6-11 The Battle on the Second Day

The Two Soobas came back and received updates of their armies.  Many soldiers were injured and 900 were killed.  After eating, they all went to their camps.  The warriors that fought all day, they went to sleep.  The Singhs stayed in their posts.  They came to bow to Guru ji and gave him the updates.  They said: “it was a fierce battle today.  The enemy came but were killed by your blessings.  They fell from their horses like ripe fruit.  The wisdom-blind fools were killed quickly.  Bhai Uday Singh ji and Bhai Daya Singh ji have been fighting strong.  When they took the regiments, they showered many bullets and arrows.  Many men and horses died.  We don’t know how many died.  The bodies piled up.”  Guru ji said: “fight with strategy.  Stay on your posts.  Don’t advance forward.  If the enemy comes ahead, only then should you kill them.  Stay posted in attention.  You won’t lose then.”  Guru ji applied Saal Patter onto the injured Singhs’ wounds.  He grinded it and gave it to the Singhs.  They were good by morning.  If the wound was small, it was good in 12 hours.  If it was deep then it took 24 hours to heal.  The Singhs were ready to fight again.  The martyred Singhs went to Dev Lok.  They were in bliss.  The pains were gone.  They all ate and went back to their posts.  They were powerful.  Half went to sleep at night and the other half stood guard.  They fired warning fires, ever so often, all night long. 

The next day came.  The enemy forces sounded their Nagaras, Dhols, Shehnais and Bighals.  At the door of Guru ji, the Naubats were played.  The conches were blown all at once.  The Ransinghas were sounded.  The Singhs were eager to fight hearing these sounds.  The Ranjit Nagara was played by the Guru’s command.  Prabhoo ji said: “prepare my horse.  The Singhs should fasten their rifles and come along with me.  I will go out today and fight with the enemy.”  The Khalsa heard Prabhoo ji and made preparations.  They saddled the horses.  Guru ji fastened a sword with a golden hilt and tied a shield made of rhinoceros skin to his back.  The Singhs fastened their Tomars, Sailas, Saangs, spears, bows and quivers.  They Khalsa was ready to fight.  They all left with Guru ji.  Guru ji wore chainmail and many Chakkars on his Dumalla.  He held his 9 Tonka bow.  He was ready and mounted the horse.  The Ranjit Nagara was played with the double beat, signaling that Guru ji had mounted his horse.  The Singhs were happy to hear this.  It was a glorious mobilizing.  The sky trembled.  The mountains shook.  The Khalsa mounted the horses and followed Guru ji.  Thousands were behind Guru ji.  Today was a fierce battle about to be fought.  Guru ji came out of the main gate with the battle standards, Nagaras and the Singhs. 

The Soobas Zabbardast and Wajeed prepared their army.  They looked upon with their binoculars to see Guru ji’s city.  Bheem Chand was sitting close by.  The Soobas told Bheem Chand to look through the binoculars.  They asked: “this regiment that is coming out of the main fort mounted on horses, do you know who this is?  Is the Guru there or not?”  Bheem Chand looked through the binoculars and saw the Khalsa.  He said: “look Khan ji, the one at the front who is eager for battle; with the golden saddle; the decorated horse with gems; the blue and clever horse; he hangs a green bow from his shoulder and has a huge sword; he has a Jigha and Kalgi on his Dastaar; they shine because of the diamonds; the Kalgi is high and is made of diamonds; that is the Satguru, Guru Gobind Singh ji, who has come for battle himself.  He is really powerful.  He will cause chaos in battle today.  My advice is that you should start firing the cannons and don’t stop.  Start in now.  They should all be blown away today.”  The command was given to aim and fire the cannons.  The torches were brought to light the wicks.  The cannons fired with great noise.  The fire came from the mouths of the cannons and the earth shook.  There was a lot of smoke.  Nothing could be seen.  The noise echoed from the mountains.  The cannonballs were fired which couldn’t be touched.  The cannonballs passed over the Singhs.  Nobody was hit.  The rifles were fired.  Guru ji and the Singhs fired on the cannon gunners.  The cannonballs were all misses.  When the Soobas saw the cannonballs overshoot the Khalsa army, they swore at the gunners and said: “where is your skill to fire the canons?  How can your estimate be so wrong?  Nobody was hit!  The enemy is coming on ahead and not one head was blasted.  Lower the barrel of the canons and fire again.  Kill the enemy and receive rewards.  I will give you a lot of money.”  Seeing the Sooba’s anger, the gunners repositioned the cannons and lowered the barrels.  They aimed and fired the hundreds of cannons.  By the Guru’s blessing, the cannons were too low.  The balls hit the earth.  Some went left and some went right.  Nothing hit the Singhs.  The foolish Turks couldn’t understand what happened.  This is the Guru by whose command the wind blows.  The wind, water and fire are under the command of the Satguru.  The one whom these fools wish to kill is the Satguru that commands the universe.  The Turks got really angry.  The soldiers mounted their horses and came to fight.  The Nagaras sounded and everyone was eager to fight.  The Pattas, dhols, Nagaras, Turrees, Ransinghas, and conches were played.  The army came ahead with eagerness.  They faced each other and fired bullets and arrows.  The bullets all fired at once.  Sri Kalgidhar ji was in Bir Rass.  He took his bow and mounted arrows.  He released many arrows.  He killed 10 with each arrow.  The men and horses all began to fall, near and far.  The dust flew up to the sky from the hoofs of the horses.  The smoke from the rifles rose up.  It was blinding.  Horses fell upon horses, leaving their Pranas.  The unwise couldn’t figure out what was going on.  The rifles were left in the hands as they fell.  Some came with their horses dancing.  The Syeds, Mughals, Pathaans and Rohailas came.  The arrows, spears, rifles and Tulwars met.  They made their horses run and came ahead to fight.  The warriors came with pride, making their radiance shine as they killed others.  They all yelled: “kill them!”  By the command of Guru ji, the Khalsa advanced and fought.  The Singhs fought with anger, firing their fire-spewing rifles.  Many heads were burst with bullets.  Many arms and legs were blasted.  Many fell from their horses.  Some horses got scared, throwing their rider down.  The army met with swords, shields, Sailas and Saangs.  They released sharp arrows, piercing chests.  They had spears in their hands.  They stabbed the weapons into the enemy, like a cobra going into its burrow.  The spears and swords caused chaos.  The ground was red from the blood.  The saddles were drenched in blood.  It was like the earth was wearing a red sari.  The Kaljognis and Birs came to eat the flesh.  Their mouths were red like someone chewing paan supari.

