The Source Book On Sikhism

Saidkhan Enters Discipleship

The Master now entrenched himself and his people at Anandpur, which was soon besieged by the combined forces. They were scattered many a time in nightly sallies but reinforcements poured in from Lahore and Sirhind, till Anandpur was blocked, and no provisions could enter. Many strange things happened during the following months of siege. A new General named Said Khan, brother of the wife of Pir Buddha Shah, fresh from Ghazni side, was ordered to take command of forces besieging Anandpur. He went to Saddhora to see his sister and he found her mourning the death of her two sons, fallen in the opposite cause. Pir Buddhu Shah having returned from the battlefield, Said Khan began a little altercation with him because of his faith in a Kafir. The discussion was brought to an end by Nasiran who, in the midst of her deep sorrow, saw in a trance the veil of sky torn and in the celestial realms her two sons - in full angelic effulgence of perfected souls, bringing her immediate peace. She had never seen Gobind Singh; but, in the same realm of trance, she saw the glorious Master on his fiery purple stated riding past her, blessing her and saying, “Daughter, fear not, do not mourn - thy great sons live in the Higher Realms”. It was his hand that had torn the veil. On rising from the trance, Nasiran understood what had attracted her husband to the saint of Anandpur; she, too, felt the same attraction now, and agreed with her husband that nothing of his could be kept from the service of such a one. “We breathe for the Beloved, we shall willingly die a thousand times to have but one glimpse of Him.” Said Khan saw the holy transfiguration of his sister, and was greatly perplexed, being under orders to lead the army against the Guru. He left Saddhora for Anandpur. Ever after that initiation into the path of discipleship, Sasiran lived in intense Dhyanam of the master; she saw him clearly in the fort of Anandpur. The war was raging outside; inside the disciples still raised the music of praise to Heaven, and the limpid current of Nam flooded their souls. Gobind Singh led this joy, fed it from his soul, and Nasiran lived not in her body now, but there at his feet. A day came when she saw him ride on his blue steed into the enemy’s camp, right up to general Said Khan. She saw Said Khan lift his gun and aim it at him; but Nasiran standing before Said Khan, shook it, so that the bullet missed its mark. This occurred as she remained at home in her Dhyanam; while, at Anandpur, the Master had gone to Said Khan on horseback all alone, and saw Said Khan level his gun at him as he approached and missed. By this time, the Guru stood close to him, and said, “Come, Said Khan, let us fight”. Said Khan was fresh from Saddhora, and Nasiran's face was before his eyes as he beheld the Guru. “What is all this mystery, Sire? Explain to me", said Said Khan. “Bow they head to my stirrup”, replied Gobind. As Said Khan placed his head at the foot of the Master he entered the path of discipleship, obtained the seed of Simran. This took place in much less time than it takes to think of it, and lo! the Master was gone. Before one of the enemy could realize what had happened, the Master had returned to his fort. Said Khan told nobody what had happened; he three away his sword, changed the dress, “became poor”, and suddenly left the battlefield for a lonely came near Kangra, whither the Master had ordered him to go, there to pass his days in Simran.