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Sri Gur Panth Parkash (Translation)
Kulwant Singh*
14. hor pRsMg
('...Kwlso hovY Kud Kudw...')
14. hôr parsnga
(‘...khâlsô hôvai khud khudâ...’)
Episode 14
The Khalsa Must Be Autonomous And Self-Respecting
dohrw : qau mrI muih soN khI iPr iBMn iBMn moih smJwie [
pMQ ricE ijm siqgurU AOr BXo ikq dwie [1[
dôhrâ : tau marî muhi sôn kahî phir bhinn bhinn môhi samjhâi.
panth rachiô jim satigurû aur bhayô kit dâi.1.
Dohra : Then Captain Murray made further enquiries from me,
That I must narrate the account of the Sikhs in minute detail.
How did the Tenth Guru create the order of the Khalsa Panth?
What kind of strategies did he employ to promote this order? (1)
cOpeI : QI qurkn kI bf piqswhI [ hukm quriq lMG sUby bweI [
mD smuMdr twpU Gxy [ d`Kx pUrb prbq sxy [2[
chaupaî : thî turkan kî bad patisâhî. hukam turti langh sûbç bâî.
madh samundar tâpû ghanç. dakkhan pûrab parbat sanç.2.
Chaupai : The Mughal empire was very vast and mighty,
With their writ running all over the twenty two provinces.
It stretched upto various islands in the midst of ocean,
Over the mountineous regions both in the East and the South. (2)
rXq huqo dys aun swro [ ikm kr vD gXo isMGn pswro [
rXq aun ikm AwkI BeI [ iqn kI POj khW QI geI [3[
rayat hutô dçs un sârô. kim kar vadh gayô singhan pasârô.
rayat un kim âkî bhaî. tin kî phauj kahân thî gaî.3.
When the whole populace of India constituted their subjects,
How did the Sikhs alone manage to expand their influence?
How did the subjects of this region (Punjab) put up a defiance to their rule?
Where had the Mughal’s Army disappeared to allow this defiance? (3)
kY aun isMGn Kbr nw pweI [ kY qurkn gurUAn bYr n QweI [
kY qurkn isMGn ho geI mIjw [ kY aun jwnXo pMQ n qIjw [4[
kai un singhan khabar nâ pâî. kai turkan gurûan bair na thâî.
kai turkan singhan hô gaî mîjâ. kai un jânyô panth na tîjâ.4.
Were the Mughals not well informed about the Sikhs?
Were they ignorant about the hostility between them and the Sikh Gurus?
Had they reached some kind of settlement with the Sikhs?
Had they accepted the Sikhs as the third religion1 ? (4)
kY aun mYN n Qo koaU sXwnoN [ qO aun nwih isMGn hoq pCwno [
kY pMQ ckXo n dwvo pqswhI [ kY aun qY pMQ BXo lukwhI [5[
kai un main na thô kôû sayânôn. tau un nâhi singhan hôt pachhânô.
kai panth chakyô na dâvô patsâhî. kai un tai panth bhayô lukâhî.5
Wasn’t there any politically shrewd person among the Mughals,
Who could pinpoint the rising power of the Sikhs?
Did the Khalsa Panth not stake their claim to sovereignty?
Did the Khalsa Panth remain unnoticed by the Mughals? (5)
dohrw : ijm iqs au~qr mYN dXo sunoN soaU gur is`K [
jnmiq lukXo n pMQ Xh dB sUln ijauN muK iq`K [6[
dôhrâ : jim tis uttar main dayô sunôn sôû gur sikkha.
janmati lukyô na panth yah dabh sûlan jiun mukh tikkha.6
Dohra : The way I answered these questions put forth by Captain Murray,
My Gursikh readers must listen to the same account.
The Khalsa Panth was as sharp and marked since its inception,
As tender thorns are sharp and pointed from their budding stage. (6)
cOpeI : isMGn pMQ kb luk iCp hoXo [ isMGn pMQu kb lukY lukoXo [
isMGn pMQ dMgY ko BieE [ isMGn jnm sMg SsqRn lieE [7[
chaupaî : singhan panth kab luk chhip hôyô. singhan panthu kab lukai lukôyô. singhan panth dangai kô bhaiô. singhan janam sang shastarn laiô.7.
Chaupai : How could the Khalsa Singhs2 remain existent in isolation and secrecy?
How could the Khalsa Panth remain hidden from the public gaze?
