  Let’s cross this ocean of pain now.”  The Singhs then said: “Bhai Taru Singh ji has said that he will take the Khan from this earth by the beating of his shoe.”  The Khalsa thought about this and said: “Bhai Taru Singh ji’s earning is great.  His words are a sharp sword.  They can cut the Sumer Mountain.  Bhai Taru Singh ji has pulled the Khan’s roots.  His Peers and Paikambers are ready to throw him from his Takhat.  The curses of the saints cannot be reversed.  The shield is destroyed by their strike.  Nobody can save the Khan.  The Shaheeds will kill him by pushing them.  The one who tries to stop the curse of the saint, the Shaheeds will kill them with one strike.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji then said: “listen saints oh beloved Sikhs: there is nothing remaining in the Navaab’s death.  All of the Turks will fight and die because his sons will fight each other after him.  The Navaab has asked for the shelter of the Khalsa.  Let’s show him the Khalsa’s power.  If we don’t, they will think that there is a fault in the Khalsa then.  The Khalsa is all-powerful.  There is Amrit in the mouth of the Khalsa.  Bhai Taru Singh ji has fined the Navaab.  He wants to show the Navaab the power of the Khalsa.  The Guru is the Khalsa and the Khalsa is the Guru.  The Navaab has said this to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  He has seen the power.  That’s why he sent me to the Khalsa.  He knows the Khalsa has power.  He knows there is Amrit in the mouth of the Khalsa.  The Khalsa is omnipotent.  There is no difference between the Guru and the Khalsa.  The Guru is the Khalsa and the Khalsa is the Guru.  The Guru has said this from the beginning.  There is no difference between the saint and the Sikh.  The Sikhs have this power.  The saints can strike a nail in a line and change Yugas.  I have seen the Khalsa as such a saint.  I have seen it with my own eyes.  The Navaab has come to the shelter of the same Khalsa.  We should show him.  This is the honour of our Guru.  He wants us to save him with power.  As the sinner has said, I have told you, the whole Khalsa.  I already asked Bhai Taru Singh ji.  He will accept your command.  He won’t obey anyone else.  He keeps the honour of the Khalsa.  He won’t be upset with the Khalsa with their command.  He will accept the command of the Khalsa.  Whatever the Khalsa says will be good.  Whatever the Khalsa likes, Bhai Taru Singh ji will like it too.  Don’t be afraid of Bhai Taru Singh ji.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji said everything to the Khalsa in the Divaan.  The Khalsa then thought: “he will accept our command.”  The Singhs came to a decision.  The Guru Khalsa then said: “the Jageer of 12 villages of Amritsar, the villages are too small.  Give us bigger villages.  The sister of the Khan who is married to Farzula Khan, he established Farzulapur.  That is the same village of Navaab Kapoor Singh ji.  Give the Patta of that village to the Khalsa.  It shall be called Singhpura.”  Bhai Kapoor Singh ji heard this and got angry. He then spoke: “why are we asking for kingdoms?  Nobody will give it like this.  We will win all of the villages when we take over Lahore.  He has already said the words of Guru ji to us.  He is in pain during the time of his death.  The pain of death is hard.  Birth and death are the hardest pains for the world.  The Satguru can only protect you when he is with you in those times.  The Navaab has asked for the shelter of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.  We need to keep his honour, at least this much for that sinner.  It is not right to forgive him but he has taken the shelter of the Bani of the Guru.”  5 Singhs then got up and did the Ardaas.  They did the Ardaas: “the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh ji should be hit in the head of the Navaab by a Singh.  That will help him urinate and give him peace.  He will die before Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Get Bhai Taru Singh ji’s permission first.  Take his shoe and hit the Navaab.  Don’t do this without Bhai Taru Singh ji’s permission.  Don’t do any of the Navaab’s tasks without Bhai Taru Singh ji’s permission.  Do this because he gave the sake of the Guru’s words.”  This was to be said to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  

Bhai Subegh Singh ji bowed and went to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  He took the command of the Khalsa upon his head and came to Lahore.  He told everything to Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Bhai Taru Singh ji heard everything and bowed at the mention of the name of the Khalsa.  He said: “my body is a sacrifice unto the Khalsa.  The Khalsa is the powerful doer.  The power of the Khalsa does everything.  If the whole Khalsa has commanded this, who will not obey it?  The 5 Singhs have done the Ardaas and so it will be accepted in the Great Court.  The Khalsa is the cause and effect.  I am a small person in the shelter of the Khalsa.  It is by the radiance of the Khalsa that everything will happen.  The Khalsa can save or kill.  The Khalsa can fling the Nugda and kill the Navaab.  The Ardaas can destroy emperors and lands.  If they touch their sticks to the ground, the canopies of the Kings come crashing down.” 

Bhai Subegh Singh ji then went to the Navaab and told him: “the Khalsa has done the Ardaas after hearing your message.  They said you can’t be saved.  Make all your Muslay away from you.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji told him everything.  The Navaab said: “hurry up!”  He ordered the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh to be brought to him.  They had lost the old shoes so they couldn’t find them.  They bought a new pair and made Bhai Taru Singh ji wear them.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji took the shoes off and brought them to the Navaab.  The shoe was put on top of the Navaab’s forehead.  As soon as the shoe hit, the pain went away and he began to urinate.  The Navaab said: “I am now fortunate.  Taru Singh has been gracious upon me.  This time is blessed.  I am in peace after many days.  I agree to the Khalsa’s wishes.  This happened before.  One time there was tyranny in Kashmir.  1.25 Munns of Janyows were taken off everyday.  The whole of Kashmir was converted into Islam.  Only 13 homes of Hindus remained.  The Navaab’s head began to ache.  He felt like he was going to die.  When the Navaab was in a lot of pain, he said: “how can I be saved?”  The wise people then said: “take the shoes of the Hindus and touch them to your head.”  The Navaab was desperate and so he agreed.  He was then saved after doing this.”  When the Navaab was in peace, he had a celebration and said: “the Khalsa has made my pain go away.  Make the Karah Parshad of Guru Nanak Dev ji and have it distributed.  Do a Deepmala in the city.”  The guns were fired out of celebration.  The poor were given donations.

