Came across this at gurdwara while [[Bhai Lakhwinder Singh]] was visiting and doing keertan and wanted to save it to my [[Shabad bookmarks]]. He explained the history of it, and I decided to ask [[ChatGPT]] for some additional context. I don't fully see it in the same way, but this helps. --- ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl: ਸੁਲਹੀ ਤੇ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਰਾਖੁ ॥ The Lord saved me from Sulhi Khan. ਸੁਲਹੀ ਕਾ ਹਾਥੁ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਪਹੁਚੈ ਸੁਲਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਮੂਆ ਨਾਪਾਕੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ The emperor did not succeed in his plot, and he died in disgrace. ||1||Pause|| ਕਾਢਿ ਕੁਠਾਰੁ ਖਸਮਿ ਸਿਰੁ ਕਾਟਿਆ ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ਗਇਆ ਹੈ ਖਾਕੁ ॥ The Lord and Master raised His axe, and chopped off his head; in an instant, he was reduced to dust. ||1|| ਮੰਦਾ ਚਿਤਵਤ ਚਿਤਵਤ ਪਚਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਰਚਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਦੀਨਾ ਧਾਕੁ ॥੧॥ Plotting and planning evil, he was destroyed. The One who created him, gave him a push. ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਮੀਤ ਧਨੁ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਰਹਿਓ ਸੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਗਇਆ ਸਭ ਭਾਈ ਸਾਕੁ ॥ Of his sons, friends and wealth, nothing remains; he departed, leaving behind all his brothers and relatives. ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਜਨ ਕਾ ਕੀਨੋ ਪੂਰਨ ਵਾਕੁ ॥੨॥੧੮॥੧੦੪॥ Says Nanak, I am a sacrifice to God, who fulfilled the word of His slave. ||2||18||104|| ``` This shabad was written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, and it carries a deep historical context tied to a real event involving **Sulhi Khan**, a Mughal official who plotted to kill the Guru. ### Historical Background: **Sulhi Khan** was a Mughal revenue officer during the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was aligned with enemies of the Guru, including some local rivals who were jealous of the Guru’s spiritual influence and growing support. Under their influence, Sulhi Khan planned to attack and harm Guru Arjan Dev Ji. According to Sikh tradition and historical sources like _Guru Granth Kosh_ and _Suraj Prakash_, Sulhi Khan once set out with a small army to confront and possibly kill the Guru. However, divine intervention is said to have occurred. On his way to Amritsar, **Sulhi Khan's horse slipped near a kiln (bhatti)**, and he fell into the fire and **burned to death**. This sudden and dramatic death was seen by Sikhs as a direct act of God's protection of the Guru. ### The Shabad in Context: Guru Arjan Dev Ji composed this shabad to express gratitude to Waheguru (God) for saving him from Sulhi Khan's evil intentions. The tone of the shabad is both reflective and celebratory—it recognizes the plotting of the enemy, but also rejoices in the Divine justice that protected the Guru and punished the wicked. Each line in this shabad poetically describes how God's hand intervened—how Sulhi Khan's plans were foiled, how he perished in disgrace, and how all his pride, possessions, and relations were left behind as he died. This shabad serves as a reminder of the protective power of the Divine and the ultimate futility of those who plot harm against God's servants. ```