The Singhs’ organisation was created to wage a war,
As the Khalsa Panth was anointed with the touch of weapons. (7)
isMGn pwhul KMfy kI deI [ isMGn guVHqI KMfy kI leI [
isr pr c`kr krdYN DwrYN [ kd vh lukYN ijm Syr nK vwrYN [8[
singhan pâhul khandç kî daî. singhan gurdhtî khandç kî laî.
sir par chakkar kardain dhârain. kad vah lukain jim shçr nakh vârain.8.
The Khalsa Panth was initiated (Baptised)3 with the ceremonial sword as,
The Khalsa Panth was administered the first draught of the sword immersed in elixir.
With steel rings and sword on their headgear and slung across the shoulders,
How could they remain unnoticed like the sharp-nailed lions in a jungle? (8)
pMQ rcXo iem siqgur pUry [ dMgy Kwqr krn jrUry [
ibn ju`DY kb pXq piqSwhI [ Awid ju`DY ibD gurU auTweI [9[
panth rachyô im satigur pûrç. dangç khâtar karan jarûrç.
bin juddhai kab payat patishâhî. âdi juddhai bidh gurû uthâî.9.
The perfect Guru the Tenth created the Khalsa Panth in this manner,
So that they must wage a war against oppression.
Since no body achieves sovereignty without waging a war,
The Tenth Guru had decided this strategy from the very beginning. (9)
dohrw : gurUAn m`D piqSwh qy vDXo huqo Qo bYr [
gurU qyg bhwdr isr dXo auin isK krYN ikm KYr [10[
dôhrâ : gurûan maddh patishâh tç vadhyô hutô thô baira.
gurû tçg bahâdar sir dayô uni sikh karain kim khaira.10.
Dohra : There had developed a great hostility and conflict,
Between the Sikh Gurus and the Mughal emperor.
Since Guru Tegh Bahadur had sacrificed his life for this reason,
How could the Sikhs let the Mughals get away with it? (10)
cOpeI : gur qyg bhwdR dyh id`lI lweI [ id`lI pq aunH jVih auKVweI [
gur goibMd isMG so lK leI [ Ab qurkn jVH Qo suk BeI [11[
chaupaî : gur tçg bahâdar dçh dillî lâî. dillî pat unah jardhi ukhrdâî.
gur gôbind singh sô lakh laî. ab turkan jardah thô suk bhaî.11.
Chaupai : Guru Tegh Bahadur, by making the Supreme sacrifice at Delhi,
Had uprooted the Mughal Emperor’s roots from Delhi.
Guru Gobind Singh had made a proper assessment that,
The roots (foundations) of the Mughal empire’s had completely withered. (11)
pr ktY pkY ibn igrY su nwih [ AkY igry vf pOx vgwih [
Ab ien pr pOn KMfy clvXY [ mwr iesY Fb ienYN igr`XY [12[
par katai pakai bin girai su nâhi. akai girç vad paun vagâhi.
ab in par paun khandç chalvayai. mâr isai dhab inain giryyai.12.
But even an old tree does not fall down without its roots being cut,
Or else a mighty storm could bring it tumbling down.
Now the Mughal empire needed to be stormed with an armed attack,
This was the only way to bring this crumbling empire down. (12)
qO siqgur inj PV qlvwr [ Ab l`XY piqSwhI qurkn mwr [
iPr siqgur icq AYs ibcwrI [ hm kXw krnI piqswhI inkwrI [13[
tau satigur nij phard talvâra. ab layyai patishâhî turkan mâra.
phir satigur chit ais bichârî. ham kayâ karnî patisâhî nikârî.13.
So Satguru Guru Gobind Singh himself decided to pick up the sword,
And bring about the destruction of the Mughal empire.
But then Guru Gobind Singh felt in his heart of hearts,
That he himself had no need for a worthless royal power. (13)
sRI nwnk g`dI hm cihN GrI [ ijsY piqSwhI crnI prI [
hmYN piqSwhI kI kXw prvwih [ dyN piqSwhI n&rn auTwie [14[
srî nânak gaddî ham chahin gharî. jisai patishâhî charnî parî.
hamain patishâhî kî kayâ parvâhi. dçn patishâhî nafran uthâi.14.
Sri Guru Nanak had blessed him with such a great divine seat,
That all of Temporal royal power was subservient to it.