Part 34 The Navaab Dies/ The Sikka of Bhai Subegh Singh ji Jambar

The Navaab wore new clothes and sat in his court.  He said in his court: “the story of the Singhs is true.  I have seen their power.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji was called into the court.  He was given respect and seated next to the Navaab.  The Navaab said: “your Guru is true and so is his Bani.  I have experienced it.  I can die now.  Everyone has to die but my pain is now gone.  By your grace I am in peace now.  I don’t want this type of pain again.  I want to die in peace.  I don’t want my generations to do this.  I did a lot of sins upon the Singhs and have suffered my fate.  If my generations rule, I hope they don’t appose the Singhs.  Battle is another thing in the battlefield.  There is no sin in that.”  The Navaab said to Bhai Subegh Singh ji Jambar: “other than the Navaabi, ask for anything you wish for.”  Bhai Subegh Singh ji thought to himself: “I should fulfill the tasks of the Khalsa.”  He said: “make me the Chief of the Police.  Give me the Governorship of the Taksaal (the mint).  I will issue the money.”  The Navaab agreed to this.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji became the Chief of the Police and the Governor of the Mint.  He was very wise.  He knew that the Navaab was about to die so he did not delay and had money printed.  He took Singhs with him to take account of the treasury.  Such was Bhai Subegh Singh ji Jamber.  “Subegh Singh Jambar Heth Jameen upper Umber.”  His command was run on earth and in the Great Court.  He had 200 Charkharis destroyed.  He had the heads of the Singhs cremated that were put on display by the Navaab.  These were the Shaheed Ganj.  After 4 days, the Navaab was in peace and then died all of a sudden.  For 18 days he couldn’t urinate and then 4 days after he died when he was in peace.  From the day Bhai Taru Singh ji’s scalp was torn off, the Navaab died 22 days after.  The Navaab was going to Hell.  Chaos spread in Lahore.  The people said: “the cup of oil has spilled.”  The Hindus were celebrating.  Guru ji kept the honour of the Singhs.  Bhai Taru Singh ji’s words were true.  The Singhs were happy.  The Muslims were worried.  They said: “we will lose our kingdom now.”  The Khalsa’s power has grown.  The Turks’ power is lower.  It was 1791 Vikram when Hakeekat Rai died and not a hair was harmed.  Now, Bhai Taru Singh ji has been praised.  His glory spread.  He killed the Navaab with his shoe.  He took him to Hell.  The Khalsa’s honour was kept.  The Turks lost their honour.  Bhai Taru Singh ji and Bhai Subegh Singh ji did the task of Sikhi. 

Part 35 Bhai Taru Singh ji Shaheed Cremation

“The cup of oil has spilled,” spread in the whole city.  The Singhs came to Bhai Taru Singh ji after the Navaab died and said: “you are victorious!”  Bhai Taru Singh ji said: “prepare a pyre by bringing wood.”  The Singhs did as he said.  The pyre was prepared.  Bhai Taru Singh ji then did not delay.  His body was happy.  He said: “Satguru ji kept the honour of the Khalsa.  This Sakhi will be immortal in the world.”  He called for the water of Amritsar and bathed in it.  Karah Prashad was distributed.  He recited Japji Sahib and then Anand Sahib.  He did the Ardaas as the Singhs stood by.  He bowed after doing the Ardaas.  As he bowed, his Pranas left his body and flew away like the Garuda.  He went to the Great and True Court.  Bhai Subegh Singh ji had arrived to the body of Bhai Taru Singh ji.  He did the cremation himself of Bhai Taru Singh ji’s body.  The wood caught fire quickly.  It was 1802 Vikram.  Bhai Taru Singh ji took the Navaab to Hell by his shoes touching the Navaab’s head.  The beloved Shaheed Singhs of the Guru came to get him.  They were singing Shabads with Dutaaras.  They brought elephants and horses to take him.  Bhai Taru Singh ji was seated in a vessel. 

The Jumms came to take the Navaab.  Their shoes had spikes on them.  They beat the Navaab and took him to Hell.  Dharmaraj commanded for 100 beats of the shoes upon the head of the Navaab everyday. 

Bhai Taru Singh ji was seated on a seat.  He was the Shaheed of the Shaheeds.  Where the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji lived in Sach Khand, Bhai Taru Singh ji became the guard of their gates.  Bhai Mani Singh ji was on the right.  Bhai Taru Singh ji was on the left.  They received the status of Ajai and Vijay, the gatekeepers of Vaikunt.  They received the front seats of all of the Shaheeds. 

In Lahore, the Singhs hoisted their flags.  They showed everyone the royal proclamations.  Whoever came to the Singhs with their wishes, they were fulfilled.  Whoever came to the final resting place of Bhai Taru Singh ji, their wishes were fulfilled.  The Peeri of the Peers did not remain.  Bhai Taru Singh ji was now the Peer of Peers in Lahore.  Whoever wanted sons, milk, food or wealth, they did the Ardaas at Bhai Taru Singh ji’s final resting place.  Whoever listens to the Sakhi of Bhai Taru Singh ji, their body is never in pain again.  When they die, they will not feel the pain.  The Jumms will not be able to bother them.  During death, they will leave their breaths peacefully.  The Sikhi of the Sikhs will be determined with their hair, whoever listens to the Sakhi of Bhai Taru Singh ji.  Rattan Singh has written it as he heard it.  Listen to it and read it with skill.  It was 1802 Vikram when the Khan Bahadhur was killed by Bhai Taru Singh ji.

Part 36 The Sakhi of Jasoo Bhadha

After the Khan Bahadhur, Zakriya Khan, died, his 2 sons remained.  They were the Soobadaars of Lahore and Multan.  One was Aheeya Khan and the other was Shah Nivaaz Khan.  Both ruled together.  Shah Nivaaz arrested Aheeya Khan.  He looted him, beat him up and threw him out of his state.  Some time (2 or 3 months) passed in this way.  Shah Nivaaz was then the Navaab.  He began to kill the Singhs.  In this way, the events unfolded. 

Lakhpat Rai and Jaspat Rai became the Divaans.  They were Khatri brothers from Kala Naur.  They began to kill Singhs as well.  The Khalsa fought with them.  The Singhs kept their claim to kingdom.  The Singhs would see the Turks and attack.  Wherever they heard about the Dhera of the Singhs, the Turk army would surround them.  The Singhs would fight, die or go towards the jungles.  The Singhs would kill the Turks and run towards the jungle.  The Turks would come and chase them.  The Singhs made a living with pain.  They would find a new place to stay, everyday.  They weren’t able to cook their food.  They had the goal to rule the land though.  They endured pain and saw joy as the same.  They said: “the words of our Guru will be true.  “Hanay hanay hum Shahi karo hai,” we will rule upon every saddle.”  Some Singhs lived in the jungle.  Some lived in the caves of lions.  Some lived in small islands between split rivers.  The Turks would chase them there.  Where there was water on both sides, the Singhs hid there to save themselves.  The Turk army would surround them there and fire their guns to kill them.  The Singhs would jump into the water.  Some would drown and some would float.  The Turks would fire from afar.  The Singhs were kicked out of their homes and hid in the jungles.  They were kicked out of jungles and hid in the water.  After not being saved from hiding in the water, where else would the Singhs go? 

