1 Guru Govind Singh. 39
2 exacted from the other hill chiefs, including the guru,
3 he invited the latter to aid him in resisting the
4 demand by force of arms. Govind Singh, to whom
5 the chance of a conflict with his inveterate foes, the
6 Muhammadans, was by no means unwelcome, promised
7 Bhim Chand his support. He counselled him on no
8 account to give way ; and when Mian Khan ap-
9 proached to enforce his authority at the point of
10 the sword, the soldiers of the Khalsa rendered the
11 Raja such effectual assistance that the imperial troops
12 were utterly routed.
13 But gratitude was not among the virtues of Raja
14 Bhim Chand, and not long after the defeat of Mian
15 Khan he again took part with the hill chiefs in
16 an attack on the Sikh stronghold. Anandpiir was
17 besieged on every side. But the defenders, though
18 greatly outnumbered, fought with such determined
19 courage that they not only succeeded in saving
20 their fortress, but marched out and routed the
21 besiegers in the open plain. This achievement
22 added greatly to the fame and influence of Govind
23 Singh, and brought him many new disciples. The
24 Sikhs now felt themselves to be on an equality
25 with the martial Rajputs, and with every victory
26 their pride in the Khalsa increased.
27 Finding they were unable to crush, or even
28 to check, the growing power of their common
29 enemy, the hill chiefs determined to appeal for
30 assistance to the emperor himself. Aurangzeb was
31 at this time operating in the Deccan, and thither,
32 accordingly, a deputation was sent. The guru was
33 represented as a dangerous rebel, ever engaged in