The cannons were way far behind now.  The army came to the front to fight.  Guru ji left them with no option.  The army came ahead and fought.  Everyone took their rifles to fight.  The bullets were fired like popcorn popping.  They all aimed and fired.  It got really noisy.  The ramrods rammed the bullets into the barrels.  The triggers were pulled.  The rifles were aimed before firing.  The gunpowder was quickly filled. 

Guru Gobind Singh ji charged ahead fiercely.  He took all of the Singhs and showered bullets on the enemy.  The enemy that came with ambition and anger, they felt the blow of Guru ji’s pure anger (the one to fight the War of Dharma).  Guru ji released arrows from his fierce bow.  He released one arrow after the other.  He threw many enemies onto the ground.  The horses fell and the men fell with Guru ji’s arrows.  It was like a strong wind pulling the eldest trees out of the ground.  They were uprooted.  There was no more place for the dead bodies.  Whoever came in front of Guru ji’s view, he did not survive.  Seeing the scary scenes of battle, the cowards ran away.  The ones who did not come in front of Guru ji’s eyes, only they survived.  The ones who didn’t wish to come in front, they ran away.  The Khalsa along with Guru ji, wherever they went they caused chaos.  They killed many, piling the bodies.  The bullets and arrows hit many.  Some ran away and some were hit with bullets and arrows.

The Soobas and the Pahari Rajas got together.  They swore at their armies.  They tried to put the army at the front but some ran away and some died.  Some Singhs got injured.  The Khalsa saw Guru ji’s radiance.  They knew that they could not lose with Guru ji in the battle with them.  Guru ji destroyed the armies of the Turks.  Some ran away to their tents.  The enemy army got tired.  They couldn’t’ face the Khalsa with joy.  Guru ji then slowly turned back to Anandpur with the Singhs, firing bullets while looking back.  The dead bodies were picked up and the wounded were taken as well.  Guru ji came back to the fort, victorious.  The bodies of the Shaheeds were cremated at Shaheedi Baagh.  The Singhs fired warning fires at night to keep the enemy at a distance.  Many regiments were destroyed.  The Singhs said: “Vahiguru ji ki Fateh.”  The Khalsa was really happy that Guru ji gave them victory this day.