At night, Singhs were able to come out in peace.  During the day, the Turks would come out to hunt them again.  The dead Singhs were placed in the rivers.  The injured were picked up.  There was no place for them to go to.  There was no place where they were safe.  Some said: “let’s separate, singly.”  Some said: “by separating, you will lose your wisdom and honour.  Fight and die with the Turks.  There is no other way.”  Some said: “we will go there, where we can fight and die.  If we run away from fighting and dying, then how can we acquire kingdoms?”  The Khalsa then decided: “brothers, let’s stay close to the Turks and loot them at night.  We will take their horses at night and bother them.  The ones who are on foot, they can get horses and ride them.”  The Singhs heard this and got ready.  They said: “when the Turks are asleep, we will kill them.”  The warrior Singhs were determined to do this.  The Singhs would attack at night and loot the Turks.  In this way, the Singhs started their way.  At night, they would go to the army of the Turks.  They stayed close to them.  The Singhs would go to the Dhera of the Turks.  The Turks were tired and asleep.  The Singhs got their chance.  They took the horses by opening them up.  They would mount them by remembering the Satguru.  They would take more horses than there were Singhs.  They would take them.  If someone came to chase them, they were killed.  As many horses died, they had more now.  They did this everyday.  The Turk army got weaker.  Look brother at the power of the Guru: the ones that came to kill the Singhs, they themselves were killed by the Khalsa.  Then, many more Turks came into the army.  The few Singhs would hide.  They would hide in the thick jungle.  Their fort was the jungle, which they took over.  The Singhs were wise at night and ready to fight.  During the day, they stayed quiet.  They would kill the Turks at night.  During the day, the Turks would attack.  The Singhs would hide and couldn’t be found.  The Turks were afraid and wouldn’t go into the jungle.  If they came into the jungle, the Singhs would kill them.  The Singhs would come out of the jungle if they heard the Turk army was far away.  The Singhs would kill the Turks on the road between Delhi and Lahore (G.T. Road).  Some looted the road to Peshawar.  They looted Lahore when they got their chances on a regular basis.  In this way, the Singhs caused chaos.  The Singhs were kicked out of Majha.  They went to the jungles near the Ravi.  They had to kill and loot to eat.  They kept in touch with each other to stay safe.  In this way, they spent their time.  When the Turks attacked in great numbers, the Singhs would retreat to the jungles.  The Singhs would loot the royal treasuries on the way to Delhi.  The Singhs would attack and ruin Lahore.  The Turks would see the Singhs and burn in jealousy.  They would chase the Singhs and kill them.  The Singhs would hide and do surprise attacks.  The Turks were many.  How would the few Singhs fight them?  They had no money nor other assets.  They had no weapons or clothes.  They were naked, hungry and thirsty.  They had no bullets nor gunpowder.  They had no access to markets.  They couldn’t buy anything.  The ill would die without any medicine.  They had the faith upon the words of the Guru.  This is the treasure they had.  Even though the Singhs were few, they still grew in numbers.  They didn’t pay attention to pain or poverty.  They would be eager to fight, die and run. 

The Khalsa then decided: “let’s kill the Turk soldiers.  Let’s kill the Turks straight on.  Let’s loot the army and take their things.  Bring their elephants, horses and camels.  Without assets, we can’t rule.  Let’s take over land and make a fort.  Without a fort, we can’t fight.”  They decided this and advanced.  They came to Ahmnabad.  The Turks came to find them.  The Singhs wandered around, hungry.  Divaan Jaspat Rai owned the Jageer of Ahmnabad.  Jaspat Rai was collecting taxes in the area with a big army.  He took money by pressuring the people to pain.  He would tie the Panchayat to the tree and take the money.  Some he hung and some he beat with whips.  In this way, he was ruining the country.  The hungry Jatts ran towards the Singhs and joined them.  They left their homes and possessions to join the Dal of the Singhs.  The homes who did not have enough to pay taxes, they took their pleas to the Khalsa.  The Singhs came to Gurduara Rori Sahib.  The Singhs wanted to bathe there as it was the time of Vaisakhi and they wanted their bodies to be blessed.  The Singhs held a Mela there.  They wrote a letter to Jaspat Rai: the Singhs have been hungry for many days and wish to hold a Mela here.  The Khalsa sent this letter to Jaspat Rai: “the Guru has been gracious upon you and made you the Divaan as you are a Hindu.  There is no enmity between us.  We are enemies of the Turks.  We wish to buy our food and items of need.  We wish to buy from your city.  The Singhs have been hungry for many days who have come here.  We won’t ruin anything of yours.  Your land will be saved.  We will do our Mela and move on to other lands.”  Jaspat heard this and became angry.  He responded: “I will find you and kill you!  You came out of the jungles and came to my land.  The Jumms have you brought you to me.  I will shave your heads and make you into Jatts to work in my fields.  I will take your hair and make them into ropes to fetch water from the wells.  As the servant asks for a nose ring but the master wishes to cut the nose; I want to kill you but you are asking for food from me.  You are looking for food from me.  I will organise to have you killed.  If my brother Lakhpat Rai hears of this, he will come and kill you.  As Mani Singh was captured and killed, we will kill all of you in the same way.  We will take you and throw you in front of the Navaab.  Your limbs will be cut in the same way.”  The Singhs heard this and remembered Bhai Mani Singh Sahib ji’s torture.  The Singhs said: “we will take revenge!  He is thinking of his own death!  He has awakened the sleeping lion by grabbing its whiskers.  His brother was the one who had Bhai Mani Singh ji arrested.  It is now our turn to take revenge.”  When the Singhs heard the response of Jaspat Rai, it was like being bit by a scorpion.  The Khalsa did the Ardaas: “we will kill this Khatri.  Complete our task!” 

