The following article is extracted from "Stories to Win the World" by Bibi Inderjit Kaur. The message is, stand for purity and righteousness and do not betray.

During the days of the Moghul reign of terror in the land of the Punjab, there was an order decreed by the Emperor of the day. He demanded that forty-six Sikhs be arrested and made to bow down before him within twenty-four hours; so his soldiers went out to capture the forty-six Sikhs. As it happened, they were only able to find forty-five Sikhs. Fearful that the Emperor's order had not been fulfilled, the soldiers needed a way to find one more Sikh.

They heard that there was a young boy, only fourteen years old, who was studying at the high school in the village. He was very strong of stature and looked like a grown man, so they arrested him in order to fill the quota.

When the boy's mother heard that her son had been arrested, she became sorely afraid for him. She was a most devoted Sikh and could not bear the thought of her young son being forced to bow down before the Moghul Emperor. She prayed deeply to the Guru that her son would not give up his faith, but she knew that he was young, and might not be able to stand up to the force and terror of the Emperor.

She then began preparing his last meal, and after that she sat down to recite Jap Ji Sahib (the prayer of the soul) twenty-five times. throughout this prayer she kept in her heart and mind her longing for her son's purity of heart and courage to live in the Guru's will. Just as she finished the last pauri (verse) of Jap Ji, the time had come for the captured Sikhs to stand before the Moghul Emperor and face his challenge.

When he issued the order that the Sikhs bow down before him, the Emperor's soldiers encouraged the captured Sikhs to just cross the line they had drawn if they wanted to live. All of the Sikhs stood silent and did not cross the line. then the young boy answered the Emperor's challenge with great bravery. He shouted, "You may cut off our heads but we will never give up our faith."

The Emperor was shaken by the strength and steel of his determination that he ordered the young boy to be executed instantly. As his head was cut off by the soldier, the young boy's mother, who was sitting in prayer, knew in her heart at that moment that her son was one with the Light of God. She bowed down in deep gratitude that he had not betrayed his Guru but had stood for purity and righteousness.