6-12 The Enemy Strategizes at Night/ The Battle on the Third Day

The day was over.  The night came.  The Pahari Rajas and the Soobas two, they all gathered for a meeting.  The royal tents were set up.  The guards were all keeping guard.  Within the camps, the Pahari Rajas and Soobas discussed: “we don’t understand.  The Guru’s men were fighting in the forts and we were in the field so our men died in the thousands; that’s understandable.  Their flesh was mixed in the dust.  They didn’t let our men come forward.  The Guru’s men were saved and we lost thousands.  The first day they succeeded was because they fought in forts.  Today, everyone fought in the field.  The Guru came and killed so many.  The Singhs fought in front.  Thousands of our men died, which we see laying on the field.  None of the Guru’s men have been even fatally injured, let alone anyone dying.”  Bheem Chand and the other Rajas folded their hands and said: “they know how to fight with strategy.  They are not even a little afraid.  They all attack us; all at once and cause chaos.  They gather and attack.  They can’t be stopped.  We have surrounded them before with the help of Wajeed Khan and the Pathaans.  We made them leave the fort and stopped them on the field (at Nirmohgarh).  I suggest that you not attack to fight anymore.  Instead, surround them from all 4 directions.  Don’t let anyone go in or out.  Surround them in this way.  Within their fort, they don’t have enough saved to get by.  They don’t have enough ghee, oil, food or gunpowder.  When they don’t have bullets and other things, they will come out then.  Tell the villages nearby not to give any food or help for the Qila.  They will become desperate in a few days.  The Guru will come to meet us.  You can then do as you wish.  It will be your radiance then.  You are the masters of the land.  Which strong person can face you?  You have won many great forts and revolters.  The Guru is not to be thought about.”  The Soobas heard the Pahari Rajas but were quite shocked at what the last two days brought upon them.  They figured out that Guru ji was a huge power.  The wisest aren’t enough to face him.  They all went to sleep but were afraid that the Guru’s men may come to attack at night.  There were Lakhs of men.  Half went to sleep and half stood on guard. 

In the Satguru’s camp, everyone ate and Guru ji came to take updates.  The injured were given Saal Patter and their pain was all gone.  The ones who died, they were cremated.  They were granted all their wishes.  They were taken out of the cycle of birth and death.  They went to Satguru ji’s Lok.  They all slept in peace and woke up at Amritvela.  They recited Gurbani by saying the name of Vahiguru.  The Rababis sang the Asa Vaar.  Everyone listened with attention.  Everyone bathed and got ready before coming to the Divaan.  They looked upon the Turks with anger.  Guru ji commanded: “stand at your posts with attention.  No one is to go ahead and get surrounded by the enemy.  Stay at your post.”  The Khalsa obeyed Guru ji’s command and stood guard with their rifles, firing them ever so often. 

The Turks and the Paharis got up in the morning and put their mouths to tobacco.  The dead were buried or cremated.  The vultures ate the flesh of the rest of the dead.  The crows, vultures and hawks shrieked as they ate the flesh of dead horses and men.  Many were flying above in the sky and many were on the ground.  All of the roads to Anandpur were blocked by the royal army.  The generals set up posts and put up tents at various places.  They didn’t come close out of fear.  They sat afar.  It was like the elephants stopped far away, knowing that the lion was in the jungle. 

It was afternoon.  Satguru ji had called for his items.  The Chatterdhaara was brought in golden dishes.  Elachis, coconut, cannabis and almonds were grinded to make the Shardai.  It was put in a pot and brought for Guru ji.  Guru ji drank all of it.  The Singhs had some too.  Mava, opium and cannabis was consumed in little quantities.  Guru ji mounted his horse and washed up.  Guru ji came to the eastern place of Anandgarh, upon a mountain.  The Soobas set up camp 2.5 Kos away from there.  Guru ji looked at them through his binoculars, as he looked towards Kiratpur Sahib.  There were many tents to a distance.  The tents were multi-coloured.  They were black, red and white.  There were many flags hoisted for miles.  Satguru ji looked upon them from a high mountain.  Satguru ji sat there and bathed with pure water.  He changed his clothes and got ready.  The Singhs came to that place.  The Khalsa set up Divaan, as they all came dressed with clothes and weapons. 

