Part 66 Bahadhur Shah Arrived in Lahore/ his Sons caused problems

Three Kasoori Pathaans were assigned to take Punjab again.  They were with the Shah.  The 3 Pathaans were: Shamash Khan, Jaali Deen and Bajeeda Khan.  The Travari Faujdars joined them.  The Singhs had looted them as these people looted the subjects.  The Faujdars joined the royal army: Mohavat Khan and Farzula Khan.  They were big and strong.  They joined Bajeeda Khan.  They had all been looted in the past by the Singhs.  The Khans of Kunjpur also joined along with Samana, Sidhaura, and Janum; joining Bajeeda Khan.  The Banda had killed their elder brothers.  They had all came to the Shah to complain about the Banda.  Bahadhur Shah sent them ahead after analysing.  He sent them ahead to see what the Banda was going to do.  He wanted to see if the Banda could be trusted.  The Banda left the way for them.  The Shah was happy, seeing this.  Bahadhur Shah had hope.  He came to Lahore with joy.  He stayed for a little time and left Lahore.  He did not make it to Delhi though.  He died on route out of fear and worry.  His dead body came to Delhi.  He had 4 sons, who fought each other and died.  For many years there was conflict.  Farrukhsiyar eventually became the Shah.  He was the grandson of Bahadhur Shah and was the nephew of Jahandar Shah.  I, Rattan Singh, have heard this history from my elders.

Part 67 The Rule of Farrukhsiyar Starts

Bahadhur Shah died in 1784 Vikram (according to historical accounts it is 1712 CE).  Farrukhsiyar was his grandson.  I will speak of him now.  When Farrukhsiyar sat on the throne, many tattletalers filled his ears: “the Guru’s Banda is a rebel in Punjab.  Everywhere else is peaceful.  From the other 22 Soobas, the taxes come.  The command of the Shah is not disobeyed.  From Punjab, no tax comes.  You need to attack Punjab.  Your father and grandfather couldn’t do this.”  Farrukhsiyar said: “my grandson told me that the house of Guru Nanak Dev ji, we should not be their enemy.  When my great grandfather Aurangzeb became angry with the Guru, my grandfather was sent to Anandpur but came back.  My grandfather did not become the Guru’s enemy.  He sent Ahdeeyas to complete the task.  From that day on, the Guru said: “I will give you the kingdom.”  The Satguru fulfilled this and gave my grandfather the rule.  We couldn’t take the rule without the Guru’s help.  Tara Azam was really strong.  He had all of the army of the country.  We couldn’t kill them all.  How can we by the enemies with the house of the Guru?”  He refused the tattletalers.  He didn’t want to be the enemy of the Guru.  After some time, the tattletalers came back.

Part 68 The Tattle Talers Tattletaled

The Tattle talers came and said: “the Banda gives us pain.  He wants to take all of Hindustan.  He wants to finish the Deen in Hindustan.  We have heard that he has been arrested in Kuloo.  You won’t be guilty now.  The land is empty.  They have no strength.”  When Farrukhsiyar heard this, he sent his army to take the land by the advice of the tattletalers.  The rumours spread: “the Banda no longer has powers.  There were many Sidhs in the mountains.  They took his powers.  The Banda has married 4 women (but it was only 2 women).  The Banda has lost his chastity so he lost his powers and his Birs.  That’s why the Banda is in jail.  Nobody is afraid of the Banda now.  The Sikhs are upset of this.”  The Shah got news of this.  He sent his faujdars: Shamash, Bajeeda, Jaali Deen, the 3 Pathaans of Kasur.  They took their armies and attacked the Singhs.  Bhai Baaj Singh ji fought from Lohgarh.  Shamash Khan attacked Lohgarh.  There was battle in Punjab again.  Bajeeda went to Pathankot.  Jaali Deen attacked Hithal Baagh.  The three of them had the same goal: they looted the land instead of taking the land to protect them.  Where there were few Singhs, the Singhs left the areas.  The Singhs heard that the Banda had been arrested.  Nobody else fought back.  Bhai Baaj Singh ji did not leave his post.  He thought to himself: “if I run away, I will be called a coward.  How will I show my face to the Banda?  How will I sit in the court of warriors?”  Bhai Baaj Singh ji was there and Shamash Khan attacked.  They faced each other.  Jaali Deen was happy with his situation.  He didn’t have to fight.  He looted and beat the area of Doaba.  He was carefree.  If he saw a Singh, he thought he would kill the Singh like a rabbit and give the Shirni (Prashaad) to all.  He separated his army to keep lookout in all of the villages to loot them.  He was greedy for money.  He was without worry and sat in his Dhera.  He said: “Shamash Khan has the Singhs surrounded.”  When Bhai Baaj Singh ji heard of Jaali Deen’s state, he decided to attack him.  He left Lohgarh and came towards Jaali Deen.  Shamash Khan did not know when Bhai Baaj Singh ji escaped.  He left in the night and arrived at noon to Jaali Deen.  He attacked him like lightening.  He killed Jaali Deen and took his Dhera.  Bhai Baaj Singh ji attacked like a hawk.  He killed Jaali Deen like he was a pigeon.  The Pathaan prayed to kill the Singhs but he got killed by the Singhs himself.