Jaspat came to attack the Khalsa to loot but the Khalsa will loot him.  Jaspat was sitting on an elephant among his army.  Bhai Nibaahoo Singh ji (a Rangreta Singh) grabbed the tail of the elephant and climbed it.   He swung his sword and threw Jaspat off his elephant.  He cut his head off and took all of his jewellery.  He took the rest of his wealth and threw it off the elephant.  The Singhs picked it all up.  It was 1804 Vikram when Jaspat Khatri was killed and the Singhs looted his money. 

Part 37 The Sakhi of the Chota Ghullughara (Parol Kathooha)

In the area of Jammu, the district of Parol, Kathooha and Basohli; the Khalsa headed there after killing Jaspat Rai.  The first Ghullughara was called the “Chota,” the smaller one.  The day that Jaspat was killed, the poverty of the Singhs was broken as the Singhs looted the royal treasuries.  Ahmnabad was ruined as well.  The Khalsa looted the city.  The Mughals ruled the area.  The treasury was big that was with Jaspat Rai.  He had over-taxed the citizens.  The Singhs were hungry and impoverished.  When the Singhs looted the palaces, they called themselves the kings of kings.  They had expensive clothes and food.  They were like kings. 

Lakhpat Rai heard of his brother’s death.  He went to the Navaab and took his Pugri off saying: “I will tie this Pugri when the Panth of the Singhs will be destroyed!  I am a Khatri and swear this oath that I will kill the Singhs right now!”  The Navaab heard this and said: “you can spend all of my money!”  Lakhoo said: “this Panth is useless!  A Khatri started this useless Panth.  I will call myself a Khatri only if I make this Panth come into the Deen (Islam).  These useless people were gathered by a Khatri and was called the Khalsa in the world.  I am a Khatri.  I will call myself a Khatri if I destroy the Khalsa Panth.”  He spoke with ego in front of the Navaab.  The Navaab said: “this is a good thing!”  Lakhoo became the leader of the army of Punjab.  He was given the whole army.  Lakhoo said: “I will kill the Singhs wherever they are.  Anyone who calls themselves a Singh, I will destroy their whole families.” 

The Singhs that were in the royal services as employees were first arrested.  The Choora castes were ordered to decapitate the Sikhs.  When the people heard this that the employees, city folk and merchants were arrested, the whole city cried out with terror. 

The Hindus (Divaan Surat Singh ji, Divaan Kora Mal ji, Divaan Lachee Ram ji and others) and the rich Hindu people gathered and went to Lakhpat Rai.  They said: “the Sikhs who are employees or workers, why have you arrested them?  They are innocent.  We have come to you.  Forgive them all for our sake.  We are your brothers who have come to your home.  You should listen to us with your mind.”  Bhai Kora Mal ji and Bhai Kunjahi Mal ji were Sahijdhaari Sikhs.  Bhai Kora Mal ji was Bhai Vir Singh ji’s ancestor and was known as Mitha Mal by the Singhs as he was on their side.  Bhai Kashmiri Mal ji came with them too.  Divaan Lachee Ram ji was the previous Divaan.  Everyone listened to him in Lahore.  They all came and made their requests.  Divaan Bhai Surat Singh ji (the leader of the Giani Taksaal) was given the Divaan title by the Emperor.  Dilay Ram ji, Hari Mal ji and Behloo Mal were rich people of the city.  They all came.  Bhai Hari Singh ji, Bhai Gulzar Singh ji and Bhai Des Raj ji (who built the current Harmandhir Sahib) came.  Many other Hindus gathered and came.  Sikhs, saints and religious beloveds all came.  They came and said: “for our sake, release the Singhs.”  Many gave the sake of the Rubbh.  Fakirs, Ateets and Sadhoos came.  Lakhpat Rai said to all of them, as he was a sinner and a fool: “I won’t listen to anyone even if the Rubbh comes himself.”  Everyone then said the truth: “why are you blaming the Singhs?  You captured Bhai Mani Singh ji and killed him.  Your brother suffered for your doings.”  They all damned Lakhpat Rai and left.  Some wise people stayed behind.  They stood with their hands folded and said: “at least listen to this: today is the new moon on a Monday.  Don’t kill them today.  (The new moon night comes very rarely on a Monday.  It was considered a special night).”  Lakhpat Rai did not listen to them.  The foolish unwise sinner killed them on that day.  He called the whole city and said: “nobody will say the name of the Guru.  If I hear the name of the Guru in my ear, I will not leave them.  I will kil them.  Nobody will read the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji from now on.”  People hid the Granths and Pothis of Gurbani.  Lakhpat Rai said: “If someone says the name of the Guru, I will make them into a Mussalmaan.  The name of Vahiguru will be forbidden.  You can chant any other name.  Gurr (sugarcane clumps) shall be called Rori from now on.  If someone says Gurr, they shall be killed along with their village.”  Lakhoo did such sins.  He attacked the Sikhs.  He readied the cannons and swivel guns.  He headed towards the Singhs.  Elephants, horses and camels were taken.  He called anyone to join his campaign.  The Navaab said: “my people will go with Divaan Lakhpat Rai.  Everyone is to help him in his campaign.”  Multan, Bahaaval, and other places had their armies sent.  Kasoor to Attock, the rulers all sent their armies to kill the Sikhs along with Doaba and areas.  The Pahari Rajas were written commands.  Shah Nivaaz called the Navaabs and scolded them: “if a Sikh is a soldier in your area, you will not be spared.”  The Navaab threatened them all.  Nobody could go against him.  Who would go against him?  Everyone wanted to kill the Singhs.  Whoever came to give the Divaan their condolences, Lakhoo would take them along as well.  He hired more soldiers.  Whoever came to enlist in his army, they were not rejected for any reason.  He said: “I will catch them in 2 days.  I will then rest.”  He climbed upon an elephant and set off.  The dust flew up from the army’s march.  Such a noise spread that did not let the Khalsa hide.  They said: “this Lakhoo will not leave the seed of the Khalsa.  He is upset and is going to avenge his brother’s death.  He is like a wind storm, flying the leaves away.  That is how he is going to blow the Khalsa ahead.”  Whoever came quickly, they went back home quickly.