The Rajas came to the Soobas on their horses.  Only a few men came with the Rajas.  They looked towards Anandpur.  As the Rajas came close, Bheem Chand folded his hands.  Zerdast (Zabbar is a bigger vowel.  Zer is a smaller vowel.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji refers to Zabbardast as Zerdast) and Wajeed Khan said to Bheem Chand: “look towards that direction.  There are many people over there.”  Bheem Chand looked with his binoculars.  Zerdast Khan said: “who is that sitting on a bed?  Many people are with him.  They are waiving Chaurs over his head, over and over again.  There are the Soorajmukhi Bijnas hoisted near him.  He is wearing very shiny golden jewellery.  He has a Jigha and high Kalgi on his Dastaar.  He keeps a strong bow and quiver on his bed beside him.  He wears a Kharag in his Gatra and is sitting in Bir Asan.  He sits in royal radiance with royal grandeur.  It is like he is the emperor of emperors sitting.  Many people are coming and bowing to his feet.  There are hundreds of Singhs all around him.  They are holding a big court.  His men wear swords, shields, spears and stand in attention.  Is he the Guru’s Jathedaar or is he his son?  Is he Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji himself?  He is really radiant.  Oh Pahari Rajas, look and recognize who that is.  Tell us.  Who is that sitting over there on the mountain?  Tell us.”  Bheem Chand heard this.  He looked and folded his hands.  He said: “this is Guru Gobind Singh ji, the root of the great battles.  Wherever he has fought, he has always been victorious.  It’s like he owns victory.  He never gave victory to his enemies.  He has upset the whole Pahari army.  He has killed Kesari Chand and others.  He is really skilled in the arts of weaponry.  Painda Khan, who was a great archer, the Guru killed him with one arrow.  Look how many he killed yesterday.  He strings the bodies with his arrows like a mala.  His arrows go through the bodies and never stick.  It is surprising to see this.  He has never stepped backwards.  We tried our full strength and lost.  He has gathered his own army.  They can’t be stopped.  I have heard the Katha of Sri Krishan ji, being an Athrathi warrior.  He never counted the armies of the enemies.  He killed them all with anger.  I have also heard of Ram Chand ji, being an Athrathi.  We see the Guru in the same way with our own eyes.  He kills many armies at once.  You are capable and the masters of the land.  You can catch him or kill him.  The Pahari Rajas are your subjects.  We have lost.  Understand this.  We were helpless and that’s why we went to the Shah in the Deccan.  Both of you came with your great armies and you lost the last two days.”  Hearing about the power of the Satguru, the Soobas got angry and said: “listen Pahari King, we will catch him or kill him, right in front of you.” 

6-13 The Soobas Fire their Cannons

Zabbardast Khan looked upon Guru ji with great anger.  He spoke: “Wajeed Khan, let’s attack the Guru right here, right now!  Prepare the small and big cannons right now.  Fire them all at once.  I’ll aim them myself.  I’ll fire at him.”  The command was given to call the cannons.  The best cannons were called.  Thousands of warriors pulled the cannons and brought them to where the Soobas were standing.  The bulls and horses pulled them.  The men used all their might to bring the cannons.  There was no delay.  The cannons were all lined up.  The Sooba got off his elephant.  Zabbardast Khan aimed the cannons by adjusting their elevations.  He moved up and down to aim them.  He kept looking at Satguru ji and the Singhs standing.  He filled the gunpowder and put the cannonballs into the cannons.

The Singhs looked at what was going on.  They saw the cannons lined up and said: “Guru ji, look at what the low-lifes are doing.  Many elephants and horses are there.  Many men are gathered there.  We have seen that they have lined up the cannons.  We don’t want the cannonballs to come into the Divaan.  They will break the limbs of the Singhs.  They will kill us all of a sudden.  We should get up from here and go to another place to hold Divaan.  There is no trusting the Turk enemies.  They are dishonest.  When you came to Nirmohgarh, the Rajas deceived us and fired cannons on us.  They aimed their cannons and fired.  Bhai Ram Singh ji was martyred there.  It seems as though they have a similar plan.  They are committing sin again.  They want to kill without fighting a battle.  They are fools and sinners.  You can do as you wish, though.  We are your servants and so we have made a request.  You can command us as you wish, this is the strategy we think is good.”  Sri Kalgidhar ji heard this and said: “listen oh beloved Khalsa: I wear the Kaal Kavach (the chest plate of Death) on my body and the Brahm Kavach (the chest plate of Brahm- everything is Brahm) on my heart (no fear of death as everything is Brahm).  This power watches over the spears, Saangs, arrows, Barchis, Nejas, bullets, cannonballs; if the enemy fires any weapon on me with any effort, not one will hit my body.  Their efforts will all go to waste.  Maha Kaal Kaali is my protector.  I am saved by their hand.  I have the protection of Sarb Loh, always.  When getting up, sitting, walking; the enemy cannot do anything to me.  The Malaich can try anything but it will be fruitless.”  As Satguru ji was speaking, the cannons were fired.  With trembling noises, the cannonballs flew towards the mountain.  There was smoke everywhere.  It was blinding.  The standing horses and elephants couldn’t be seen.  The sky couldn’t be seen.  The echo was so loud within the mountain range that it was deafening to the ears.  The sound was not tolerable to the ears.  The cannons fired with the gunpowder.  Who could face them?  The cannonballs went over the mountain on to the other side.  None of the cannonballs hit Guru ji or the Singhs in the Divaan.  Sri Prabhoo ji remained sitting calmly.  The Singhs were calmly sitting as well, holding Divaan.  The Singhs looked up and saw the cannonballs go over their heads.  The camps of the Turks on the other side of the mountain; they were hit with the cannonballs.  Their tents caught fire.  Their tents were destroyed.  The warriors and horses died.  There was chaos.  The Sooba noticed that his wisdom and skill of being an excellent gunner deceived him.  He adjusted the screws of the cannons to lower the barrels.  He rammed the cannonballs into the cannons again and added the gunpower.  He prepared the cannons again.  He adjusted the aim.  He fired the cannons a second time, making really loud noises.  The smoke was blinding coming from the firing of the cannons.  This time, the aim was too low.  They cannonballs hit the root of the mountain.  The Khalsa got happy seeing this and shouted out Jaikaras.  They saw that the Turks had gone crazy.  They said: “they wish to kill the Master of the Universe.  They wish to drink the ocean with seashells.  It is like insects trying to break a mountain; like an ant trying to pull the Sumer Mountain.”  The Sooba was shocked.  He adjusted the cannons a third time.  He used all of his skills.  He had the cannons filled again.  When he aims lower, it hits the root of the mountain.  If he aims higher, it goes above Guru ji’s head.  Some went to the right and some went to the left.  The whole Divaan sat with Satguru ji, sitting calmly.  It was like they were all sitting, watching a fireworks show.  The Sooba kept trying but kept missing.  Satguru ji and the Singhs watched in entertainment.  They had no worry, whatsoever.  The Sooba wanted to aim at the Divaan but failed.  He used his wisdom and skill.  He wished to hit the Divaan but not one cannonball landed in the Divaan.  The gunners kept slandering each other as they fired.  They kept firing, trying to show the other how it should be done, but they were all misses.  Everyone’s skills were used but nothing went close to Satguru ji.  Hundreds of cannonballs were fired, filling the cannons with gunpowder and cannonballs.  There was a lot of smoke, everywhere.  There was a lot of noise.  The Guru showed the Singhs that the faith in the Guru is the highest thing.  Once a Singh has faith in the Satguru, the Satguru does not let the Singhs be affected by a scratch. 