Part 69 The Banda kills Shamash Khan and Vajeed Khan

The army heard that the Jaali Deen died.  They ran away.  Who would fight without a king?  The court ran away.  It was like lightening striking from the sky.  Everyone was killed in a half hour.  500 Singhs were with Bhai Baaj Singh ji.  They killed enemies wherever they went.  The looters came and looted the villages.  The Turks looted.  Many other looters joined them.  The ones who came to loot, Shamash Khan came there.  He heard of Jaali Deen’s death.  He said: “Jaali Deen was stupid.  He separated his army.  He didn’t keep the army with him.  Of course he was going to die.  I will kill the one who ran away from me.”  People told him: “write to your Chacha, Vajeed Khan to warn him.  We hope he’s not killed as well.  Let’s go and join him.”  Shamash Khan got worried.  He sent spies to him: “we will join and fight.  Don’t go without me.”  Bhai Baaj Singh ji’s fear spread.  The Turks trembled.  Shamash Khan met Vajeeda.  The nephew and Chacha met with joy.  They were afraid of the Singhs.  They were afraid of an attack.

Listen to about the Banda, how he killed the two Faujdars; when the bad time came upon the Singhs.  He had told the Birs to take him to Mandi.  He said: “let’s go to Neehal and awaken the Chandi.”  The Birs did what he said.  He came out and went to Pathankot.  He had a little army.  He didn’t care about an army though.  When he came to Neehal, the Singhs heard.  They were happy to hear this.  The hidden ones came and joined.  The Singhs were happy.  The Turks heard this and got worried.  It was like they were already dead.  They knew they were going to die.  They didn’t like to eat food anymore.  The Banda’s army and Bhai Baaj Singh ji’s army joined.  It was like a dry garden getting rain in the month of Jeth.  It was like a dry garden going green.  The Sikh Sangat shouted Jaikaras.  It was like thousands of frogs speaking out.  The Turks dried like Akk and Juvasa.  The Turks burned.  The Banda came to Doaba.  They fought many battles and killed the Turks.  The Turks tried to find them.  They saw him from far away.  The army that came towards the Banda, they were killed.  They would attack like lightening.  The Turks were shocked.  The Turks were afraid of the Badshah.  They had to attack but would back off.  They didn’t charge towards the Banda.  Shamash Deen’s end time was close.  He was engaged to be married.  He turned towards Kasoor for the excuse of getting married soon.  The Banda heard of this from the Sikhs.  The Banda said: “don’t let him go!  Is there a warrior who can kill him and bring him back?”  The Singhs said: “that is you, who can kill him; or whoever you bless.”  The Banda heard this and charged on ahead, himself.  He took 40 mounted Singhs along.  The Banda and the Singhs ran and charged.  They stopped Shamash Khan.  Shamash Khan was worry free and didn’t expect to be killed in his own area.  He was travelling on an elephant, going home.  The Banda saw him from afar.  He attacked him like a lightening strike.  Some knew about the Banda coming, some didn’t know about the Banda.  The Banda released arrows from afar.  He then ran towards him with a spear.  He injured him and threw him off the elephant.  He cut his head and picked up his head.  The Banda came back to his army.  Shamash was killed in this way. 

Listen to what happened to Wajeeda: where Wajeeda Khan was with his army, the Banda came and surrounded him.  Wajeeda’s army ran away, saying: “the Nehkalank Avatar has come!”  Wajeeda couldn’t run away.  He was afraid of the Badshah for running away.  He fought with the Khalsa and became injured.  He died on his way home.  The Banda was the one that killed him by surrounding him.  The Turks lost from the Banda.

