Ans. The Brahmins from Kashmir, under the stewardship of pandit Kirpa Ram, came to Anand Pur and put the following request before Guru Tegh Bahadur:
“Please help us, O’ son of Guru Har Gobind”. They further said, ” Master! All our physical and spiritual strength has failed us and we are helpless. It is you who saved the elephant from the tentacles of the giant octopus. You also protected the honour of Dropadi (a story from the Hindu epic, Maha Bharat, wherein Lord Krishna saved Dropadi when her clothes were being forcibly removed by an order from the king Duryodhan) and improved the life of Sudama (another story from Maha Bharat wherein Lord Krishna helped his childhood friend Sudama who was very poor), You are the (ninth) Guru Nanak and in this age of Kali you are Lord Krishna for us. We have come to your refuge; we have nowhere else to turn to”
(Shaheed bilaas)
In reply to the request of the Brahmins, Guru Tegh Bahadur said the following, as documented by Bhatt Chaand:
“One should focus ones mind on the lotus feet of the Lord because He is the ultimate protector. The mind tends to drift towards evil thoughts. One should prevent it to do so by the help of Guru’s word. Once you decide to help someone, do so even at the cost of your head. Says Guru Tegh Bahadur, lay down your life rather than forsaking your Dharma”.
- The famous last words of Guru Hari Krishan, according to the Sikh tradition, are “Baba Bakaalay”, as described in the “Gur Partap Suraj”.
- According to this Hindu mythological story an elephant on entering a sea for a bath was caught by a giant octopus. When the elephant realized that its force could not free it from the tentacles it prayed to God who came to help and freed the elephant.