This entry was submitted by a writer for writing competition held by Vidhiya Saagar (December, 2023). This piece was awarded 3rd place. For more details, read the official announcement.

Inspired by the great writings of Sant Mahapurkhs, who say that the greatness of the Guru was such that those who were even martyred by Guru Ji’s hands were considered to have great fortune, obtaining liberation. This writing gives a Mughal perspective of the battle that has not been commonly told.

Arrows of Bliss

By: Gurman Singh

In the Mughal encampment, morale peaked to a new low. Spending many months surrounding their Sikh combatants at the fort of Anandpur, the cold winter season had now arrived, and the battle moved to the fort of Chamkaur. With no victory in sight, some of the Moghul soldiers discuss amongst themselves the great valor of Guru Gobind Singh.

Among the thousands of Mughal soldiers, one particular soldier, Murtaza Ali, started to grow a great love for the Guru and his Sikhs. Seeing the battle rage for many months, he witnessed the spirit of the outnumbered, famished and slowly vanishing Sikh army only increasing. “How was this possible.?” he would think to himself. “How do you defeat an army that is not scared of death.?” “Where did they get such physical and spiritual power.?” “There must be some truth to their way of life, as God proved to be constantly on their side.” These thoughts had him questioning his own loyalty to the Mughal commanders, who had at many times showed cowardness, and were unable to defeat a small Sikh army that they had outnumbered by hundreds of thousands.

One particular night, while having their evening meal by the camp fire, a few soldiers from his regiment began a discussion that intrigued the young soldier. They told tales about the Sikhs and the first hand bravery they had witnessed on the battlefield. Some narrated the greatness of the Guru, who had killed thousands of Mughal soldiers on his own with his great bow. They discussed the great marksmanship of the Guru, who carried a bow so heavy, no man in the history of the earth would have been able to pull.

“I hear that he uses many forms of sorcery, given to him by the devil,” one solider said. “I heard he hunts lions with his bare hands” another expressed. “The precious plume that sits on top of his turban is a magic stone he had stolen from a great Muslim sage, that is where he gets his power” another uttered.

Murtaza listened attentively to the conversation but was cautious about speaking . He feared that once he opened his mouth in praise of the Guru, he would not be able to control his inner feelings that he had kept hidden for so many months. Listening and listening, his love for the Guru increased ever more. Then, he heard one soldier mention something that left him astounded.

It had been well known amongst the Mughal soldiers that anyone hit by Guru Sahib’s arrows experienced an unexplainable feeling of bliss. One of the soldiers began telling a tale of seeing a fellow soldier being hit by one of Guru Sahib’s arrows. “We were attacking the Anandpur fort head on, when suddenly we were hit with a barrage of arrows. One by one we were being picked off, like fruits from a tree. A very dear friend of mine was by my side, when one of the arrows pierced him like a knife threw an apple. I was particularly astonished because when I looked him in the eye, I saw no pain or grief. Instead, he had a huge smile on his face and began uttering Allah Allah! It seemed as if the magic arrow had caused him to remember the Lord one last time before his death. He was smiling as his lifeless body hit the floor. I have seen many people die on the battlefield, but none in such a way as this.”

Murtaza couldn’t control his emotions and yelled out in excitement. “Subhan Allah! Dhan Guru Sahib!” The other soldiers gave Murtaza an eerie look, but were quickly distracted by a screaming Mughal soldier approaching on horseback. “We have some great news. Both the sons of the Guru have been defeated in battle. Victory is now for the taken! Let us quickly gear up and prepare for one final assault on the fort.”

Sounds of cheers arise amongst the soldiers, thousands of troops now prepared their weapons and horses for combat. Murtaza quickly slipped into his tent, making sure to not be seen by any fellow soldier. Standing with his hands clasped together and facing towards the fort of Chamkaur, he made a heart filled supplication to the Great Guru.