The Sooba tried many times but it was soon evening.  The Turks were really shocked at their failure.  They thought they had the chance.  They thought to themselves: “if the Guru and the Singhs would have been hit, we would have killed them all and won the battle.  We could have gone home.  The task would have been done.”  Darkness fell.  The sun set.  They all went to their camps.  The Sooba said to Bheem Chand: “this was a shocking thing to see.  What just happened today?  We fired so many cannons.  The Guru didn’t even know that we were going to fire upon them.  The Satguru did not get up.  He stayed sitting.  I have great aim but the mountain seems to be irregular.  The mountain was either too high or the plane of the foot of the mountain must be irregular.  It’s either that of the Guru has some sort of power.  The cannonballs went up, down, left and right.  None of them were afraid.  They didn’t even get up.”  The Raja said: “many cannons were fired.  I was shocked to see this.  I don’t understand what happened.  What can I say?  In a previous battle, we made the Guru come out and fired a cannon on him.  It didn’t hit the Guru but one Sikh died.  The Guru fired a sharp arrow and killed our gunner.  When our gunner noticed that the Guru wasn’t hit and instead, a Sikh died, being a skilled gunner, he loaded the cannon right away.  The Guru had fired an arrow in the meantime.  Our gunner was 1 Ko away.  He was hit in the forehead, making his head blast.  The Guru shot another arrow and killed the brother of the gunner, who was going to fire the cannon.  We didn’t have a gunner to face the Guru anymore.  This is what happened to us once.  I wanted to tell you this.  The Sikh had died because our gunner informed us of this.  Your cannonball didn’t even come close to the mountain, as it was irregular.  Anyways, this happens some times.  Cannons and guns are bad curses.  They kill anyone they hit.”  Zerdast Khan said: “I have come to the understanding that this Guru has practiced some Mantra.  He ties weapons with his Mantras and brings them under his control.  That’s why he was sitting fearlessly.  I have fired many cannons.  The Guru has some magic, I’ve come to understand this.  Nobody was killed.  None of the cannonballs came close to the Guru or his men.  I’ve figure this out.”  Wajeed Khan was standing by.  He said: “there is no Mantra the Guru has.  I fought him before and many warriors were killed.  The Guru’s general, Sahib Chand, he was killed in the battle.  It was really hard for them to recover his body.  They all used a lot of strength to get it.”  They soon all reached their camp.  They had this discussion as they went back.  They all ate and slept the night. 

In Satguru ji’s Divaan, the So Dar was done along with the Sandya Chownki.  The Granthi stood up and did the Ardaas.  Everyone bowed their heads with humility after the Ardaas.  The sinner Turks tried but failed.  There was nothing they could do.  The Singhs yelled out Jaikaras and said the Fateh.  They were all happy.  The sun set and everyone went home.  Satguru ji went to his place as well.  Some of the Khalsa went back to their posts and stood on guard in attention.  Some Singhs ate and went to sleep without any fear in their hearts.  Like a lion lives in the cave, sleeping, the dogs walk around the cave in fear.  The enemy is like the enemy but the lion doesn’t care.  Both camps went to sleep.  The enemy had surrounded Anandpur but they didn’t dare fight a battle out of fear. 

