This story is from the time when Ahmed Shah Abdali is flabbergasted about the Bravery of Sikhs and the he asked many questions to his subedar about Sikhs.
The general of Asia, Ahmed Shah Abdali, asked a question to the subedar of Lahore that what is the patience and gratitude of Sikhs? He said that I once broke the Marathas, they did not turn their heads before me. But, whenever I took Hindu girls and other valuables before ‘Attock‘, first Charat Singh, Karam Singh, Hari Singh Bhangi, Somewhere Baz Singh, somewhere Baghel Singh, someone surrounds me and robs me, who are all these?
Lord of Sikhs
Subedar replied that it is a Sikh. Abdali said where do they live, then subedar answered, in the forests. Abdali questioned who is the leader and got the answer ‘ਸ਼ਹਿਨਸ਼ਾਹ ਖੁਦ ਹੀ ਕਉ ਭਾਖਤ ਕਾਮ ਨਾ ਘਾਟੂ ਕੀਏ ਰਾਖਾ’ (‘Shehanshah Khud hi kau bhakhat kaam na ghatu kiye rakha’). Every Sikh considers himself as the emperor, everyone fulfills his responsibility. Abdali says who is their god, the answer is ‘Murshad inka wali bhaio hai inko aabe hayat deo hai’. They got the water of life in the form of Amrit by their lord. Abdali asked, ‘who provide them the food?’
The answer was, it does not know who gives them the food, but it can tell how they eat. They are in the jungles. The prices of their heads is rising, the enemy is surrounded and they prepare the langar at night. The nagara sounds and a Sikh shouts loudly, ‘ਭੂਖਾ ਦੇਤ ਅਵਾਜੈ ਕੋਈ ਆਵੋ ਦੇਗ਼ ਤਿਆਰ ਗੁਰ ਹੋਈ’ means Even if our enemy is listening to our announcement, our anchor is ready, he can come and eat.
Abdali laughed loudly, saying that if the enemy really comes then? Abdali got the answer, anyone can go. When someone sits in the langar, they will never attack him, even if he leaves after eating. Abdali said that if the enemy eats everything, there is nothing left for them? The answer he got,’ ਬਚੇ ਤੋ ਦਾਨਾ ਆਪ ਖਲੇ ਹੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਤੋ ਲੰਗਰ ਮਸਤ ਬਚੇ ਹੈਂ‘, means If there is any food left, they eat it and, if there is no food left, they live in patience and righteousness. They say that the langar has become ‘Mastana’, even then there is no dew on their foreheads.