“Oh great giver of peace, creator of the world, controller of destiny. I have been employed by this treacherous empire as a soldier for many years, but slowly my loyalty has faded from them. When I was assigned the duty to attack the fort of Anandpur, and attempt to seize you, Oh great Guru!, I did not know that such love would have sprung up in my heart. Every passing day of the war, my respect for you and your Gursikhs grew more and more. At one time, when arriving near the gates of Anandpur I had seen the great plume that sits on top of your beautiful turban. Just knowing that such a great man of God was the one adorning it, brought me peace of mind. However, it was my unfortunate destiny that I was unable to have a glimpse of you. Oh Great Sage!, Your Sikhs have fought so valiantly, I have seen them to be the very image of God. If these Sikhs of yours are so courageous and high spirited, I can only begin to imagine how astonishing you yourself are. Encountering your Sikhs on the battlefield and listening to the many stories from my comrades about your fearlessness and determination, my love has increased ever more. Although I have never seen or spoken to you, my heart has told me the truth. I believe you to be the very form of Khuda!, from what I have witnessed on the battlefield, there can be no other explanation. So please hear this plea, it was my desire to die on the battlefield as a martyr and guarantee my place in Heaven. But now, my wish is to die by your arrow and your arrow alone. You have graced so many with your benevolence, please fulfill this desire, as I believe only through your grace I can enter paradise. May I become Shaheed by you, while remembering you in my heart.”

Unable to control his tears, Murtaza ended his plea to the Guru. After being accustomed to prostrating westwards towards Mecca since he was a child, he was now bowing over and over towards the fort of Chamkaur. He geared up, got on his horse and sped towards the battlefield. Approaching closer and closer towards the fort, he could see the arrows coming from a distance. While many were trying to avoid the rainstorm of arrows, he was attempting to jump into them. Suddenly a great thunder was heard, in an instance, thousands of Mughals had been killed. Seeing this miraculous feet, some suggested that the Guru had received extra reinforcements. Others claimed Guru Sahib must have some new technology acquired from a far out country. Others discussed the miraculous Sidhhis(supernatural powers) that the Guru possessed. The Mughal force which had been charged up and ready to finally eliminate the Sikhs were now scared and confused. Thousands began running away from the battlefield. Guru Gobind Singh had shown his physical ability for many months, but now had shown his spiritual powers as well, had the Great Guru decided, then the whole army could have been annihilated in seconds. However, such was not his will.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, Murtaza knew the truth, Guru Sahib was capable of anything. However, he was saddened that he was not one of the martyrs. For a short while the barrage of arrows stopped, the Mughal forces retreated to their camps for the night. Murtaza also went back to his tent. He made another plea to the Guru before heading to sleep, “Oh Great Guru, please look past my demerits, grant me your Darshan and please let me die at your hands.”

Meanwhile, inside the fort of Chamkaur, Guru Sahib and a few of the Singhs were now planning their escape. Unwilling to sneak away from the battlefield, Guru Sahib yelled out in a loud voice, creating as much ruckus as possible. “The Pir of Hind is now departing; let the brave come forth and confront Me if they dare!” Hearing the uproar from his tent Murtaza was shocked. The great Guru had now entered the battlefield, “Now is my chance to martyrdom” he thinks to himself. Meanwhile, within the Mughal encampment, a great uproar arose. Hearing the great voice of the Guru, the confused army was blindly letting out a barrage of arrows. They began killing one another in this perplexed state. Mughal elephants were trampling their own soldiers. Horses begin racing at top speed aimlessly, trampling Mughal soldiers in the process. Murtaza quickly arrived to the seen, looking around to find the Guru. He looked in all directions, but could not locate the Great Guru.

He continued searching, but to no avail. In a state of helplessness, Murtaza bends down on his knees and prays. Suddenly, he felt an immense pleasure emanate his entire being, a state of bliss that was unbearable. He screamed out in ectasy “Allah! Allah! Subhan Allah!” He was unable to control his body like a boat stuck in a high tide. Wondering side to side in this state of bliss, his fellow soldiers look on confused. Not known to Murtaza, they point out the arrow that had pierced his heart. “Vah, Vah” he screamed out, seeing the arrow in his body. His fellow Mughal soldiers were confused as to why such a horrific incident could bring such a blissful response.

Gazing into the distance, Murtaza could see Guru Sahib Ji’s boundless form, and bringing his blissful state to a pinnacle. He looked down again at the arrow, seeing a paper attached to the tip, which read the following “Your ticket to liberation has been granted, this arrow hit your heart, where I will forever now reside.” Guru Sahib now stood directly in front of Murtaza in all his glory, whose great form could not be seen by any other soldier. The note which was covered with blood, is slowly washed away by Murtazas tears. Falling to his knees, he prostrates one last time towards the feet of the Guru with his final wish fulfilled, dying a martyr, and guaranteeing his liberation in the after world.