Part 70 The Turks had Mata ji write a letter/ the Response

After 3 Faujdars were killed, the news spread of the Banda.  None of the Turks could face towards the Banda.  It was feared in Delhi that Banda may come towards Delhi.  The Lahore people thought he would come to Lahore.  Kashmir, Multan and Peshawar were afraid as well.  The Badshah called his Viziers for advice.  Farrukhsiyar called them to his home along with others.  He put betelnut and an open Shamshir in the court.  He said: “is there a lion who can bring the Banda here?”  The Turks remained quiet.  Nobody responded.  Nobody wanted to attack the Banda.  They were all afraid to die.  The Turks then made a plan.  They discussed: “it is about the Satguru.  His wife is here in the city.  The Guru who is having the land destroyed, tell his wife to tell the Banda to stop.  The Banda is the Guru’s Sikh.  If the Mata doesn’t stop him, have her arrested here.”  When the Shah heard this, he said: “this is not a good idea.  We are indebted to the Guru.  He gave us the kingdom.”  Bhai Nand Lal ji was then called.

When Bhai Nand Lal ji came, the Badshah said to him: “go to Mata ji and do an Ardaas to her with your hands folded: “your Banda has completed all of the tasks.  He has taken the revenge for the Sahibzadas.  He punished the Paharis Rajas.  They got what they deserved.  Now, call him back to you to Delhi.  I will assign him Jageers for his well being.  The Pahari Rajas will come to you.  We will have them speak to you.”  They wanted Mata ji to speak on their behalf.  Mata Sundri ji responded to Bhai Nand Lal ji: “why would he listen to me?  He has a huge army and is making it grow.  If I call him, why would he come?  The Badshah considers him guilty.  He won’t come unless he is caught.  There is no strength without an army.”  Bhai Nand Lal ji heard this and said: “whether he agrees or not; you should at least say it once to complete your task.  If he doesn’t obey your command, his power will be finished.  If you don’t write to him, the Shah will get angry.  They think he will come if you call him.  You should write a letter from your side.  If he agrees or not, that is up to him.  You should to your task and become free.”  Mata ji said to Bhai Nand Lal ji: “write a letter in my name.  You write it and stamp it with the Guru’s stamp.”  Mata Sundri ji had Guru ji’s official stamp.  Bhai Nand Lal ji did what she did.  The Badshah’s questions were written.  The command of the Guru was written and sent to the Banda by Bhai Nand Lal ji.

A Sikh took the letter from Mata Sundri ji and came to the Banda.  Baba Banda Singh ji read the letter and said: “look at the way of women.  If I fall into the hands of the Turks, they wouldn’t leave me or our people.”  The Banda sent a response to Mata ji, which came to the Shah.  The Shah read the letter in the court.  The Banda had said: “I am not your Sikh.  I am a Vaishnav Bairaghi.  Our togetherness was up to here.  I will take the kingdom from the Turks with my might.  I will now know state the “Fateh Darshan.”  I will stop the Fateh of the Guru from being said.  Just as the Singhs killed my goats, I will make them go astray.”  The Banda got angry and began to kill more Turks.  The Turks could not stop him.  Many Turks lost, fighting the Banda.  The Banda caused chaos in Punjab.

Part 71 The Banda and the Tatt Khalsa Divide

When the Banda defeated the Turks, nobody could fight him.  The tattletalers came to Farrukhsiyar and said: “the Mata is not saying anything to the Banda.  She is just avoiding you.  The Banda is her servant.  How can he be such a great warrior without the Guru’s radiance?  If he won’t obey the Mata, who else would he obey?  If the Mata tried harder, he would listen.”  The tattletalers tried harder.  They kept saying: “she is letting you hear what you want to hear.  The Guru himself sent the Banda upon has, seeing us as sinners.  Looks like our Turk kingdom will be gone.  She seems to be the clever one.  She seems to be the mastermind.  She commands the Banda.  Send Nand Lal and make him say two things: make her say that Guru ji should take the Banda’s powers away.  Also, get her to say that all the Singhs should leave the Banda’s side.  The fight that the Banda does, it is because of the special Singhs that are with him.”  The Turks insisted and eventually Mata ji agreed to the points.  She said: “the Banda did not obey me.  His powers will leave him.  Those powers will come to the Khalsa.”  Mata ji wrote Hukamnamas to the Khalsa.  The Khalsa accepted her commands upon their heads. 

