Bhai Dalla Ji - 1706
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Bhai Dalla helped out at the Gurdwara frequently and was the leader of a small, private army of strong warriors. One day, he asked Guru Gobind Singh Ji to tell him how his 4 sons got Shaheed (martyred).
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After hearing the sakhi (story), Bhai Dalla said “Guru Ji, you should have sent a messenger to me, I have many strong men in my army that would give their lives to save your sons”. Bhai Dalla spoke out of ego saying his men were stronger than the Singhs at Chamkaur.
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Guru Ji told Bhai Dalla “Everything that has happened is now part of Hukam (Vaheguru’s command). Stop thinking about changing Hukam”.
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Then, someone gifted Guru Gobind Singh Ji a handmade gun and asked him to test it. Guru Ji smiled and realised it was time to kill Bhai Dalla’s ego. Guru Ji called Bhai Dalla.
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When Bhai Dalla came, Guru Ji said “Bhai Dalla, you say that your army would give their lives for me, so tell any one of them to stand in front of me so I can test this gun”.
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Bhai Dalla turned to his army and said, “Someone has given Guru Ji a gun and he wishes to test it on one of you. Who would like to volunteer?”.
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All the men got scared and said “If you want to test us then do it in the battlefield, we don’t want to become Shaheed over this”.
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Bhai Dalla turned to Guru Ji and told him, “None of my men are volunteering. If you want to test them then do it on the battlefield”.
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Guru Ji smiled and told Bhai Dalla to sit down. Then, Guru Ji told one of his Singhs “Call those 2 new Sevadars”. These 2 Sevadars were father and son and looked after the horses.
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When the Singh went to the horse stable, he saw, both father and son, tying their Turbans. The Singh told them “Guru Gobind Singh Ji wants to test his gun on one of you, who wants to volunteer”.
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When the Singh told them this, both of them, stopped tying their Turban, picked up the part of the Turban they had not tied and started running to Guru Ji. They both pushed each other and argued about who will be shot by Guru Ji so that Guru Ji could test his new gun.
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Guru Ji asked “What are you two arguing about?”. The son replied “Guru Ji, I want to be your target, shoot me”. Then, the father said “No Guru Ji, I am older than him, please shoot me”.
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Bhai Dalla was shocked that the father and son were arguing about who would die by the hands of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji laughed and said “Stop! I will test this gun on both of you so stand together”.
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Both father and son lined up. Guru Gobind Singh Ji aimed his rifle and shot just above the heads of the 2 Singhs and smiled.
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Guru Ji then said “Look Bhai Dalla, not one of your men were willing to do this. The 2 Singhs I chose are not even here to fight or be killed, they are Sevadars that look after the horses yet they are as brave as the Singhs that were Shaheed at Chamkaur. You say you would have saved my sons but all of these Singhs are my sons too”. Bhai Dalla was left speechless.
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That night, Bhai Dalla sat beside Guru Ji’s bed with his hands together. Guru Ji asked “Are you ok Bhai Dalla?”, Bhai Dalla said “Yes Guru Ji, get some sleep”.
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When Guru Ji awoke at Amritvela, Bhai Dalla was still there looking at Guru Ji’s feet.
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Guru Ji asked Bhai Dalla what was wrong. Bhai Dalla replied “Guru Ji, I want you to make me yours”. Guru Ji said “Bhai Dalla, if you want to be mine then you must take Amrit”.
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The next day, Bhai Dalla took “Khande Bate da Amrit” and was then named Dal Singh. When Guru Ji saw Dal Singh after the Amrit Sanchaar, Guru Ji hugged him and said “Now you are mine Dal Singh”.
Morals of Story:
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Never speak out of ego.
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Everything is in Hukam, we can’t change what has already happened.
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As Guru’s Sikhs, we should always be prepared to give our life for the Guru.
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Guru Ji would rather have a Sikh that is strong from the inside rather than a Sikh that is strong from the outside (Remember Bhai Bachittar Singh Ji).
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We must take Amrit to be the son/daughter of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.