6-14 Surrounding/ Guru ji Fires an Arrow

In the morning, when everyone woke up, the conches, Napheeryas, Naubats and Ransinghas were played all together.  The Nagaras played on both sides.  The warriors were eager to fight.  Everyone bathed and came into attention.  The Singhs came to their posts.  The Turks had setup blockages on all the roads towards Anandpur.  They didn’t let the merchants in.  They said: “if you come in, you will be looted.”  For the people of nearby villages, announcements were made: “if anyone sends help to Anandpur, they will be punished.  Don’t meet with the people of Anandpur.  If you give or take anything by hiding, we will find out and loot you.”  From Ropar, Hoshiarpur and other places, the business was all stopped.  The Turks didn’t go close to Anandpur out of fear.  Their camps were far away from Anandpur.  In this way, they surrounded Anandpur.  About a million men surrounded the city.  Nobody could come in or go out.  Sometimes during the nights, the Khalsa would loot the Turks and take their food.  The bullets and arrows were shot everyday.  Soldiers died every day in small skirmishes.  The Khalsa killed hundreds as the Turks would come close.  Sometimes the Singhs stayed sitting in their posts.  They would sometimes fight.  They would fire cannons and rifles.  Some times they would fight.  When the Turks would come near, there would be a fight.  Arrows were fired.  The Khalsa struck back like hawks on the enemy. 

One day, Guru ji called the elder Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh ji and said: “be attention and go to Keshgarh.  Kill the enemies.  Take 500 Singhs and live in the fort there.  The enemy that comes near, shoot your rifles and kill them.  Stay there, don’t go far.  If the enemy tries to come in, kill them with bullets.  At night, stay awake and keep track and what the enemy is doing.  Keep your rifles ready.  If the Hindu or Turk enemy comes, kill them.”  Baba Ajit Singh ji obeyed his father and took command of Keshgarh.  He was always ready with many weapons fastened to him.  He killed many enemies.  Bhai Nahar Singh ji and Bhai Sher Singh ji were in the Lohgarh Fort.  Baba Ajit Singh ji took 500 Singhs to Keshgarh.  They fought fierce battles.  They stayed in attention all day and kept watch all night.  They didn’t let the enemy come close.  If someone came close, they all fired at once.  Sometimes the Singhs came out of the fort to fight.  At Lohgarh, there was always a fight.  They meditated on Gurbani.  They recited it everyday.  They lived their lives with the faith of the Guru.  At Agampura, Bhai Aalam Singh ji and Bhai Jodha Singh ji along with 500 Singhs; they stood there in attention with weapons in hand.  They didn’t let the enemy come near.  Bhai Uday Singh ji was at the high Damdama.  He was the strongest and bravest.  He had 100 Singhs with him and killed many.  Bhai Mohkam Singh ji and Bhai Sahib Singh ji were at Holgarh with 400 Singhs.  Sri Guru Prabhoo ji stayed at Anandpur and held Divaans some times.  He showed himself to the Turks when they came for a fight.  Bhai Daya Singh ji was on the side of the mountains and kept watch.  Satguru ji set up all the posts.  Many warriors were there.

The two Soobas set up camps on the east.  The Sirhind army was scattered all along the Sutlej.  In the south, the Delhi army was posted till Agampur.  The cannons and rifles were aimed along with arrows.  On the west side, the Lahore army was posted there.  The army had no gaps.  They were tightly posted.  Along the mountains, the Pahari army was there that fought with Guru ji for many years.  They were standing in attention.  Elephants, horses, stables and tents were all over the place of the Turks.  There were Lakhs of soldiers.  You could see forts of cloth everywhere.  They were multi-coloured.  Many flags were waiving high in the wind of many colours.  The elephants trumpeted and the horses neighed.  The noise echoed in the mountain valleys.  There was no more grass or wood left in the area.  The food used to come from many lands for the Singhs and Sangat.  The food could no longer come inside as the Turks set up blockages.  Sri Anandpur was surrounded in this way by the foolish Turks.  At night, the Singhs stood at their posts.  The Turks and Paharis stayed awake as well.  They all kept guard during their shifts.  During the day, the Rajas and Soobas met and had meetings.  They strategized in many ways, coming together.  Zerdast Khan, Wajeed Khan and Bheem Chand Kahiloori along with other Pahari Rajas, Bhoop Chand Handooria; they did Salaams to the Turks.  They made many requests to the Khans to arrest Guru ji.  They served the Turks like cowards.  They didn’t want the Turks to get angry.