The Banda had grown apart from the Khalsa.  He started to bother the Khalsa.  When the Khalsa received the commands of Mata ji, they obeyed.  As they obeyed, they became more radiant.  The Khalsa wrote to Mata ji: “how will we succeed?”  Mata ji said: “the offerings that come to the Guru’s home, they should be sent to the Khalsa.  Patna is the Toshakhana.  Withdraw the money from there.  The Gurduaras should all be given to the Khalsa.”  Mata ji’s Hukamnamas were sent everywhere.  Mata ji wrote: “the Khalsa has been given the Kingdom.  Other than the Singhs, I don’t not love anyone more than the Khalsa.  The Singhs are my sons.  Only the Singhs have all of the authority.  The Singhs can use the money of the Guru’s home to wear and eat.”  The Khalsa did an Ardaas to Mata ji: “how will we progress without looting and beating?”  Mata ji said to them: “wait for some time.  Then you can do as you wish.  Watch the remaining strength of the Banda now.  The Banda has turned against me.  We owe nothing to the Turks.  We are to actually receive from them.  Just as our elders have given their heads, I wish to give me head as well.  The Banda was given a task (to destroy the authorities and to give the rule to the Khalsa); he was not given the kingdom or the rule.  The True Paatshaah gave the authority to the Panth.” 

As Mata ji gave the curse, the Banda became anxious.  The Banda called a Rundy (prostitute) from Mandi (these were among the many reasons why the Khalsa had grown apart from the Banda.  He had started his own Panth and began to go against the rules of the Khalsa).  He married the Rundy.  He had already married twice before this.  He lost his chastity.  He had lost his powers but he would shake his head and show people that he still had them.  He would speak from his mouth but it was gibberish.  In this way, the Banda lost his wisdom.  He quarrelled with the Singhs.  He said: “I have the authority to rule!  I will keep you as my employees.  I will sit on the Takhat of Lahore as the Badshah.  I will give you jobs as I wish.”  The Khalsa heard this and burnt with anger.  It was like a sleeping lion, awakening.  The Satguru had said to the Khalsa: “the Khalsa will have emperors born in every home.”  The Banda’s words were like arrows to the Khalsa’s heart.  The servants of the Banda, they had manipulated him saying: “you are the mastermind.  You have many powers.  You should start your own Panth.”  The Banda became egotistical.  He said: “I won the Neehal and the Pahari area!  I am more powerful than the Sodhis.  I don’t know why the bed didn’t move then (when Guru Gobind Singh ji sat on his bed).”  As the slanderers spoke to the Banda, his ego inflated even more.  The bad time came upon the Banda.  He began to treat the Khalsa badly.  He said: “as you slaughtered my goats, I will slaughter your heads!  They don’t listen to me.  I will punish them in the future.”  He spoke nonsense to the Khalsa.  The Khalsa then said: “since when was he our friend?  He says to some that the Singhs should be killed.  To some he says that the Panth is bad.  He wants to start his own Panth.  He wants the Khalsa Panth to be finished.  He says to some that he wishes to sit on the throne and doesn’t wish to chant Vahiguru.  He wishes to melt the Khalsa like gold melts in a pot.  He wants to take us to Gurdas Nangal and cut 125,000 of our heads.  He wants to fill the bowl of the Joganis with the blood of the Khalsa.  He wants to give the heads of the Singhs as a sacrifice to the Kaali.  Then he says he will start his own Panth.  He says: “without filling the bowl of the Kaali, his Panth cannot grow ahead.”  When it was spoiled with the Banda, the Khalsa understood what he was thinking.  They said: “the Banda is filled with ego.  His death is near.  He made promises to Guru ji in Nanded to serve the Khalsa, among others.  He broke them all.  We shouldn’t stay with him now.  Let’s become independent and sit in the Darbar of the Guru.” 