The Sikhs that were solid and had faith on the Satguru, only they remained.  The others ran off.  As people heard the news, that Lakhpat Rai was attacking the Singhs, the armies became the enemies of the Singhs.  The parents of the Singhs were worried.  Some brought their sons back.  Many ran to bring their sons back.  Some sons only became Singhs to loot.  Their mothers said: “come back home son.  Cut your hair and join the Jatts.”  The solid ones stayed and the weak ones ran back home.  The ones that died on the battlefield, they ruled the heavens.  The ones that fought and survived, they ruled.  The true Khalsa remained.  The battle started from both sides.  The Singhs compared to the Turks were like salt in the flour.  The Turks were like the windstorm and the Singhs were like lightening.  When the Khalsa saw the huge army of the Turks, they had discussions: “how can we fight them, straight on?  It seems as the whole world has marched upon us.”  The brave warriors said: “let’s fight them now!”  The wise ones said: “we will fight, come back and fight again.”  The wise ones strategized in this way.  They said their strategy: “we will use the Dhai Phat (2.5) method and come back.  Meet and retreat are two.  Fight to kill is the half.  Guru ji gave us this method.  Using the retreat method within the fast pace of fighting is an excellent strategy.  Satguru ji used strategy and fought himself.  There is nothing sinful in using this method.  The Bhagavan (Krishan) ran himself, many times.  (He ran from Kaal Jaman and strategized to have him killed by the power of Machkanda Rishi) He ran and established Dwarka in the sea.  The Pandavs ran and saved themselves from the home in Laaksha Greh.”  As the wise ones spoke, the warriors listened.  They headed forward to use the strategy of fighting and retreating. 

They took the refuge of the Chamb of Kanoo Aan.  The Singhs got their chance.  They saw the army of the Turks and attacked them.  Divaan Lakhoo got worried.  The Turk army was killed without strategy.  He thought: “I need to strategize.  I should put the canons and horses at the front.  Line the soldiers with rifles next.  The Singhs come quick, attack and leave fast.  Line the swivel guns and then the foot soldiers.”  The majority of the army was kept around Lakhoo.  Lakhoo’s army was the other way around.  Lakhoo was scared so he was at the back.  He thought: “if the Singhs attack again, I will attack them with the canons.  They go back to the jungles.”  In this way, the Khalsa got their chance.  They were where the canons couldn’t come into the jungles.  The horses couldn’t come there either.  The Singhs knew the jungles well.  The Turks didn’t know the jungles.  The army that came into the jungle, the Singhs killed them.  The Singhs survived many battles this way. 

The Divaan then called the tree-cutters.  He said to them: “make paths to go into the jungle.  Burn the dense jungles so the Singhs can be killed.  We will take the canons there.”  The Singhs were bothered by this.  They had nothing to eat as there was fire everywhere.  The Singhs fought in hunger and went on ahead.  The Singhs came out of the jungle.  Some stayed on one side and some crossed the jungle.  The Singhs made many efforts to come out of the jungle.  The Ravi River became filled and fast.  The Singhs crossed the Ravi.  They came to the front as the Turks chased them behind.  The Singhs had no place to rest or to set up their camp.  Sometimes they walked during the night and sometimes during the day.  They had no food or gunpowder.  The carts remained back.  The food was gone.  There were no bullets or gunpowder.  How would the Singhs fight?  Their weapons were blunt from fighting.  The Singhs did not sleep at night or during the day.  The bowstrings broke as they were pulled.  The arrows finished.  There was no one to give them back the arrows.  The heads of the spears were stuck in the enemy bodies.  There was no blacksmith in the jungle.  The horses got weak from no feed.  There were no clothes.  The Singhs’ bodies burned from the sun’s heat.  There was no flour nor feed.  They had no access to water.  Travelling is half the death but hunger is the full death.  The Khalsa came across both deaths.  The Singhs were in pain.  The Singhs looked for the support of the Hindus from the Pahari areas.  They came to the Pahari area and hoped for their assistance.  About 4,000 Singhs went into the Pahari jungles.  They said: “they may help us.  The Guru made us to help the Hindus.  This is the reason that the Khalsa came to be.”  The Singhs didn’t realise that Lakhoo was a Hindu.  They were the brothers of the Turks.  They were the same Hindus who had the Banda arrested when he killed the Turks.  The Hindus made the Banda lose.  They had called the Banda for help and had him arrested.  The Singhs did not consider that the Paharis were deceitful people from the beginning.  The Singhs did not remember that the Paharis had the Bandai Singhs arrested. 

