When Guru Gobind Singh Ji Ordered Even Enemy Soldiers to Receive Medical Care: The Remarkable Story of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji
When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's army besieged Anandpur in 1704, fighting began between the Mughal forces and Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Sikh army. During this time, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji began giving water to wounded soldiers.
When even enemies received medical care and water | This image is AI-generated
History is usually remembered for stories of swords, guns, and victory or defeat on the battlefield. But some incidents show that even in the midst of war, humanity can come above all else. In Sikh history, the story of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji is one such example.
Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, who was born in 1648 in the Sodhra area of Sialkot district, was not drawn much towards worldly life. From an early age, he was inclined towards spirituality. At a young age, he left home and began travelling with ascetics and saints. He was in search of spiritual peace and the true meaning of life. During this search, he met the father of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Deeply influenced by the Guru's teachings, he embraced his path. Later, when Guru Gobind Singh Ji became the tenth Sikh Guru, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji remained associated with him as well.
When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's army besieged Anandpur in 1704, fighting began between the Mughal forces and Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Sikh army. During this time, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji began giving water to wounded soldiers. He would fill his water-skin and go onto the battlefield, and whenever he saw a wounded soldier, he would give him water. Initially, no one found anything unusual about this. But after some time, Sikh soldiers noticed that Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was not giving water only to Sikh soldiers. He was also giving water to wounded soldiers from the opposing army.
Seeing this, some Sikh soldiers became angry and complained to Guru Gobind Singh Ji that Bhai Kanhaiya Ji was helping enemy soldiers. They argued that the soldiers whom the Sikhs were fighting were being given water by Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, helping them recover and stand again.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji summoned Bhai Kanhaiya Ji before him. The Guru asked him whether it was true that he was also giving water to enemy soldiers. Without any hesitation, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji said yes, he was doing so.
Bhai Kanhaiya Ji told the Guru that he did not see any Mughal or Sikh on the battlefield. He saw only wounded human beings. Whenever someone lay wounded on the ground, he saw in that person the same Divine presence whose light exists within every human being.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji listened to Bhai Kanhaiya Ji and, instead of becoming angry with him, was pleased by his spirit of service. The Guru considered his भावना to be in accordance with the teachings of the Gurus. Guru Gobind Singh Ji then gave Bhai Kanhaiya Ji ointment and medical supplies and told him that from then on, he should also apply medicine to the wounds of injured soldiers.
In this way, the service that had begun with giving water to thirsty soldiers on the battlefield extended to treating and dressing the wounds of the injured. The Guru also explained to the sangat that Bhai Kanhaiya Ji had understood the deeper meaning of the Guru's teachings. When serving an injured person, it was not necessary to ask which side he belonged to.
On the battlefield of Anandpur, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji demonstrated this belief through his actions. For him, the soldiers fighting in the war might belong to different sides, but once they were wounded, their suffering was the same.
Bhai Kanhaiya Ji's life did not end there. He continued his work of serving humanity and spreading spiritual teachings. He is believed to have passed away in 1718 CE.
The story of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji is not merely about giving water or applying medicine on a battlefield. It shows that humanity knows no boundaries. At a time when swords on the land of Anandpur were distinguishing between enemies and friends, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji's water-skin was reaching every wounded person with water equally. For him, a soldier was not defined by his uniform or the side he belonged to, but by his suffering.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji also honoured this spirit. Instead of stopping his service, he gave him medicine and encouraged him to take that service even further. This is why, centuries later, Bhai Kanhaiya Ji's name continues to be associated with selfless service. His story reminds us that no matter how great a conflict may be, compassion and humanity should never be diminished.
