Shastar Nam Mala
Shastar Nam Mala literally translates as 'Name-string of Weapons' and it is the section of text spaning from page 1356 to page 1465 of the 1478 pages of the Dasam Granth.
Cunningham says that this is not Guru Gobind Singh's composition, but does not give a reason for this statement. The composition is made up of 1318 verses of various weapons given fanciful names. Among the simpler of these names are names for arrows: Bow-roarer, Skin-piercer, Deer-slayer. The opening verse sets the mood:
"The three kinds of swords are sure and friendly deliverers,
Finishers of the enemy, armor-piercers,
They make sure our protection."
Many of these names of weapons are listed in the form of riddles. These seem to be resolved in somewhat devious ways,-for example:
"Think hard and take the word tarangani (stream),
Then say ja char (grass-eater), then think of the word naik (lord)
At the end say the word satru (enemy)-
Lo! Good friend, you have thought of the word meaning tupak (gun)."
The reasoning seems to be that each thing mentioned is the enemy of the next: the grass eater is the deer (ja is what is produced by the moisture of the stream, char is to graze); the lord and master of the deer is the tiger; the enemy of the tiger is the gun. There is quite a store of similar riddles in this arsenal. On the bow and arrow there are 177 of these riddles; on the combatlasso, 207 riddles; on the gun, 857 riddles, indicating possibly an interest in the more modern weapons of destruction.
The summary of this Bani as narrated by Gobin Sadan:
"More in the form of a dictionary in verse, this composition includes the description of the various weapons used in warfare. There is no similar writing in existence and it stands out unique for its presentation and theme. While on the one hand the various well-known ancient personalities who used these weapons have been referred to, on the other the way in which these weapons are used in the contemporary period is also highlighted."