The Singhs headed towards Basohli.  The Paharis gathered in Basohli.  The Singhs thought they were going to be helped by the Paharis.  Some Singhs stood among the Paharis.  The Paharis attacked the Singhs and killed them.  Some were captured and given to the Turks.  The Turks killed many of the arrested Singhs.  The Singhs had a bad night, like a widow’s first night.  Singhs were stuck in Parol and Kathooha.  The Singhs looted and killed.  Some ran away in regret of coming to the Pahari area.  The Singhs then went up the mountain.  They wanted to set up their Dhera there.  The senior Singhs headed there.  There were only uphill paths.  The Paharis were standing ahead with their weapons.  The Navaab called all the Paharis.  The Singhs saw the Paharis and Turks standing up the mountain.  The Singhs figured out that the Paharis were going to attack.  The Khalsa headed back down the mountain then.  The Turks that were chasing them, started a battle with the Singhs.  The Singhs had bent and broken weapons.  The Singhs fought with their might with their broken weapons.  When the Singhs struck their spears, the head would remain stuck into the body of the enemy.  The Singhs swung hard and still killed.  They would kill the enemy with just the rod of the spear.  They used broken bows to kill the enemy.  The strong Singhs crushed the heads of the Pathaans.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji kept looking around for Lakhoo.  Lakhoo was at the back.  He couldn’t be found.  The strong Singhs like Baba Jassa Singh ji and others cut the heads of the Turks.  The canons and guns fired so the Singhs moved towards the rivers.  They decided to cross the river as they couldn’t go up the mountain.  They stood at the shores of the Ravi.  The river flowed fast and hard.  There was trouble in every direction.  The waves made hisses like a wrestler challenging its opponent.  Whirlpools were fierce.  The river was at full strength and pride.  It pulled many trees from their roots.  What would a human’s strength be there?  The river broke boulders on its way.  The Khalsa stood at the shores and wanted to see how deep the river was: “somebody should see how deep the river is.  Some one go and test it so we can know where to go.”  The Singhs of Dhallaywaal were Khatris.  There were 4 brothers who were great warriors.  They were big and strong that looked like kings.  Their horses were beautiful.  Two of the brothers went to test the water but they got caught in the current and drowned.  The horses drowned too.  They were the brothers of Bhai Gurdial Singh ji.  It was the Misl of Dhallaywaal.  The Khalsa then decided: “we face a great danger ahead of us.  We will all drown if we go this way.  Let’s kill at least 10 Turks before we die.”  The Khalsa decided: “the time to fight and die has come.  What Sri Satguru ji said from his mouth: “the ones who die with their face facing ahead, I will take 1.25 Lakhs of those Singhs.  Then they will rule.  I won’t be worried then.”  The Panth agreed to this.  The Singhs attacked from every direction.  The ones who were standing up the mountain, they made an effort and went up.  They faced the Paharis standing upwards who didn’t give way to the Singhs.  They hit the Singhs with rocks and bullets.  The cannonballs were fired.  They would break the bodies of the Singhs.  The Rajput soldiers stood to stop the Singhs.  The Singhs made an effort and won one post.  There were many Paharis but the Singhs defeated them.  The Singhs made an effort and saw their chance to go up the mountain.  They hid among the caves.  They dug dirt and made their staying places there.  They just wanted to shelter their heads.  The Singhs dug the dirt and made small caves.  They dug with Kards, knives, kataars, spears and swords.  The Singhs made a place to stand.  They fought from that place.  They fought everyday, fiercely.  The Paharis made noise as they attacked.  The Singhs made an effort to fight.  The weapons fell from their hands.  The Paharis attacked from behind and the Singhs fought back.  The Singhs took a place.  They were on foot.  The horses couldn’t climb.  They saw a way up but they couldn’t pass. The river was on the other side.  They used their spears to make a path for the horses.  The horses finally got some way to go up.  Some survived but some fell off the mountain.  The river was deep.  The ones that fell, fell into the river.  The ones at the back couldn’t get to the front ones.  They all went into different directions.  There was no way to get ahead.  There was no way to go back nor ahead.  It was a crowded place.  They were in tough times.  Some slipped and drowned into the river.  The ones at the back thought the ones ahead were better off.  The ones at the front thought the ones at the back were better.  Nobody could communicate.  There was nothing to eat.  They couldn’t drink water.  There was some power in their bodies that made them go on.  They kept walking on.  The Sikhs were hungry for many days.  They couldn’t even ask for food.  The Paharis would fight with them.  They would tie the Sikhs up and arrest them.  They were fighting.  Their hunger ran away.  There were green leaves upon the mountain which gave hope to the Singhs.  This was the way they Singhs went up the mountain.  As I heard it from my father, I have stated it.  

At the foot of the mountain, the Turks attacked hard as they thought that the Singhs were going to retreat.  Lakhoo attacked hard.  The instruments and Nagaras played hard.  Lakhoo commanded: “don’t loot first.  Bring their heads.  If you bring their heads, I will give you 5 Rupees per head.  You can loot them after.  I will forgive it all.  Loot their Dhera after they are all dead.  If you loot them first, the Sikhs will run away.  They will fly away like hawks.”  The Singhs were attacked hard.  The Turks were greedy.  The canons and swords came.  The army attacked.  The Singhs took their swords and attacked, thinking of Guru ji’s words.  They said: “stand and fight!”  The Singhs attacked back.  The Turks backed down.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji then said: “I will attack Lakhoo and fight with him!  Those should only come with me who do not wish to step back.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji asked the spies of Lakhoo: “where is your Divaan?”  The spies said: “you won’t be able to catch him.  He is in the middle of a huge army.  He sits on top of an elephant inside a red chamber.  He sits there with fear.  He sits on top of a small elephant.  Sometimes he rides a horse and sometimes he sits in a Paalki.  He keeps foot soldiers around him.  Around them are mounted cavalry.  Around them are the camels with swivel canons.  Around them are the canons.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji did not back down.  He ran towards Lakhoo’s arrangement.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji was hit with a cannonball on his leg.  His leg broke by being hit with the cannonball.  His leg shattered from the thigh.  His leg did not move.  He couldn’t reach Lakhoo.  His mind’s wish remained in his mind.  He tied his leg with great patience and bravery on his saddle.  He couldn’t go on ahead.  He turned back but kept looking back, stopping after a few steps.  He wanted to still go back.  The Singhs with him kept fighting along with Bhai Sukha Singh ji.  He was a Hatti Tappi warrior.  He was the idol of determination.  Where the Singhs were in trouble, Bhai Sukha Singh ji went there to help them. 

Listen on ahead: some were on top of the mountain and some where at the foot of the mountain who were killed.  The Khalsa then decided: “we can’t make the Turks retreat.  They are many and we are few.  We are hungry and so are our horses.  We should charge and move back to save ourselves.  We will rest and then attack again.  Let’s run in all 4 directions.  Let’s retreat and pass time.  Guru ji told us how to retreat.  We should use the 2.5 Phatt and move back.  The Devatas ran away from the Daynts.  They then freed their land at a later time.  Krishan ji had hidden many times, who was the Avatar of Vishnu himself.  Shiv ji ran away from Bhasmantar and had his task fulfilled.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji, who was a Tarkhaan from Maari Kamboh ki; wherever Lakhoo went, Bhai Sukha Singh ji would go ahead and fight.  He followed Lakhoo’s army for a long time.  The Khalsa then decided: “we should find our own ways out.”  The ones who couldn’t climb the mountain, they said: “we can’t climb the mountain.  We will find our way out.  Our horses can’t climb mountains.  Without horses, we can’t go up the mountain.”  The Khalsa said: “spread out in all 4 directions.  We will gather in Majha and attack with force.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji came to a decision: “come behind me then.  We will slice through the enemy to get out from here.  The Shazadah Singhs (foot soldiers) should climb the mountain without delay.  The ones on the horses should come with me.  Don’t go to the mountains, who are riding horses.  Till the foot soldiers don’t finish climbing, we will stay here and fight.  We won’t let the enemy attack our foot soldiers.”  When Bhai Sukha Singh ji said this to the Khalsa, the Singhs spread out.  The son did not see his father, the brother did not see their brother.  When Bhai Sukha Singh ji saw the Singhs on foot climb the mountain, some Singhs made rafts of dried wood to cross the Ravi.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji then made a decision: “let’s go and attack Lakhoo now!  Shows me where Lakhoo is, I will kill him right away or die myself.”  When he spoke with courage, the senior Singhs said: “we don’t have strength to fight now.  Let’s go away from here now.  We will go to Malva to rest.  The army is huge.  How will we cross them?  There are many canons and swivel guns.  There’s no way out.  Where is the way out?  We will go where there is less of the enemy.”  Some said: “let’s go through the river.”  Some said: “let’s go up the mountain.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji said: “by hiding, how will we be saved?  Without fighting, we can’t be.”  Bhai Sukha Singh ji shouted out: “everyone come with me.  Let’s charge hard to retreat.  Don’t worry about your lives.  Let’s fight.”  He made everyone determined.  Everyone followed Bhai Sukha Singh ji and attacked the enemy where there were many.  When the Turks saw the Singhs attack yelling “Akaal,” they all ran away, giving way to the Singhs.  Whoever tried to stop the Singhs, they were killed.  The Singhs looted their weapons. 

