Article by Rajveer Singh, Head of Khalsa Diary; funding and conflict none

After the battle of Chamkaur and Mukhtsar, Guru Gobind Singh Ji came to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, where he finally opened his Kamar Kasa (battle belt) and decided to rest. It was here where Bhai Dalla came to visit Guru Sahib.

Bhai Dalla owned a small princely state at the time. He was wealthy and had his own private army of 500 soldiers. At the time, the Singh’s were recalling the sacrifices of Guru Sahib’s Chaar Sahibzaade. Bhai Dalla heard the recent events and began boasting. He said to Guru Sahib that if Guru sahib had called for him, he would have brought his powerful 500 soldiers to make the Mughals flee from the battlefield. 

Guru sahib understood that Bhai Dalla was speaking out of ego. After all, even great deities couldn’t get rid of their ego. 

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਤਜੀ ਤ ਕਿਆ ਭਇਆ ਜਉ ਮਾਨੁ ਤਜਿਆ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥

kabeer maiaa tajee ta kiaa bhiaa jau maan tajiaa nahi jai ||

Kabeer, what good is it to give up Maya, if the mortal does not give up his pride?

ਮਾਨ ਮੁਨੀ ਮੁਨਿਵਰ ਗਲੇ ਮਾਨੁ ਸਭੈ ਕਉ ਖਾਇ ॥੧੫੬॥

maan munee munivar gale maan sabhai kau khai ||156||

Even the silent sages and seers are destroyed by pride; pride eats up everything. ||156||

Whilst speaking, Bhai Dalla looked behind him at the Singh’s sitting with Guru Sahib. They were wearing ripped clothes, and their sheaths were broken. Moreover, they were covered in wounds and scars. Bhai Dalla started to laugh and said to Guru Sahib, “you have challenged the great king Aurangzeb, but your army is full of paupers. They never stood a chance against Aurangzeb in the first place.”

Guru Sahib realised that Bhai Dalla had gone too far, that he had disrespected his Sikhs. Remember, love goes both ways. Sikhs never tolerate the Guru’s blasphemy, and the Guru never tolerates disrespect towards his Sikhs either.

At this time, a Singh came to Guru Sahib. He was a weaponsmith, and he gave Guru Sahib a rifle. He said that this was his best work yet, and he wanted to give it to Guru sahib. Guru Sahib was impressed at the craftsmanship and said that he wanted to test the rifle. Guru Sahib then looked at Bhai Dalla and told him to bring one of his brave soldiers. Bhai Dalla started to chuckle and asked Guru Sahib what he needed his soldiers for now. Guru Sahib said he wanted to test out his rifle, and so he needed a man to stand in front of him so that Guru Sahib could shoot him.

Bhai Dalla started to sweat hearing Guru Sahib’s request, knowing full well that his paid soldiers would never stand in the face of certain death. So he asked if Guru Sahib would be satisfied with a can instead, and Guru Sahib said to him that he doesn’t test his rifles or cans because you are not fighting cans you’re fighting a person in a battle. 

Bhai Dalla went back to his soldiers and relayed Maharaj’s request. All of his soldiers refused in the face of certain death, a natural response from those who are not blessed with Guru Sahib’s Amrit. Reluctantly Bhai Dalla returned to Guru Sahib without anyone. 

He told Guru Sahib that they were refusing to cooperate with him. Guru Sahib questioned him, “aren’t these the same people you said would follow any command you gave them?” Guru Sahib then said that if they’ve refused, that’s fine; you still haven’t declined, have you? Bhai Dalla froze as Guru Sahib aimed the gun at him. Sweat trickled down his face; his body started shaking as he saw his life flashing in front of his eyes. He jumped out of the way in fear, joined his hands in front of Guru Sahib, and said, I do this; I’m too scared to die.

Hearing this Guru Sahib said to him;

ਲਸਕਰ ਤਰਕਸਬੰਦ ਬੰਦ ਜੀਉ ਜੀਉ ਸਗਲੀ ਕੀਤ ॥

lasakar tarakasaba(n)dh ba(n)dh jeeau jeeau sagalee keet ||

you may have armies well-equipped with weapons, and all may salute you with respect;

ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਖੜਿ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਦੀਤ ॥੭॥

chit na aaio paarabraham taa khaR rasaatal dheet ||7||

But still, if you do not come to remember the Supreme Lord God, then you shall be taken and consigned to the most hideous hell! ||7||

You should never laugh at my Sikhs. You have no idea the strength of these “paupers”, as you called them. If you want to see, then go outside and say to my Singh’s that guru sahib wants to test out his new gun and see what happens. Bhai Dalla went outside and relayed Guru sahib message. Two Singh’s, Bhai Vir Singh and Bhai Dhir Singh, father and son, came running into the diwan, arguing over who would be the target. When guru sahib saw them arguing, he fired his rifle slightly above their heads. 

Guru Sahib then told Bhai Dalla that these are real Singh’s. The ones who fought 40 against a million, the ones who did not forsake me in the bitter cold, that went out in bands of 5 to face their deaths. That’s the strength of my Singh’s. Bhai Dalla then also took Amrit as well.

Ego is something that we’re told over and over again to get rid of. Unfortunately, we carry the ego of our jobs, status, names, castes and other useless things over our heads, completely forgetting that in the end, we will only be judged on our deeds and not our bank balance. 

ਮੁਈ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ਗਇਆ ਮੁਆ ਵੈਰੁ ਵਿਰੋਧੁ ॥

muiee pareet piaar giaa muaa vair virodh ||

Love dies, and affection vanishes. Hatred and alienation die.

ਧੰਧਾ ਥਕਾ ਹਉ ਮੁਈ ਮਮਤਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ॥

dha(n)dhaa thakaa hau muiee mamataa maiaa karodh ||

Entanglements end, and egotism dies, along with attachment to Maya, possessiveness and anger.

ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰੋਧੁ ॥੩॥

karam milai sach paieeaai gurmukh sadhaa nirodh ||3||

Those who receive His Mercy obtain the True One. The Gurmukhs dwell forever in balanced restraint. ||3||