At the place of Satguru ji, the Divaan was held two times a day.  The Singhs did Guru ji’s Darshan with joy.  They bowed at his feet.  In the court, many Vaars and poems were sung.  Guru ji did Keertan and Katha.  The Singhs would then go to their posts and stand guard.  They were always ready.  Food, salt and ghee that was stored, it was used in small quantities.  Nothing was coming from outside. 

One day, Kalgidhar ji was sitting in Anandpur, holding court.  Chaurs were waived over his head.  A nice canopy was over his head.  He looked far to cast his vision.  Many tents of the Turks could be seen, everywhere you looked.  Many flags could be seen.  There was a Shaalmali tree with huge branches.  Its leaves were thick, giving a nice shade.  The Two Soobas were sitting under the tree and playing Chauper.  Bheem Chand and Bhoop Chand were sitting and playing too.  It was hot so they sat under the Shaalmali tree.  It was late afternoon.  The Pahari Rajas sat with their Viziers.  To make the Soobas happy, they were serving and praising them.  There was a strong bow in front of Satguru ji.  Guru ji saw the Rajas and the Soobas.  He picked up his bow.  There was a Khappra arrow with gold on the back in his quiver.  He took out the arrow and mounted it on his bow.  He pulled the arrow to his ear.  The string made a noise as it was pulled.  The arrow was released.  Where the two Soobas were sitting, on the bed they were sitting on, Guru ji’s arrow came and broke the leg of the bed.  It was 2.5 Kos away.  The bed broke.  The Soobas jumped to save their lives.  The other Rajas and officers ran for their lives.  Their Pugris fell as they ran.  They were shocked to see the huge arrow coming inches within their bodies.  Everyone got startled and said: “this is the Guru’s arrow!”  Zerdast took out the arrow and showed it to Wajeed Khan.  He said: “look how dangerous this arrow is.  It came from so far away.  No human has such power.  It is not our arrow.  It came from Anandpur which is 2.5 Kos away.  From where he released it, this is not human strength.  This is a great power of miracles.”  There were gems on the back of the arrow.  Everyone praised the arrow when they saw it: “the arrow is made of Faulaad and has gold and gems on the back.  The tip is bigger than a hand.  Which human can fire this?  The Guru shoots with his power from such a distance.  If this hits someone, how would they survive?  It’s like a cannonball.  We were startled and we were saved.  Khuddah saved us.”  They left their Chauper game.  They were all shocked.  They looked through their binoculars and saw Prabhoo ji sitting in his court.  They saw the Divaan with Chaurs being waived over Guru ji’s head.  He had his bow in his hand and his quiver beside him.  They looked radiant. 

6-15 Satguru ji sends a Letter with an Arrow

As the Pahari Rajas and the Soobas spoke, the omniscient Guru knew exactly what they were saying, 2.5 Kos away.  The Prabhoo knew what they were all thinking.  Sri Satguru ji took a paper and wrote a letter in Farsi.  He wrote about what the enemy was discussing: “you are wise.  You’ve used your wisdom and came to the conclusion that I used powers to shoot an arrow so far away.  You are wrong!  This is my practice of Shaster Vidya.  The one who practices everyday, he can do such a thing.  A true warrior trusts the practice of his Vidya.  Miracles lead to tribulation and chaos.  This is what warriors, Avatars and saints say; they do not use miracles on the battlefield.  This is the compassion of the Karta Purakh.  In past, future and present, whoever practiced this Vidya and earned it; in hard times, they can make the situation easy.  The impossible becomes possible.”  Guru ji wrote the letter and tied it to the arrow with a string.  He mounted the arrow onto his fierce bow and pulled it to his ear.  When the arrow was released, it hissed through the air as it flew.  The string made a really loud noise when the arrow was released.  The wise Singhs watched as the arrow flew upwards.  Where the Pahari Rajas and the Soobas were still amazed and talking about the arrow; where many officers were sitting under the Shaalmali tree before the first arrow hit; the second arrow hit the trunk of the tree.  The tree shook really hard as the arrow pierced it.  They all saw the second arrow and ducked down in case another arrow was coming.  The leaves and the branches shook.  They saw the arrow with the letter.  They sent a servant: “get the letter.”  The servant fearfully approached the arrow and took the letter.  Zerdast Khan opened the letter and read the Baint written in Farsi by Guru ji.  He understood the Baint and explained: “this is the practice of good Vidya.  This is not a test of his powers.  He did not use powers.  The ones who practice, they trust their art.  He slanders miracles and praises the greatness of practicing Vidya.  He says: “the ones you practice Vidya with wisdom; they have found impossible things.”  Wajeed Khan heard this and said: “that is true!  The ones who practice Vidya, they can get what they want with efforts.  Think about this amazing thing though: what we were discussing, how did he hear what we were saying?  He is 2.5 Kos away.  The Guru has patience.  He is omniscient and knows every heart.  Who can be equal to him who is the master of powers?”  They couldn’t understand what was going on.  Many others came to see what the discussion was.  The others read the letter and praised Guru ji’s poetry and calligraphy.  The Syeds, Shiekhs, Pathaan and Mughals surrounded the gathering.  The Pahari Rajas and the officers all praised Guru ji in their hearts: “he is really powerful but acts like a human.  He has fought us for many years but no damage ever came to him.”  Scared, everyone back to their Dheras: “we hope he doesn’t get angry and kill us standing here, with an arrow.  From 2.5 Kos away, his aim is perfect.  He still fights with us on the battlefield.  He is praiseworthy.”  Everyone thought of this but didn’t say it with their mouths out loud.  Guru ji’s fear and praise lived in their hearts.  They knew there was no other warrior like Guru ji on the earth.