The Singhs saw a jungle and went there.  Where Bhai Sukha Singh ji went, the Dal followed him.  The Turks attacked the jungle.  They pressed upon the Singhs.  Weapons and guns fired.  They attacked.  Both sides fired.  Many Singhs died.  The Singhs who were in groups, they sliced and escaped.  The ones that remained back, they got killed by Lakhoo’s army.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji stopped and waited for the Singhs to join them.  He eventually fought and left.  The Singhs fought and went into the jungle.  The Turks chased them into the jungle.  In one day, many thousands of Singhs died. Whoever came into the hands of the Turks, they were killed.  They killed them quickly.  The Singhs went into the jungles.  Rattan Singh will tell you about the Singhs who went into the Jungles.  It was night when the Singhs went into the jungle.  The Turks went back to their Dheras.  The Singhs saw a village in the jungle.  They looted the village and rested.  The Singhs kept going pass midnight.  Some Turks still chased the Singhs.  They looked for the Singhs in the jungle.  The Turks killed the Singhs who had fallen because of their injuries.  The hungry and tired Singhs where crossing the jungles slowly.  The new army surrounded those Singhs.  The Singhs fought them and killed the ones that came inside the jungle.  If there was a Singh outside of the jungle, the Turks killed them.  The Khalsa then decided: “where will we run to?  Keep running and keep fighting.  Find a thicker jungle then this.  When the Singhs find a small jungle, the Turks come inside.  In bigger jungles, the Khalsa can kill the Turks.”

The Turks came to a decision: “let’s gather the whole land.  Let’s tell everyone to go into the jungles.  They will kill the Singhs.”  The Divaan called the whole public by playing the Dhols with the heralders.  The people were told to go into the jungles.  They gave them guns and swords.  The Singhs fought with the Turks.  It was hard for them as they couldn’t see a way out.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji said: “we won’t survive unless we kill the enemy.  If we kill this public then we will live here in peace.  If we can’t kill them then they will kill us.”  Like a caught thief, one has to be stubborn.  Satguru ji was to save the Khalsa so he inspired them to fight.  When the Singhs attacked, the civil army was made up of farmers; whoever the Singhs grabbed, they looted them.  The rest of the farmers ran away.  Some were killed.  They took the horses, clothes and weapons.  The Singhs were then easier to move.  The fighters lost, of the civil army.  The Singhs went through Majha and made a decision: “we are now entering Rama’s land.  Let’s cross the river.”  They made an effort to cross the land.  It was noon and really hot.  The shores of the river were hot.  Only some had shoes.  They made footwear to cross of the dead wood.  Some stood to drink water.  They tightened the reins of the horses before crossing.  The Singhs went on ahead.  The Khalsa crossed in this way.  Some Singhs drowned and some had their feet burnt on the hot sand.  The rocks and pebbles came along the path.  The sand felt like hot plates.  The Singhs ripped their clothes and tied them to their feet.  Their feet still burned.  When they sat to wrap their feet, their bodies burned and so they yelled out in pain.  In this way the Singhs crossed the river.  They came into Majha.  They crossed the Sutlej and Beas to go to the Jungle Desh (Malva).  They came to the village of Jaito.  They rested in those areas.  They spread out across the different villages.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji untied his leg from his saddle.  He had travelled around 400 km.  Wise doctors were called to cure him.  They massaged oil on to the leg to have it join.  He laid on the bed for about 6 months.  It was plastered and set to cure.  He then bathed and fastened his weapons.  He mounted his horse as he did before.  I heard this from my father, Bhai Rai Singh ji.  Bhai Sukha Singh ji had brought my father along with him. 

Part 38 The Pahari Rajas with the Singhs

Now I will tell you about them, who remained in Parol Kathooha.  They climbed the mountains.  The mounted army came to the Malva.  The ones who were Shahzadas climbed the mountain.  The Singhs spread out in all 4 directions.  They were surrounded with problems.  Some had drowned in the river, who fell in.  The Singhs that went up, they were killed by the Paharis.  The army of Lakhoo killed many.  They killed the Singhs with canons.  The Singhs couldn’t find a way out, going up the mountain.  Such was the time, cruel and painful.  There was nothing the Singhs could do.  Some fell down and died.  They were chased by the Paharis.  They surrounded the Singhs and killed them.  The Singhs went high up the mountains.  They had to come down.  Such were the problems.  The Singhs had lost their strength.  They couldn’t loot nor buy anything.  Some died with hunger on the mountain.  Wherever they went they faced death.  The Singhs stood to find a way out of the mountains.  The Singhs then decided: “we didn’t do anything to the Paharis.  We killed the enemy of the Paharis.  We completed their tasks.  We battled the Turks who taxed them.  We stopped the Turks and didn’t let them come to them.  We defeated the Turks.  They don’t need to pay taxes but these Paharis are still weak.  They are not on our side.  They were the enemies of our Guru.”  The Singhs climbed the mountains and went to the ruins.  They started hunting in the jungles.  Thousands were in the mountain.  They decided to kick the Paharis out.  The Turks chased them.  The Singhs that died, the Turks cut their heads.  The Turks got tired of fighting.  The Khalsa was never to finish.  Many Singhs fought and some looted to eat.  They had the majority now.  Some Rajas came to give them food.  Some they had to loot.  There was a shortage in the mountains.  Thousands were there and hungry.  They couldn’t even buy anything.  If they looted, they had to fight the Rajas.  If they went to buy, nobody would sell to them.  The Khalsa was upset.  Some Paharis said: “these are the men of the Banda.  They looted and beat us.  When they see many, they fight.  When they see few, they loot and beat us.  No Raja has the patience for them.  Nobody wants to fight them.  No Raja can save us from them.”  The Singhs changed their form so they wouldn’t be recognized.  They tied big Pugris to look like dreadlocks and worked in the armies.  They went to the Raja of Mandi and Kuloo.  There was a Nakti Rani there.  The Singhs spent some peaceful times there.  They spent about 5 or 6 months like this.  They then came to Kiratpur.  Whoever survived the troubles of the mountains, they all came to Kiratpur.  After 6 months they wrote letters to the Singhs to gather.  After gathering they took note of who was still alive and who had died.