The Banda started his own Panth after being in conflict with the Khalsa.  When he would see the Singhs, he didn’t want to be with them.  He had too many arguments with them.  The red colour that Guru ji told the Khalsa not to wear, the Banda became stubborn and began wearing that.  He made his followers wear red as well.  He stopped saying the Fateh of the Vahiguru and replaced it with the Fateh Darshan.  He stopped his followers from wearing blue.  He stopped wearing the Dumalla and replaced it with a red Shamla Pugri (with a piece left hanging in the back).  He did not go close to Maha Prashaad (meat).  He would wash the wood before lighting it with fire.  He stopped the traditions of the Bhujhangis (Nihangs).  When the bad times would come, the Singhs would hunt to eat.  The Banda stopped the hunting.  Guru ji would see the times and do what is required.  Guru ji had a wide vision to see into the future.  The Banda didn’t know what hunger and bad times were.  The Banda did not know Rajniti (politics).  He didn’t know what to do when hunger and pain came in times of war.  The Panth knew what to do but the Banda didn’t.  The Banda wanted to start his own Panth and was different.  Satguru ji was very wise.  He knew how to change with times and how to adapt to times of difficulty.  By combining the 4 Varanas, he made a 5^th tradition of the Khalsa.  In times of war, there is time of running and difficulty.  Hunger and thirst come upon the soldiers.  How would one follow the Vaishnav traditions of being a vegetarian?  The Banda said: “I am the Guru, myself.  Everyone will follow me.  I took the revenge for the sons of your Guru.  I made you into the Khalsa and established you here.  I gave you the land.  I made you into kings.”  The Khalsa said: “we are sons of the other.  You were our nurse to play with us.  So what if you played with us?  Our father hired you to serve us.  When the child grows up, the father then takes care of the sons himself.  You have filled your face with our spit.  Krishan grew up with the cow tenders.  When he grew up, he came back to his parents.  To save her own eggs, the cuckoo leaves her eggs into the nest of the crow.  The cuckoo’s chicks do not leave their own kind.”  The Khalsa got together and came to a decision: “his death is near.”  The Singhs began to take over their own lands.  They two groups fought among themselves.  When they would find Bandai Singhs, they would beat and loot them.  They would take their money from them.  The Bandai Singhs also fought Khalsa Singhs and killed them.  The Khalsa began to loot and grab land.  The Banda tried to stop the Khalsa but the Khalsa would loot wherever they went.  They didn’t give a chance to the Bandai Singhs.  The Singhs and the Bandais became enemies.  The swords swung.  The Singhs did not trust them.  They were close with each other and alert all the time. 

The Khalsa then came to Guru Chak (Sri Amritsar).  They were not going to trust the Banda anymore.  They made their decision.  The Banda thought to himself: “it’s good that my company is separated from the Singhs.  Now, I will take over Lahore.  I won’t leave Kashmir and Peshawar either.  I made the Singhs into kings.  They will lose without me.  They will stay in one place.  Without me, the Turks will destroy them.  When the Turks will come, they will come back to me.  They won’t be able to do anything without me.  Not even a Kodi’s worth.  They will come to my shelter when their tasks fail.  I have two Birs of my own.  I have all of the Ridhis and Siddhis.  I depend on no one.  The Singhs carried my radiance.  Without me, the Turks would have destroyed the Panth.”  In this way, the Banda told his followers. 

Part 72 The Banda defeated by the Tatt Khalsa

The followers of the Banda came to him and said: “let’s go to Lahore and take over.  Rule over it.  Let’s go before the Singhs take over it.  If they take over first, then it will be difficult to take it.”  The Banda left from Gurdaspur.  He crossed Amritsar and came to the village Khohali.  He then came to Vaneeya.  The Banda became egotistical.  He thought to himself: “it’s good the Khalsa left me.  They wouldn’t let me sit on a throne.  They would fight me if I wanted to sit on a throne.”  The Singhs noticed the Banda cross their area and said: “we will see the Banda’s powers now.  Without the Khalsa, he will be in regret.  The radiance that the Khalsa has, is the power of the Satguru.  The Banda won’t be able to defeat the Turks.  He doesn’t have the Khalsa’s power anymore.  The kingdom will be given to the Khalsa by Guru ji.  The Banda’s radiance will be gone.

The Turks found out that the Khalsa separated from the Banda: “the Banda lost his powers.  Mata ji’s words will surely become true.”  The Turks congratulated each other.  They were happy.  They sent their ambassadors to the Singhs in Amritsar.  They said to the Singhs: “you and us, we are the Sikhs of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  As your elders have written: “the Babay and Babbar ke, the Parmeshwar has made both.”  The Banda worshiped idols before.  You and us, we are the breaker of idols.”

Sri Mukhvaak Patshahi 10..

I am the destroyer of the Paharis.  They worship the idols.  I break the idols.

