PACHMI PARKASH - Global Sikh Studies

not to be stubborn! And to give what ever you could afford into the rations for the free
kitchen at the Hoti camp, but you did not listen as only by listening to the words of a
Saints does one finds peace and happiness.”
After such a harsh lesson Karam Chand never disobeyed Baba Ji’s instructions again
and remained a faithful devotee for the rest of his life.
The faith of an English Officer
As Baba Ji had given word to all the Soldiers that if they were to pass in the area of
the Hoti camp they must come and have food before continuing their journey and all
of the Soldier’s obeyed these instruction.
Now this story is as follows that once the regiment of Naushera Cantt was going to
battle on the front line, of which 20 or so Sikh Soldiers were Baba Ji’s devotees. The
Officer in charge of this regiment was an English Officer and when the regiment had
arrived at Mardan railway station near Hoti a few of the Soldiers informed the English
Officer that in this area there is a complete Saint, who has given instructions that if
any Soldier passes through this area they should first come and visit the camp and eat
a meal before continuing on. They further notified him that it was for their own well
being that they should obey this wish and take Baba Ji’s blessing so they many win on
the battle field. Now the Officer was newly posted in the area and was unaware of
Baba Ji’s fame but also under orders he told his men that since there was no order for
them to stop here they would not stop and then rudely questioned the audacity of
Baba Ji to give such an order.
Now all of the Soldiers who were devotees of Baba Ji’s were upset listening to these
remarks and orders of their Officer but were unable to go against his orders and
continued without Baba Ji’s blessing and vision. On reaching their destination they
were immediately sent to the front line. The fighting was so intense that the enemy
bullets left the regiment on a back footing in a very weak position and in just the first
attack the whole regiment was wiped out with only a few survivors of whom all were
devotees of Dhan Baba Karam Singh Ji Maharaj.
All the other Officers heard of this great loss and all of them were fully aware of Baba
Ji’s fame and knew better then to disobey their instructions. So on finding out that this
new Officer had refused to take his Soldiers to the camp for blessings they became
very upset, when they got hold of him they cornered him and gave him some very
stern words advising him to return back to Hoti and beg for forgiveness before he got
all the regiments killed. The Officer knowing his own mistake with the burden of the
all the dead Soldiers on his conscious hastily made his way back to Hoti with the
remaining Sikh Soldiers and a gift. He humbly bowed in Baba Ji’s presence and with
great regret the Officer said, “Maharaj! I was unaware of your greatness because of
which I got all my men killed please forgive me and bless me.”
Baba Ji smiled and told him sweetly that one should not have an ego with Gurus
Beloveds, but instead remain humble and keep faith, and then blessed him through his
compassionate grace saying that now he should return to the battle field as victory
will be his but no matter what he should always keep faith in the True Guru.
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