The Command: Weapons and Intoxicants Sikhan Di Bhagatmala, by Bhai Mani Singh Shahid in the early 1700s, covers the stories of Sikhs from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In this sakhi, Bhai Mani Singh Shahid is relating a story when Sikh congregations were coming to see Guru Gobind Singh, and would have their beautiful women taken away by force during their travels. Bhai Mani Singh Shahid describes the commands of the Guru: ਬਚਨੁ ਹੋਇਆ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਫੜੋ । ਤੇ ਪਾਹੁਲਾਂ ਛਕੋ । ਤੁਸੀ ਸਭਨਾ ਉਤੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਆਵੋਗੇ । ਤਾਂ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਹੁਲ ਦਿਤੀਆਂ । The Command was, "Adorn weapons and take Khande-di-Pahul. You will rise above to rule over all." Then *Guru Gobind Singh* gave *Khande-Di* Pahul to the Sikhs. ਕੇਈ ਸਿਖ ਪਾਸ ਰਖੇ ਕੇਈ ਘਰ ਨੂ ਆਏ । ਹੋਰੁ ਜੇਹੜੇ ਸਿਖ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਸ ਰਹਿਨ ਸੋ ਉਦਾਸੀ ਹੋਇ ਘਰਾਂ ਨੂ ਉਠ ਜਾਵਨ । ਤਾਂ ਬਚਨੁ ਹੋਇਆ ਤੁਸੀ ਅਮਲੁ ਖਾਧਾ ਕਰੋ । ਤਾਂ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਅਮਲੁ ਖਾਵਣੁ ਲਗੇ । ਤਾਂ ਕਿਤਨਿਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਬ੍ਰਿਤਾਂ ਠਹਿਰ ਗਈਆਂ । The Guru kept some Sikhs with him, others went back home. Out of the Sikhs that stayed with the Master *Guru Gobind Singh*, some became sad *missing home* and went back home. Then a Command was made, "You should take intoxicants" Then Sikhs started to take intoxicants, and many of their minds were calmed. Sikhan Di [[1718 Sikhan Di Bhagatmala/Bhagatmala|Bhagatmala]] , Bhai Mani Singh Shahid Sakhi 153, Page 357, version: Piara Singh Padam, An important note when speaking on intoxicants, Bhai Desa Singh has given a prescription to the amount and warned against taking too much: ਰਤੀ ਫੀਮ ਮਾਸਾ ਭੰਗ । ਇਨਕੋ ਛਕੈ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਸੰਗ । ਇਸਤੋ ਅਧਿਕ ਨ ਅਮਲ ਵਧਾਵੈ | ਵਧੇ ਅਮਲ ਤਉ ਨਰ ਦੁਖ ਪਾਵੈ | Taking a pinch of opium and a gram of cannabis, consuming this one surely is a Singh. One should not increase the drug amount more than this, increasing the amount one suffers greatly. - Bhai Desa Singh Rehatnama ![[arms drugs.jpg]]