Zafarnama Hikayat

The Turks brought money for the Khalsa.  The Singhs took the money and had a salary assigned for them.  Aslam Khan was the Navaab of Lahore.  Bhai Kaan Singh ji Trehan (descendant of Guru Angad Dev ji), was the Sooba of Lahore and Aslam Khan followed him.  Bhai Bachan Singh ji Trehan was also with him.  In the Battle of Bhangaani, Bhai Daya Rami ji fought.  They had all left the Banda.  Bhai Miri Singh ji Trehan was Bhai Kaan Singh ji’s son, he joined the Bandai Singhs.  Bhai Kaan Singh ji had stayed in the presence of Guru Gobind Singh ji.  He had taken the Pahul of the Khanda from Guru ji and stayed in his presence.  He wore blue and donned Chakars on his Dumalla.  He would not meet with Minas, Masands, daughter-killers and Ram Rai followers.  He would kill the Bandais and fight them.  The Rehit of the Satguru, he kept all of them.  Bhai Kaan Singh ji had left the Banda before, along with 500 other Singhs that were in his command.  The Turks of Lahore had a truce with them.  The Turks came to them.  The Khalsa was in Amritsar.  They were called the Tatt Khalsa.  They were under the command of Baba Binod Singh ji.  Bhai Kaan Singh ji told the Turks of Lahore how the Banda fought.  They made their own strategies to fight.  The Khalsa set up their Dhera outside of Lahore in Shalamar Bhaag.  The canons were lined up.  The Banda attacked Lahore in over-confidence.  Lahore responded by firing their canons, pushing the Banda back.  The Banda made efforts but his army couldn’t stand it and retreated.  The Satguru’s radiance came and made the Bandai army go back.  The Banda lost his powers.  He couldn’t even go back to his Dhera.  The Turks chased after him.  They knew that he had lost his powers.  He no longer had victory as he did before.  The Banda figured out the will of the Satguru.  He understood that the Satguru was within the Khalsa.  He came close to Amritsar and set up camp.  He sent messengers to the Khalsa, saying: “you are without me and I am without you.  We were together before.  We won’t survive without each other.”  The Khalsa said: “we don’t rely on you for support.  The one who is the owner of this Panth, he is always with us.  You have turned away from the Khalsa.  You wish to deceive us.  You claim to be the only powerful one.  You didn’t know of the power of the Satguru that flowed through you.  Just as by the sun’s heat, the sand gets hot, thinking it creates heat itself by ego; you didn’t understand the Guru’s power.  You thought it was you.  You claimed yourself full of power.  Where has your power gone now?  The Tatt Khalsa asked for this war.  Satguru ji asked us what the Khalsa wanted.  The Khalsa wished from the Guru: may we never turn away from fighting and dying.  Without fighting and dying, how can one obtain kingdoms?  The Khalsa plays with their lives, like a game.  We will fight and die but will never leave the claim of being kings.  How can you and us be one now?  You wish to sit on the throne of Lahore.  You have ego in your heart.  It is now time for you to die!  If you come and join the Khalsa, your tasks will be fulfilled.  The Pahari area will be yours.  The Khalsa will rule here.  Become part of the Khalsa.”  The Banda said: “I wish to start a Vaishnav Panth.”  In this way, the discussion between the Banda and the Khalsa didn’t reach to any decision.  The Khalsa said: “you said that you would capture us and throw us into the Qila of Gurdas Nangal.  You wish to put the lion into a cage?  You want to take revenge for your goats?  You want to sacrifice us to Chandi?”  The Banda left and headed towards Gurdaspur. 

The Khalsa stayed in Amritsar by the support of the Satguru.  Farrukhsiyar heard of all this.  He found out: “the Khalsa and the Banda have parted ways.  Lahore was saved.  The Banda retreated.”  The Shah was happy to hear all this.  The fear of the Banda was now gone.  The Shah said: “only metal cuts metal.”  The Shah sent commands to all of his Soobadaars: “be on peaceful terms with the Singhs.”  The Shah sent Nagaras and Nishans for the Singhs.  He wrote to the Singhs and expressed a lot of support for them.  He said many things.  He wanted the Singhs to take over the areas that the Banda had under him, previously.  He said: “I will give you the Jageers of all those places.” 

Part 73 The Turks meet the Tatt Khalsa and try to get the Banda’s Secrets

The Shah said: “Mata ji saved us!  She made the Banda and the Khalsa separate.  She cursed the Banda which destroyed his radiance.”  The Shah sent his royal army to Lahore for assistance.  He sent a message to the Sooba of Lahore: “kill the Banda and enjoy your rule.”  The Vizier of Lahore said: “send a wise person who can be deceitful.  He should know how to complete his goals.  The Banda is a nuisance.  We don’t wish to fight him straight on and have our army killed.  We don’t wish to break it with the Singhs either.  Speak truth or lie so that the Singhs are happy.  If the Singhs turn against us, make sure the wise person is on their side.  Give money to them and keep them divided.  The Singhs should not meet with the Banda again.”  The Shah thought hard and then called upon Himmat Khan of Kasoor.  He told him to kil the Banda: “kill him, even if you have to swear false oaths upon the Quran, 100,000 times.  Kill him in any way you can.”  He said this to him, over and over again.  He said: “swear thousands of false oaths.  If you dip your arm in oil and then put it in a sack of sesame seeds; as many seeds come upon your arm; you can swear that many false oaths to kill the Hindus.  Don’t be afraid of oaths.  The Hindus believe sworn oaths.  They die upon the trust of oaths.  They forget everything when it comes to oaths.”  Farrukhsiyar sent ambassadors to the Singhs.  He told them: “give and take with the Singhs.  Tell them: “we are the Sikhs of the same Guru.  We serve the wife of the Guru, everyday.  We will give her a huge Desh now.  She can live there in joy as the Guru’s form.”  Saying such things, the ambassadors were sent towards Lahore. 