Part 39 Counting the Singhs that were Shaheed in the Ghullughara

Now listen ahead about everyone.  Whoever faced the difficult night, the ones who survived and lived in Malva; they came to Majha under disguises.  The ones who were caught in Parol were killed.  Some worked in the mountains.  Many were arrested by the Raja of Basohli.  They had hammers in their hands and chains around their necks and wrists.  They were sent to the Navab of Lahore.  Their heads were cut and made towers of.  The surviving Singhs were only one forth of what they used to be.  The Singhs didn’t have horses.  The ones who were with Bhai Sukha Singh ji, there were about 3,000 of them.  They still had horses.  Some said: “40,000 died.”  Some said: “there were more that died.”  Some said: “there were only 40 and only 6 survived.”  Some said: “there were 50,000 and 40,000 died.”  Some said: “there were more than that.  You can’t count how many died.”  I have written what I have heard.  There is no confirmation of this.  My father was in that battle.  Rattan Singh has written what was heard.  It was 1803 Vikram (May 1746 CE) when the Ghullughara had happened.

Part 40 The Attack of Ahmed Shah/ Lakhoo given to the Singhs

Shah Navaaz became egotistical, thinking he destroyed the Sikhs (in the Chota Ghullughara).  He said: “I will become the Badshah!  I will take the Takhat of Delhi now!”  Lakhoo’s and Shah Navaaz’s bad times had come upon them both.  Look at how the Satguru’s power came upon their heads.  The way of fate and destiny is such: it makes the sinners do sins.  If one loads more weight upon the canoe, it is destined to sink.  What else can I say?  They didn’t even let anyone say gurrh.  No one could say Guru.  When one would say gurrh, they wanted everyone to say “sweets.”  He didn’t want to hear “Guru.”  Lakhoo made an announcement in his land: “call Nanak, “Nanoo” from now on.  If someone listens to the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji, they shall be converted into Muslims.”  He looked for Gurbani Pothis and threw them into the rivers.  The person was also thrown into the river who possessed the Pothis of Gurbani.  He said: “I will erase the Panth of Guru Nanak Dev ji; only then will I call myself a Kshatriya.”  When the world heard this, this reached the Court of Akaal Purakh.  Parmeshwar was asked by the powers of his court: “what is happening?”  The powers said: “Guru Nanak Dev ji is being slandered in the world.  Why did you not punish them?  Look at the darkness that is being casted upon the world.  Just as there is a deep in a dark home; just as the sun lightens the earth; that is how the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji is, which lightens the hearts.  Listening to it, there is illumination.”  Karta Purakh then said: “I will punish the slanderers.  I will especially do it to them.  The sinners will be punished.  I will bring them to the front, as they deserve.  I will bring them quickly.”  When Karta Purakh said this, destiny followed his wishes.  Destiny inspired Ahmed Shah in Kabul.  He was inspired to travel to Lahore.  It was like taking a thorn out with another thorn (from the foot); a Turk was used to kill the Turks.  It was 1804 Vikram when the storm of sins came.  Ahmed Shah killed Nadir Shah and came.  Tamoor Shah, the son of Ahmed Shah, had already seen Delhi, of how rich it was.  They both had seen it when they came with Nadir Shah.  Delhi lived in their hearts ever since.  Ahmed Shah and his son came and castrated Lahore.  Lakhoo went on ahead to meet the Kabulis.  Shah Navaaz also went to meet them.  Lakhoo had come together with Shah Navaaz.  Karta Purakh had made them meet with Abdali.  Vizier Kamrudin Soor Ali along with Raja Madho Singh of Jaipur “the strong” taking a huge army of 7 kings; set off to Sirhind from Delhi.  When Abdali found out, he set out 60 Kos away.  He crossed the river and came to Sirhind before Kamrudin.  He took over Sirhind and looted it.  The two armies eventually met and fought for 22 days in Sirhind.  The canons that remained in Sirhind, Ahmed Shah fixed them and fired them.  He fired upon the army of Delhi.  Kamrudin was killed by a cannonball.  His son-in-law was Meer Manu who was wise.  He took over and fought Abdali after Kamrudin died.  He took his father-in-law’s body and put it in his elephant so nobody would know that he was dead.  He kept the battle going.  Such was the fate.  He lifted his hand, making it look like he was saluting.  Everyone thought he was alive and so their morale remained high.  The army of the Gilzaas was pushed back and so they retreated.  The army of Hind won.  Abdali ran away from Hindustan.  Meer Manu then chased Abdali and reached Lahore.  He came into Lahore and arrested Lakhoo.  He fined him 30 Lakhs for conspiring with the enemy.  Lakhoo and Shah Navaaz only had 20 Lakhs.  Kora Mal, the Gursikh, was there.  He gave 10 Lakhs to fill the gap.  He told Meer Manu about Lakhoo of how he tortured the Sikhs.  He took custody of Lakhoo.  Divan Kora Mal told Meer Manu: “he had all of his own employees arrested as well.  The senior Divaans tried to stop him but he didn’t stop.  Give us custody of him.”  Bhai Kora Mal ji said to Lakhoo: “we told you not to kill the Sikhs.  You had your own employees who were Sikhs, killed.  You are a sinner!  We told you not to kill the Sikhs on the rare day of the new moon on a Monday.  You didn’t stop and still killed the Sikhs on that day.  You committed atrocities.”  He recounted all of the sins he did upon the Sikhs.  He continued: “you did the Ghullughara; the poor Sikhs killed in their homes.  You even stopped people from saying the name of the Guru.  You had the Pothis of the Granth thrown into the wells.”  Divaan Kora Mal ji had Lakhoo’s arms tied and threw him into a ditch where people excreted their feces.  He told the Sikhs: “urinate and throw your feces on top of his head.”  Divaan Kora Mal ji did such a thing.  Lakhoo got what he deserved.  Rattan Singh has told you as he heard it.  This was in 1805 Vikram.