Singhs don uniform [Bana] of Sri Akaal
ਤਬਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਭਿਹੂਨਿ ਸੁਨਾਯੋ । ਇਹੁ ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟਾਂਤ ਤੁਮਹਿਂ ਦਿਖਰਾਯੋ ।੧੪।
Then Satguru [Gobind Singh] explained to everyone the meaning behind what they had seen.
ਜਾਤਿ ਪਾਤ ਮਹਿਂ ਰਾਸ਼ਭ ਜੈਸੇ । ਬਸੀ ਕੁਲਾਲ ਲਾਜ ਮਹਿਂ ਤੈਸੇ । ਤਿਸ ਕੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਲਏ ਨਿਕਾਸ । ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ੇ ਸਕਲ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਪਾਸ ।੧੫।
To act and follow in Caste Obligations [Jaat Paat] is to be a donkey, and one's autonomy and honour can be controlled, like the donkey is controlled by its owner. The Guru has saved you from this and has bestowed upon you all the treasures of the world
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਸਧੁਜ ਕੋ ਦੇ ਕਰਿ ਬਾਣਾ । ਸਭਿ ਤੇ ਊਚੇ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਤਾਣਾ । ਹਲਤਿ ਬਿਖੇ ਸੁਭ ਭੋਗ ਬਿਸਾਲੇ । ਪਲਤਿ ਬਿਖੇ ਮੈਂ ਕਰੋਂ ਸੰਭਾਲੇ ।੧੬।
The uniform [Bana] which was given to you by the highest Asdhuj [Who's Insignia is the Sword] has uplifted you, making you into great warriors. In this world you will enjoy great pleasure and in the next you will be taken care of
ਉੱਤਮ ਪਦ ਮੈਂ ਤਬਿ ਪਹੁਂਚਾਊਂ । ਜਮ ਬਸਿ ਪਰਿਬੇ ਤੇ ਛੁਟਕਾਊਂ । ਜਿਮ ਰਾਸ਼ਭ ਧਰਿ ਕੇਹਰਿ ਬਾਨਾ । ਬਿਨ ਡਰ ਕਰ੍ਯੋ ਖੇਤ ਗਨ ਖਾਨਾ ।੧੭।
Now you have received an extremely high status, you have been saved from the controlling grips of Death. Even that donkey was able to eat from all the fields without any fear because he had adopted the form of a tiger
ਪੁਨ ਕਲਾਲ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਿਸ਼੍ਯੋ ਜਾਈ । ਲਾਦ ਗੂਣ ਕੋ ਲਸ਼ਟ ਲਗਾਈ । ਤਿਸ ਹੁਇ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਾਤਿ ਮੈਂ ਪਰੈ । ਤਜਹਿ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਭੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਧਰੈ ।੧੮।
When going to the house of the potter [who owned the donkey], the donkey was harnessed with weights and hit with a stick - such is the fate of a Singh who falls into the grips of Caste - such also is the fate of a Singh who forsakes his weapons, no one shall fear them
ਹਲਤ ਕਾਰ ਕੋ ਕਰਤਿ ਗਵਾਵੈ । ਪਲਤਿ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ । ਤਜਹਿ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਭੈ ਕਰਹਿ ਨ ਕੋਈ । ਭਯੋ ਗਧੇ ਕੋ ਗਧਹਾ ਸੋਈ ।੧੯।
They will waste their time in this world and be made to work, in the next life no one shall be their protector. Forsaking one's weapons no one will fear you, and becoming a donkey you will be treated like one too
ਯਾਂ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਕੋ ਬਾਨਾ । ਦੇ ਮੈਂ ਕੀਨੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮਾਨਾ । ਇਸ ਕੇ ਧਰੇ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖ ਹੋਈ । ਤ੍ਯਾਗੇ ਦੋਨਹੁਂ ਲੋਕ ਨ ਢੋਈ ।੨੦।
Thus I have given to all the Singhs this uniform [Bana] of Sri Akaal. Those who adorn it shall ever be in peace and those who renounce it shall not have any support in both worlds!
A Donkey in Tigers Clothing
The Great Poet Santokh Singh writes of the famous story from Anandpur Sahib following a successful hunting expedition by Uday Singh who kills a tiger. Guru Gobind Singh then instructs Uday Singh to place the hide of the tiger on a nearby donkey who is let to roam free causing some panic in the surrounding village. Eventually the donkey returns to its owners residence, a potter, who after some time realizes that this donkey does not act like a tiger but only looks like one and eventually grabs the donkey by the ear and again uses him for work. When the congregation told Guru Gobind Singh about the story he explained its relevance for the Singhs.