The ambassadors came and used their tactics.  I will tell you everything.  They came and gave hope to the Singhs.  The most special ambassadors came to the Singhs.  They said: “we will give you a salary for your expenses everyday.  You can sit in Amritsar in peace and eat as much as you wish to.  What is the point of living in pain and giving us pain?  If you wish for land, we will get you land.  You can farm your own land and not pay taxes.  We will write a waiver for you.  You can do businesses and you won’t need to pay the Zakat taxes.”  The Turks had deceit in their minds.  It was as though the deer is hunted by the lion by waiting for it to come close.”  The Singhs said: “we are the lions!  We have the power.”  As the Turks wished to trap them, the Singhs did not trust them.  If they were going to give them money, they took it.  They didn’t keep their Dhera in one place.  They kept moving around, avoiding being surrounded and captured.  They moved everyday.  The Turks couldn’t catch them.  The Turks then went to the Bandai Singhs and said the same thing to them as they did to the Khalsa.  The Turks sent ambassadors to the Banda.  They gave them money to bribe them.  They said to the Banda: “the Singhs are against you.  You used all of your strength to do all of their work.  Don’t be afraid of us.  You fulfilled the tasks of the Singhs.  The Singhs want to kill you now.  We have come to become your servants.  We have come to you, bringing money.”  In this way, they manipulated the Bandai Singhs.  They gave Lakh Takkas.  “The Navaab of Lahore wishes to be your Mureed.”  The Turks manipulated the Banda with deceit.  They sent thousands of Takkas to the Banda.  The Banda was convinced.  He didn’t have any wisdom anymore.  Mata ji had taken all of the Banda’s powers.  The Turks wanted to see the secrets and logistics of the Banda’s army.  The ambassador noted everything and sent it back to the Viziers.  The ambassadors came to Lahore.  Himmat Khan told the secrets of both sides to Aslam Khan.  The Navaab said: “now we can kill the Banda.  Without the Banda, the Singhs will be astray. 

The Turks attacked the Banda.  A lot of armies from Delhi came.  The ones that were kicked out of the land, those Turks came back.  They were in Kasoor in Lahore.  The Navaab called them: Dogras, Thatoos and Bhattis; saying: “this if the battle for the Deen.”  They all came to gather in Lahore.  Qazis, Mullahs and Syeds were called along with Peers and Fakirs in great numbers.  They came in greed of money.  The Navaab wanted them to go to the front but they wanted to stay in the back.   

Part 74 The Turks Surround

The Turks set up their Dheras in Lahore.  Nobody took the initiative to catch the Banda.  They said to each other: “if the Banda finds out we are here to catch him; he will attack us and kil us.”  They were afraid of the Banda like animals afraid of lions.  Everyone loved their own lives.  If they had their lives, they had the world.  With life, there is honour and faith.  If they had their lives, they had the world.  They saw the Banda as the Jumm (the messenger of death) and behind them, they saw the Shah’s anger who would kill them if they went back.  The Navaab came to decision: “make the Maulanas go to the front.  They will read the Kalama Majeed as they walk.”  They did so.  The Maulanas walked like a line of animals in fear.  The Fakirs were ahead of the Qazi Maulanas.  They too were using their ways by playing the Dhols and dancing.  They lifted their arms and shouted: “Ali!”  They read Saiphis and blew air.   They surrounded the Navaab all day and night.  The Navaab travelled this way in fear.  They were in a terrible state because of fear.  Some would say: “I will do this and read Mantras.  Don’t be afraid.  His spells will reverse on him.”  Some said: “the Birs he had, I have captured them.”  Some said: “I am a big Fakir with Japp and Tapp.  I am from Ali’s family.”  They ate as much as they could by giving false hope.  They were afraid of the Banda and so they stayed together.  The Fakirs said: “where the Navaab is, the Banda will come there.  What do we need to be afraid of?”  Some said: “he has Birs.”  Some said: “the Guru gave him arrows.  That is the strong house of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  The Turks were not able to defeat them.”  They spoke to each other in this way.  They said what they thought of.  The Navaab sent ambassadors first.  He sent them with money on top of an elephant. 

