Srī Bhagautī Astotra

Pātisāhī 10

Translated by Kamalroop Singh Edited by Gurinder Singh Mann

FOREWORD

The following translation of the Srī Bhagautī Astotra is from the forthcoming publication

Dasam Granth Sahib, Essays, Lectures, and Translations, Oxford University Press, India.

The title is still subject to change. This forthcoming publication is by two scholars of Sikh

Studies, Kamalroop Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann, and includes new and exciting areas of

study. The history and discussion of the vīr rasī Srī Bhagautī Astotra or heroic ‘Panegyric to

the Divine-Sword’ is included within this forthcoming title. It includes the history and

translations of the apocrypha from extant manuscripts of the Dasam Granth Sahib, the

discussion of previously unknown manuscripts from 1695–1698 AD, a study of the rituals and

maryādā of the Graṅth of Guru Gobind Singh. The tradition of the Dasam Granth Sahib

within the Sampradāvāṅ, e.g. Akālī Nihaṅg Singh Khālsā (Buḍḍhā Dal) and the changes

made by the ‘Tat Khalsa’ Singh Sabha to the original praxis of the Srī Akāl Takht Sāhib and

Srī Keshgaṛh Sāhib.

We have endeavoured to translate and transliterate the composition to the best of our

ability but there will surely be some errors. To listen to Ragī Bhai Balbir Singh’s singing Srī

Bhagautī Astotra visit:

http://t.co/r6JUhOPo For more details about our current book Sri Dasam Granth Sahib: Questions and Answers visit:

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www.sikhnugget.com For any enquires please do not hesitate to contact us at: Kamalroop_Singh@hotmail.com Gsmann@ntlworld.com

ika oaMkar srÅ vÁhigurç jÅ kÅ Patiha hÄ.

One Universal Creator, Victory belongs to the Holy Wondrous-Guru.

srÅ BagautÅ jÅ sahÁi The Holy Bhagautī protects.

asatotra srÅ BagautÅ jÅ kÁ pÁtisÁhÅ 10.

Panegyrics of the Holy Bhagautī by the Tenth Sovereign.

BuyaMga prayÁta CaMda In the verse of the Swift Moving Cobra.

namo srÅ BagautÅ baWÄlÅ sarohÅ.

Obeisances to the Divine-Sword, that cuts (Baḍailī), Sarohī.1

kare eka te dvÄ suBaqa hÁTa sohÅ. Which makes two, wielded in the hands of the brave warrior.

namo loha putrÅ aCohaM rahaMtÅ.

Obeisances to the Steel that destroys the large armies of enemies.2

namo jÅBa jvÁlÁ muKÅ jiu bolaMtÅ. Salutations to the fiery tongued Volcano that explodes.

mahÁM mÁna kÅ BÁna gaMgÁ taraMgÅ.

The Supremely-respected waves of the Ganges.

Bire sÁmuhe moKa dÁtÅ aBaMgÅ. The Eternal One that grants liberation.

namo tega taravÁra srÅ Kaga KaMwÁ.

Salutations Tegh, Sword, the Holy double-edged Sword and broad-Sword.

A Kharagh Broad Sword – the Khanda is similar.

mahÁM rudra rçpÁ birçpÁ pracaMwÁ. The Great-furious form, and the Formless Blazing-light.

1 The Sirohī was a favourite blade in Rajastan. See Egerton, (1880), p.105. 2 An early Gurmukhī manuscript of anthology of prayers from 1736 AD at SOAS has some variations in its passages compared to the modern version presented here, which is from the Buḍḍhā Dal. See London: SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), MS 44469.

mahÁM teja KaMwÁ duKaMwÁ doDÁrÁ. The Great sharp-edged Khaṅḍā, the double-edged Sword.

mahÁM satra bana ko mahÁM BÅma ÁrÁ.

The Great-killer of enemies, the Great-dreadful teeth for adversaries.

mahÁM kÁla kÅ kÁla kÁ kÁla kraDaM.3 The Great-death of death, the Fury of death.

mahÁM bigrahÅ briDa dÁ siDa uDaM.

The Great-giver of perfection to the battle-field.

mahÁM pÁtaNÅ tçM palÄ kÁla kÁrÅ. The Great-ripper you are the action of death.

mahÁM asatra tçM hÅ tçM hÅ straDÁrÅ.

