Guru Gobind Singh's description of the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib in Zafarnama

In verses from 19 to 41 below, Guru Ji gives an account of the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib, which was fought on 22 december 1704, and also gives the reasons that forced him to take up the sword against the Mughal forces and Hindu hill chiefs

Verse 19

What can forty hungry men do, when suddenly ten-lac strong army pounces upon them?

Verse 20

That the promise breakers launched a surprise attack with their swords and arrows and guns.

Verse 21

It was out of sheer helplessness that I came in the battle field. (Having thus decided) I came with all the battle plans and munitions.

Verse 22

When all the stratagem employed for (solving) a problem are exhausted, (only) then taking your hand to the sword is legitimate.

Verse 23

What trust can I have on your oath on Koran? Otherwise you tell why should I have taken this path (of taking up the sword).

Verse 24

I do not know that this person (Aurangzeb) is cunning like a fox. Otherwise I would never have come to this place i.e. Chamkaur (by vacating Anandgarh on the false oaths of Aurangzeb and his men).

Verse 25

If any person believes an oath on Koran, he should neither be tied (arrested) nor killed.

Verse 26

They (the enemy) dressed in black and like flies came suddenly with great uproar

Verse 27

Any person who came out from behind the wall, took one arrow (on his body) and was submerged in blood.

Verse 28

Any person who did not come out from (behind) that wall, did not take an arrow and (hence) did not become miserable (die).

Verse 29

When I saw that Nahar had come out from behind the wall for battle, he immediately took one of my arrows on himself (and died)

Verse 30

Many Afghans who used to tell tall stories (about their bravery) also ran away from the battlefield.

Verse 31

That large number of other afgans came for the battle like a flood of arrows and bullets

Verse 32

They launched many a brave attacks. (However) some of these (attacks) were intelligently launched but some were sheer madness.

Verse 33

They launched many attacks and they took many wounds upon themselves. They killed two (of my) men and also gave their own lives as well.

Verse 34

That coward Khawaja ( who was hiding behind the wall ) did not come out in the battlefield like a brave man

Verse 35

Alas! If I had seen his (Khawaja’s) face, I would have sent him to the other world just with one arrow.

Verse 36

In the end many fighters from both sides died quickly after being wounded by arrows and bullets

Verse 37

Many arrows and bullets rained and the battlefield turned red (with blood) like the red coloured laaleh ( tulip ) flowers.

Verse 38

The battlefield was full of (severed) heads and legs, which gave the impression as if these were balls and sticks.

Verse 39

The whizzing of arrows and vibrations of the strings of bows produced huge commotions. And cries of “hai-hu” were coming from the whole battle field.

Verse 40

And the dreadful noises of weapons had their affect on the bravest of brave men who gave the impression as if they had lost their mental balance.

Verse 41

And finally what could the bravery of my forty warriors do in battle when countless of these (Afghans) fell upon them.