The servants of the Banda met the ambassadors.  They were happy to see them.  Those fools did not understand why the Turks were there.  The Turks came like cats coming to catch a mouse.  They came with deceit, the Bandais did not see.  The ambassadors said to the Banda: “the Navaab sends his Salaam.  He wishes to make you his Peer.  He wants to be your Sikh.  Our Navaab has understood that you are a big Peer Fakir.  We have come to give you our Salaam.  You can stay in one place and make it yours.  The Delhi Shah has sent you gifts.  Wherever you say, we can bring them there for you.  You can take as much land as you wish to make your kingdom.  You can take taxes and live in joy.  There is no need to give pain to the poor.  Give them joy when you rule over it.  If you say, we will kick out the Khalsa.  They won’t fight you again.  If they come and fall to your feet, they will beg and make a living.  We have brought thousands of Qurans on which we will swear oaths upon; so you can believe us.”  They came to the Banda to make false claims.  They were given this strategy.  The Sikhs of the Banda were manipulated by this.  The ambassadors said many things.  Some they made up themselves.  Some Hindu Sultanis were also manipulated.  Some Sultanis were sent by the Shah, pretending to be the Banda’s Sikhs.  They asked: “where should we set up camp.”  The Banda said: “wherever you wish.”  The Banda was deceived by them all.  The Turks set up their camps all around the Banda’s Dhera.  They said such things that were false.  They set up Dheras close by to the Banda’s Dhera.  They had sent a lot of money to the Banda.  They sent flour and grains.  When the Banda’s army went somewhere, the Turks did not go after them.  The Banda’s Sikhs were upset at the Turks.  The Turks tolerated their bullying, understanding that they couldn’t give their plans away.

Part 75 The Turks Surround the Banda and Bother him

The Turks had fear in their hearts.  They got to the Banda slowly.  They surrounded the Banda, in a sneaky way.  They trembled in fear, saying: “we won’t survive.”  Listen to how the Banda was: he didn’t understand the deception of the Turks.  He didn’t prepare a proper fort.  He had no food or weapons to fight with.  He didn’t make any strategy to fight.  He saw all the Fakirs and didn’t see them as a big threat.  He thought to himself: “the big Turk generals have all been defeated by me.  I killed all of their big Sardars.  They see big powers in me.  They came to me with their hands folded.  So what if a lot of Turks have come?  So what if the Singhs have left me?  Whoever comes with the thought of deceiving me, I will defeat them all in a half hour.  I will make their own weapons fight them.  They will die if they think of killing me.”  The Banda thought this with a lot of pride and ego.  Slowly, the Turks made their plans of getting closer.  The Turks only let little food go into the middle.  They could only get as much as one day’s worth.  They had their Dheras in every direction.  They gave hope and assurance to do their work.  They gave false hope to the Banda.  They made sure he believed them.  The Bandais thought they were speaking the truth.  The Turks would say: “the Shah has sent a Parwana.  He has assigned the Pahari area to you.  He has given you the Doon as well.  He gave you Jammu to Haridwar.  Command us if you would like some other area.  Take it now so you don’t touch it later.” 

If someone asks: “the Banda was omniscient and knew what everyone thought, how did he not see the deception of the Turks?”  I would say to them that he made mistakes.  Firstly, he got mad at Mata ji.  Secondly, he lost his chaste.  He got involved with many women.  Thirdly, he lost the Vidya of controlling Birs.  The Birs left him.  He lost the power to fly.  Fourthly, he left his Pothi in Mandi.  He gave it to Raja Sudh Sain, which taught him Ridhis and Siddhis.  Fifthly, he spoke bad about the Satguru.  He said he had more powers than the Sodhis.  Sixthly, he spoiled it with the Khalsa Panth.  Seventhly, he started his own Panth.  Eighthly, he buried his daughter, alive, that was born to him.  Ninthly, he didn’t earn his Siddhis.  They were given to him for free.  Tenthly, he denounced his Tapp and Nem.  The power that is given to you for free, it leaves freely.  The earned power is always priceless.  The magic he had was not earned.  Such magic leaves you, seeing the right time.  Whatever is achieved by the Bhagti of Bhagavan, stays with you with your breaths.  The strength of magic stays as long as you serve it.  If you leave the Seva, the magic goes away as well.  The Banda achieved this in a cheap way.  The Banda forgot the hard work.  Servants, kingdom, inheritance, Jantras, Siddhis and the shade of a tree; do not trust these as they can leave you at any time.  They leave at any time like a crow sitting on the ledge of a balcony.  Birds are never tied to the ledge.  What would they do there?