The Great-missile are you, you are donned in weapons.

mahÁM kÁla kÅ lÁqa bikrÁla BÅmaM. You are the Great-death that dreadfully slices the enemy.

bahÅ taCa muCaM karÄ satra kÅmaM.

In your arms, you slice into pieces and kill enemies.

mahÁM teja kÅ tejatÁ teja vaMtÅ. Great sharper than sharp, the sharpest One.

prajÁ KaMwanÅ daMwanÅ satra haMtÅ.

The creative and destroying double-edge Sword of the world, Killer of enemies.

mahÁM bÅra bidiyÁ mahÁM BÅma rçpaM The Great-teacher of the science of war, the Great-form of dread.

mahÁM BÅra mÄ DÅra dÁtÅ ançpaM.

The Great-beautiful giver of patience in the crowded battle.

tuhÅ sÄPa paqÁ mahÁM kÁla kÁtÅ. You are the saif, the patas, the Great-death katī.4

The Patas – the Indian gauntlet.

3 A different version has been given by Kahn Singh in Gurumat Mārtaṅd. 4 See Egerton, (1880), p. 535, p. 484-485, and p. 366.

anugu ÁpaNÄ ko aBÄdÁna dÁtÅ. To Your followers you are the Giver of the gift of fearlessness.

jabÄ miyÁna te bÅra to ko saRkÄ.

When the warriors on the battle are martyred.

paralÄ kÁla ke siMDa bake kaRkÄ. They go to the great perfect heaven of the Lord with jubilation.

DasÄ Keta mÄ hÁTa lÄ tuhi sçre.

When the brave warriors clash in the field and are martyred by your hand.

Bire sÁmçhe siDa sÁvaMta pçre. Before those (shahīds) are the heavenly perfect realms.

karÄ hÁTa daPÄ kÁWa kÄ miyÁna mÄM te.

With their two hands they fight in the battle.

Patahi pÁi hÄ bÅra mÄdÁna mÄM te. They win their victories because of you.

kaqaka shatra ke agra hoi Paqa bÁhÄ.

They wipe out all of the enemies.

barÄ deva kaMniyÁ teç kaMta cÁhÄ. With your favour virgin Mother, it is Your wish.

mahÁM samara mÄM jo karÄ hÁTa jete.

Who-ever You bless with Your hand.

suraga bÁsa mÄM BogavÄ baraKa tete. They get all the pleasures of the heavens and happiness.

samara sÁmuhe sÅsa to pÁhi caWÁvÄ.

With Your power they slice off the heads of their enemies.

mahÁM Bçpa havÄ autarÄ rÁja pÁvÄ. They win the Kingdoms and heavenly worlds.

mahÁM BÁva so jo kare tora pçjaM.

Those who with great love worship You.

samara jÅta kÄ sçra havÄ hÄ adçjaM. Are the great victorious warriors that are beyond comparison.

tujÄ pçja hÄ bÅra bÁnÄta CatrÅ.

You are worshipped by infinite warriors.

mahÁM KaRaga DÁrÅ mahÁM teja atrÅ. The carrier of the great Khaṛag and the Great-bright Sword.

paRÄ prÅta so prÁMta asatotra yÁM ko.

Whoever reads this panegyric of Yours early in the morning (amrit velā).

kare rudra kÁlÅ namasakÁra tÁM ko. Even Rudra and Kalī bows to them.

rudra maMjanÅ biMjanÅ hÄ agÖtÅ.

The Purifier of falsehood, the Lightening-Sword.

sadÁ jÄ sadÁ jÄ sadÁ jÄ BagÖtÅ. Forever hail, forever hail, forever hail, the Sword!

sadÁ dÁhane dÁsa dÁsa ko dÁna dÅjÄ.

To Your slave of slaves give this blessing.

gurç shÁha gobiMda kÅ raKa kÅjÄ. Protect the Guru-King Gobind as you wish.5

5 The following is found in the Paṅth Prakāsh by Giani Gian Singh: ‘chÖpÅ. iha asatrota gura dasamesÄM. liKayo bÅca niju gaMraTa basesÄM. abicala nagara supaqa ne piKayo. astrÁ sÄ bavaMjÁ mÄM liKayo.’ He writes that this ‘panegyric by Guru Gobind Singh, was recorded in a manuscript at Takht Hazūr Sahib, which he copied in 1852 AD.’