The Great Poet *Mahakavi* Santokh Singh describes the fate of Baaj Singh, one of the Punj Pyare sent by Guru Gobind Singh with Banda Bahadur to lay siege in Punjab. When Banda and the Khalsa forces were captured they were sent to Delhi for execution, the Emperor of Delhi before executing everyone called out for Baaj Singh after hearing about his heroic deeds in battle:
ਬਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਡ ਜੋਧਾ ਕੌਨੇ। ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਜੁਦੇ ਦਿਖਾਵਹੁ ਤੌਨੇ । ਭਯੋ ਪ੍ਰਥਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਕੈ ਤਤਕਾਲ। ਬੋਲ੍ਯੋ ਧਰਿ ਕੈ ਧੀਰ ਬਿਸਾਲਾ ।੨੯।
*The Emperor calling out* "Who is the great warrior named Baaj Singh? Separate from the rest and show yourself. " Immediately upon hearing this call Baaj Singh said with great determination and confidence:
ਗੁਰ ਕੋ ਦਾਸ ਬਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੈਂ ਹੌਂ । ਜੋ ਤੁਮ ਕਹੌਂ ਦਿਖਾਵਨ ਕੈ ਹੌਂ । ਕਹੈ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਤੂੰ ਬੀਰ ਬਿਸਾਲਾ । ਕਰਿ ਭੀ ਸਕਹਿਂ ਕਿ ਨਹਿਂ ਤਿਸ ਕਾਲਾ ।੩੦।
"I am Baaj Singh, the servant of the Guru, and I will show you whatever you would like." The Emperor said, "You are a great warrior, do you have strength at this moment to show us?"
ਬਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਹਿ ਅਬਹਿ ਨਿਹਾਰਹੁ । ਮਮ ਪਗ ਤੇ ਬੇਰੀ ਨਿਰਵਾਰਹੁ । ਬੀਰ ਪਨੇ ਕੇ ਪਿਖਹੁ ਤਮਾਸ਼ਾ । ਲਰਹਿਂ ਕਿਤਿਕ ਮੈਂ ਕਰੌਂ ਬਿਨਾਸਾ ।੩੧।
Baaj Singh then replied, "Oh you can see right now, just release the shackles on my feet and you will observe my warrior abilities, it'll be a great sight to see, watch how many I will kill during this fight."
ਹੁਕਮ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਦੇ ਨਿਗੜ ਨਿਕਾਰੀ । ਫਾਂਧ੍ਯੋ ਬਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੁਜ ਭਾਰੀ । ਕੜੇ ਹਾਥ ਕੇ ਸੋ ਭੁਜ ਭਾਰੀ । ਤੀਨ ਸਿਪਾਹੀ ਤਤਛਿਨ ਮਾਰੇ ।੩੨।
The Emperor then ordered the shackles on the feet to be removed - Baaj Singh then using his great strength strangled a solder with the shackles on his hands. On his hands were large Karas, and using these in an instant he killed three soldiers.
ਖਰੋ ਨਬਾਬ ਏਕ ਤਿਹ ਤਾੜ੍ਯੋ । ਹਾਥ ਉਠਾਇ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੁਛ ਮਾਰ੍ਯੋ । ਪਿਖੀ ਚਲਾਕੀ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਮਨਿੰਦ । ਗਹਿਵਾਯੋ ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਨਰ ਬ੍ਰਿੰਦ ।੩੩।
The soldiers raised their hands attacking Baaj Singh but their strikes missed, Baaj Singh quickly set his sights on one Navab *high minister*, observing Baaj Singh was like seeing the unpredictable maneuvering of a tiger - all then yelled to the soldiers to capture him again.
ਸ਼ਾਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਹੋਇ ਛੁਟਵਾਯੋ । ਮਾਝੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਛੁਟ੍ਯੋ ਚਲਿ ਆਯੋ ।
The Emperor was so pleased that Baaj Singh was released, and Baaj Singh then arrived in Majha after being released.
Gurpratap [[Suraj]] Prakash Granth, Ayan 2, Chapter 27 *1843*
The Great Poet *Mahakavi* Santokh Singh
![[karay.png]]