Zafarnama-An Epistle of Victory & ITS Impacts

The Guru sent this letter, Zafarnama to Aurangzeb who had gone to Deccan, through special messengers, Bhai Daya Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh. In this letter, the Guru expressed his viwes frankly and fearlessly and was very out spoken throughout. It was a master-piece through which the Guru intended to raise the slumbering soul of the emperor. Zafarnama is letter comprising 111 verses or lines in persian language. The first twelve verses are in the adoration of God and in the next few verses the Guru tells the emperor that he had lost all faith in oath on the holy Quran because the Government e.i. “Bakshis and Diwans were all liers.” In spite of all their oaths on the Quran, they had gone back upon their words and had attacked him unawares and inflicted a heavy loss of life and property. The Guru also said: “If your majesty were to stand by your word, the affairs can be easily and sincerely settled. It behaves your Majesty to act up to your written message and promise. I have received your written letter and verbal message. Your Majesty should ease the situation and bring the matter to a peaceful end. He alone is true to his word who is one in thought and word”. Bhai Daya Singh on his way back met the Guru Ji and informed all that they had seen and heard and conveyed Aurangzeb's last request to the Guru. 19 In the mean while, death of Aurangzeb which took place. The war of succession started among emperor sons. Bahadur Shah appealed to the Guru, through his former secretary, Bhai Nand Lal, who was also a devotee of the Guru, for rendering him all possible help and assistance. The Guru agreed to help him and Bahadur Shah became victorious. After that the Guru reached Nander, on the margin of the Godavari. The Guru continued to stay at Nander, here, suddenly went to the hut of a Bairagi, administered amrit, admitted him into the Khalsa fold and given the name of Banda Singh and sent to him to Punjab. The Guru Ji bade his last farewell with the words Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh, immediately after midnight and merged his soul with the supreme soul in the early hours of Katik Sudi 5, 1765 Vikrami, corresponding to 7th of October 1708.