Since he did not care for such an inferior temporal power,
He must pass on this kind of political power to his subordinates. (14)
dohrw : siqgur icq mD iem TtI deIAY rwjn rwj auTwie [
sB rwjn ey prbqI dXY KMfo PVvwie [15[
dôhrâ : satigur chit madh im thatî daîai râjan râj uthâi.
sabh râjan ç parbatî dayai khandô phardvâi.15.
Dohra : Thereafter it occured to Satguru Guru Gobind Singh’s mind,
That the reign of Mughal rulers must be replaced.
For this purpose, all the chiefs of the hill states,
Must be made to pick up the sword against the Mughals. (15)
cOpeI : iPr siqgur icq soJI AweI [ eyh kb is`K bnYN hm AweI [
muKq inAwmq ien ikm d`XY [ ikm puq ibgwny mu`K cum~XY [16[
chaupaî : phir satigur chit sôjhî âî. çh kab sikkh banain ham âî.
mukhat niâmat in kim dayyai. kim put bigânç mukkh chumyyai.16.
Chaupai : But then on a second thought, Guru Gobind Singh thought,
That these hill chiefs had never been his followers.
Why should he invest them with rare power without any service?
Why should he embrace these outsiders at the cost of his own followers? (16)
eyh p`Qr pUjk iB`j n nIro [ Eie Awid AikRqGx Gr gur qIro [
rjpUq sdwvYN Awp ispwhI [ Eie khYN kdoN gur deI piqSwhI [
Ab dXO pqSwhI grIbn auTwie [ vY jwnY gur deI hY mwie [18[
çh patthar pûjak bhijj na nîrô. ôi âdi akritghan ghar gur tîrô.
rajpût sadâvain âp sipâhî. ôi kahain kadôn gur daî patishâhî.
ab dayau patshâhî garîban uthâi. vai jânai gur daî hai mâi.18.
They are as indifferent as the stone idols that they worship,
And they had always been ungrateful to the House of Nanak.
As they called themselves soldiers and as belonging to martial races,
They would never acknowledge that the Guru had conferred power on them.
He would confer power and sovereignty on the poor people,
Who would gratefully acknowledge his (Guru’s) contribution. (18
dohrw : dXI cIj chY gRIb kau ikauN Aiq dXo AKwie [
Xih dXwvwn Gr gurU ko Ar gRIb invwj AKvwie [19[
dôhrâ : dayî chîj chahai garîb kau kiun ati dayô akhâi.
yahi dayâvân ghar gurû kô ar garîb nivâj akhvâi.19.
Dohra : The needy alone deserve to be endowed with rare gifts,
What is the use of empowering those who are already powerful.
The House of Nanak is known for its compassion and generosity,
And known as the saviour and protector of the poor. (19)
cOpeI : sq snwiq AO bwrh jwq [ jwn nih rwjnIqI kI bwq [
j`t bUt kihN ijNh jg mWhI [ bxIey bkwl ikrwV K`qRI sdweI [20[
chaupaî : sat sanâti au bârah jâta. jân nahi râjnît kî bâta.
jatt bût kahin jinh jag mânhî. banîç bakâl kirârd khattrî sadâî.20.
Chaupai : Those who belong to the various offshoots of lowly twelve sub-castes,
And who know nothing about the game of power politics.
Who are contemptuously known as rustic peasants, in the society,
OR known as traders, small time shopkeepers and petty fighters. (20)
luhwr qRKwx huq jwq kmInI [ CIpo klwl nIcn pY ikRpw kInI [
gu`jr gÍwr hIr kmjwq [ kMboie sUdn koie puCY n bwq [21[
luhâr tarkhân hut jât kamînî. chhîpô kalâl nîchan pai karipâ kînî.
gujjar gavâr hîr kamjâta. kambôi sûdan kôi puchhai na bâta.21.
Those who belong to the low castes of blacksmiths and carpenters,
And the lowly placed tailors and wine-vendors would receive his benediction.
This fraternity will also include the low caste cattle grazers, rustics, and cow herds,
And the ignoble vegetable growers (Kambojs) and scheduled castes. (21)
JIvr nweI roVy GuimAwr [ swiexI suinAwry cUVHy cimAwr [
B`t AO bwhmx huqy mMgvwr [ bhurUpIey lubwxy AO GuimAwr [22[
jhîvar nâî rôrdç ghumiâra. sâinî suniârç chûrdhç chamiâra.
bhatt au bâhman hutç mangvâra. bahurûpîç lubânç au ghumiâra.22.
Water-carriers, Barbers, small vendors, potters will also join this community,
Sainis, goldsmiths, sweepers and cobblers will form a part of this brotherhood.