Satguru ji looked at the enemy camps.  He saw the elephants, horses and tents extending more that 10 miles in every direction.  Guru ji said to the Singhs: “look!  There is no beginning or end to their camp.  They are in every direction.  These Paharis are fools for serving the Turks.”  Bhai Daya Singh ji folded his hands and said: “the Turk is the king today.  His kingdom extends to the ocean and the canopy hangs over his head.  He left no opposition.  No land is left for him.  Everyone pays taxes to the Emperor.  Aurang is a big emperor.  Prabhoo ji, who can oppose the Turks?  The sun does not set in their kingdom.  You will destroy their courts.  Because of you, the Hindu Dharma will survive.  Only some Rajput Rajas remain but they have lost their wisdom as well.  They made their daughters marry the Turks and are still alive.  They are damned.  Their kingdoms are worthless.  They take hope in the sun setting and rising.  They have become the subjects themselves.  You can fight and kill the Turks.  There is no other in this world that can do that.”  After this discussion, it was evening.  Satguru ji saw this.  The Singhs bowed and went back to their posts.  It was night.  The Singhs stood guard at their posts.  They ate and some slept while others stood guard.

The cannons, arrows and bullets fired during the day.  The fight in the forts continued.  On one side was the Sutlej and on the other side were the mountains.  The firing of the guns echoed far.  Where the fight would get big, Bhai Uday Singh ji and the other Singhs would come to fight.  They would use their Kharags to make the enemy run away.  Sometimes the Paharis would die and sometimes the Turks would be killed.  Wherever the enemy came with charges, the Singhs would fight back.  Generally, they were scared and wouldn’t attack the Singhs.  They sat in their places, hiding and tried shooting out of hideouts.

Bheem Chand would meet with the Soobas and say to them: “the Guru has many thieves and dacoits.  Be aware of those thugs.  He has gathered the Raaths of Madr Desh.  He has all of the thugs.  They become really strong at night.  They love the night.  I hope they don’t attack at night and destroy our posts.  They attack all of a sudden and we become helpless.  Many of them are in Lohgarh.  They kept a strict guard there.  You should keep watch over there.  Keep soldiers there.”  Zerdast Khan heard this and went to Lohgarh many times.  He analyzed the area and met his soldiers.  The Syeds and Shiekhs were set up near Lohgarh.  Sarf Ali Syed, the general, was posted there: “don’t sleep at night.  Keep your weapons with you.  Stay alert with your eyes open.  Don’t be lazy.  We will slowly advance to the fort, day by bay.”  Sarf Ali heard this and said: “Navaab ji, don’t worry.  The Emperor’s radiance is great.  I will win this easily.  Who does not love life?  Who will come here?  There are many warriors here.  They are few.  We will kill them if they come out.  We have thousands of soldiers.  The enemy is afraid.  They stay in the forts.  They see death when they look outside.  If you command us, we will charge at the door and break it down.  Why are you scaring us?  We are warriors.”  In this way, the Sooba made the guards strict.  He said: “don’t go close.  Keep the fort surrounded.  We can’t compare to them in battle.  Thousands of our men were killed.  They come, kill and go back in.  You can’t achieve anything in anger.  When food and other things deplete, the Guru will have no other choice but to come out.  If we fight the Singhs we will cause lakhs of our men to die.  There is no way for us to fight them.  This is the best approach.”  The Paharis and the Turks made the decision not to fight.  They saved their bodies from battle.  They were afraid to die.  They sat down, surrounding the city.  Many days passed like this.  The city was surrounded.  The eagerness of the Singhs grew by the day.  They wanted to fight the enemy.