Ballad-singers, priests, and mendicants will also be the alliance partners,
Salt-traders, potters and artisans will also share power. (22)
ien grIbn hm dXY piqswhI [ ey Xwd rKYN hmrI guirAweI [
qO sid siqgur isK llkwry [ PVo SsqRn ilhu qurkn mwry [23[
in garîban ham dayai patisâhî. ç yâd rakhain hamrî guriâî.
tau sadi satigur sikh lalkârç. phardô shastarn lihu turkan mârç.23.
I shall confer sovereignty on these poor and needy Gursikhs,
So that they may remember my patronage and benediction.
Saying this Guru Gobind Singh challenged his followers,
That they should pick up swords and attack the Mughals. (23)
dohrw : qO grIb is`Kn ny nihN mnXo qurkn qy ^OP kIn [
aun pih POjYN Aiq GnI kb CofYN rwj jmIn [24[
dôhrâ : tau garîb sikkhan nç nahin manyô turkan tç khauph kîna.
un pahi phaujain ati ghanî kab chhôdain râj jamîna.24.
Dohra : The Sikhs did not agree to Guru Gobind Singh’s proposal,
Since they were highly scared of the Mughal empire’s power.
The Mughals had a large and powerful army,
How would they relinquish power and their hold over India? (24)
cOpeI : qO is`Kn XO mMnI n bwq [ hm qy qurk kb mwry jwq [
AsIN icrIAw vY swnI bwj [ hm Cyl vY bGXwVn swj [25[
chaupaî : tau sikkhan yau mannî na bâta. ham tç turak kab mârç jâta.
asîn chirîâ vai sânî bâja. ham chhçlai vai baghyârdan sâja.25.
Chaupai : So the Sikhs did not accept Guru Gobind Singh’s advice,
As they felt that they would not be able to defeat the Mughals.
The Sikhs were just timid sparrows as compared to the Hawk -like Mughals,
Or The Sikhs were just lambs against the lion-like Mughals. (25)
qum imRgn qy ikm Syr mRvwvo [ lOqI ko pwxI mgrI pr cVHwvo [
vhu Awd ispwhI mugl pTwn [ hm j`t bUt nweI qrKwx [26[
tum marigan tç kim shçr marvâvô. lautî kô pânî magrî par chardhâvô. vahu âd sipâhî mugal pathâna. ham jatt bût nâî tarkhâna.26.
How could the Guru expect deer-like Sikhs to vanquish the lion-like Mughal forces?
How could a downward flowing rivulet flow back towards the high-sloped mountains?
Their forces consisted of veteran soldiers and warrior Pathans.
While the Sikhs Constituted poor unskilled rustics, barbers and carpenters. (26)
qum toly sB jwq kmIn [ huqy joaU sB ssqr hIn [
koeI llkwro rjpUqih rwjY [ joaU svwrYN qumro kwjYN [27[
tum tôlç sabh jât kamîna. hutç jôû sabh sasatar hîna.
kôî lalkârô rajpûthi râjai. jôû savârain tumrô kâjain.27.
They told the Guru that he had selected all the low-caste people,
Who were completely defenceless and unarmed.
He should throw this challenge before the martial royal chiefs,
As they were the right persons who could serve his purpose. (27)
dohrw : qO sRI siqgur soicE kXw Xh is`Kn kIn [
hm cihN dyN piqswhI is`Kn aun nY nwih nwih kIn [28[
dôhrâ : tau srî satigur sôchiô kayâ yah sikkhan kîna.
ham chahin dçn patisâhî sikkhan un nai nâhi nâhi kîna.28.
Dohra : Then Sri Guru Gobind Singh felt anguished and thought,
That his followers did not wish to achieve anything in life.
He had wished to confer power and sovereignty on them,
But they were repeatedly refusing to accept this honour. (28)
cOpeI : huqo gurU sRI jwxI jwx [ sBI ibDI gurU leI pCwx [
Xh crx phul hY SWq srUp [ qyj nwih Xih mWih AnUp [29[
chaupaî : hutô gurû srî jânî jâna. sabhî bidhî gurû laî pachhâna.
yah charan pahul hai shânt sarûpa. tçj nâhi yahi mânhi anûpa.29.
Chaupai : Sri Guru Gobind Singh, being an expert omniscient psychoanalyst,
Had diagnosed the root cause of his Sikh’s psychic malady.
Since these Sikhs had been peaceful followers of a Charan Pahul4 tradition,
There was no spark of self-assertion and retaliation in their psyche. (29)
dohrw : syhlI topI isr DrYN dwsih nwm khwie [
huqI dXw mD rUp bhu iem nihN SsqR PVwie [30[
dôhrâ : sçhlî tôpî sir dharain dâsahi nâm kahâi.
hutî dayâ madh rûp bahu im nahin shastar phardâi.30.
Dohra : They had been used to wearing a black woolen silken cap as head cover,
As they had been indoctrinated to call themselves as servants or slaves,
They being grounded in excessive compassion and humility,
It would be futile to ask them to pick up swords. (30)
cOpeI : Ab is`Kn rUp pltweIAY [ qyj DwrI ijm lK BO KweIAY [
qyj nwm koaU ienY Dr`XY [ kr pwhul ienYN qyj ipl`XY [31[
chaupaî : ab sikkhan rûp paltâîai. tçj dhârî jim lakh bhau khâîai.
tçj nâm kôû inai dharyyai. kar pâhul inain tçj pilyyai.31.
Chaupai : He should first bring about a transformation in their character,
And make their appearance formidable that evokes fear and awe.
He should give his organisation a charismatic nomenclature,
And administer a heavy dose of heady elixir to them. (31)
XO siqgur sRI icq lXO Dwr [ so au~dm kIE gurU ibcwr [
CqRI rUp sMudr Aiq lwgy [ kys sIs isr bWDY pwgy [32[
yau satigur srî chit layau dhâra. sô uddam kîô gurû bichâra.
chhatrî rûp sundar ati lâgç. kçs sîs sir bândhai pâgç.32.
So Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Singh arrived at a firm resolution,
And made efforts to implement it after deep contemplation.
They must adopt the dress code of a martial warrior race,
And grow hair and wear turbans on their heads. (32)
nwm isMG huqo CqrIAn kyro [ sRI gur jwnXo XhI Blyro [
KMfY pwhul icq mD TtI [ iem hovogo Kwlsw hTI [33[
nâm singh hutô chhatrîan kçrô. srî gur jânyô yahî bhalçrô.
khandai pâhul chit madh thatî. im hôvôgô khâlsâ hathî.33.
The warrior Kshtriyas had been suffixing the epithet “Singhs”
The same suffix “Singh” would suit his followers’ names as well.
He resolved to administer them the “Khandey-ki-Pahul”5 ,
In order to make the Khalsa formidable and resolute. (33)
pVy pwiqswhI iem ien Koie [ hMny hMny hm piqSwh hoie [
kwx kUt vWg lohy krYN [ KMfy pwhul pI KMfXoN n trYN [34[
pardç pâtisâhî im in khôi. hannç hannç ham patishâh hôi.
kân kût vâng lôhç karain. khandç pâhul pî khandyôn na tarain.34.
In this way, they would learn the art of wielding power,
And develop a feeling of having become rulers and sovereigns.
From people weak as straw and reeds, he would turn them into men of steel,
After partaking of sword-initiated elixir, they would not be scared to pick up swords. (34)
dohrw : Kwlso hovY Kud Kudw ijm KUbI KUb Kudwie [
Awn n mwnY Awn kI iek s`cy ibn piqSwh [35[
dôhrâ : khâlsô hôvai khud khudâ jim khûbî khûb khudâi.
ân na mânai ân kî ik sachchç bin patishâha.35.
Dohra : The Khalsa must be as autonomous and self-respecting,
As embodiment of all the Divine attributes in plenty.
Never submitting to the sovereignty of anyone else,
Except the sovereignty and autonomy of God alone. (35)
cOpeI : BUq pRyq AO mVHI mswx [ nihN mwnY vih gugo sulqwn [
it`ko jnyaU pihrYN n DoqI, iek sunihry KwihN ghu goqI [36[
chaupaî : bhût parçt au mardhî masâna. nahin mânai vahi gugô sultâna.
tikkô jançû pahirain na dhôtî, ik sunahirç khâhin gahu gôtî.36.
Chaupai : Henceforth, the Khalsa would not worship any spirits and graves of Pirs,
Nor would they be worshippers of “Gugapir Sultan”6 .
They would no longer wear saffron mark, sacred thread or lose apparel (dhoti),
Eliminating all caste distinctions, they would dine together. (36)
¤
©Copyright Institute of Sikh Studies,
2009, All rights reserved.
