Chandi Charitar is not translation of Markandeya Puran
It is commonly said that Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas, composed by Guru Gobind Singh, is a translation of the Durga Saptsati of Markandeya Puran, but while the Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas based on the characters of the Markandeya Puran, the story plot play is very much different from Devi Mahatyam of the Markandey Puran. Khalsa does not apply Temporal Thought process on these compositions but this fight is at Spiritual aspect.
Just as there are near 100 Ramayans, each following the plot of the first Ramayan with the additional thoughts of each Author. Just as Valmiki and Tulsi Das authored their Ramayans, Guru Gobind Singh penned his own version of the Ramayan, using Same characters, on which Gurmukh thinking should be used, rather than the typical Hindu approach used to interpret the other Ramayans.
What is Translation
While studying Chandi Charitar Mostly Sikhs, when read these lines:
ਇਤਿ ਸਰੀ ਮਾਰਕੰਡੇ ਪਰਾਨੇ ਚੰਡੀ ਚਰਿਤਰ ਉਕਤਿ ਬਿਲਾਸ ਮਧਕੈਟਭ ਬਧਹਿ ਪਰਥਮ ਧਿਆਇ ਸਮਾਪਤਮ ਸਤ ਸਭਮ ਸਤ॥੧॥
End of the First Chapter of `The Killing of Madhu and Kaitabh of CHANDI CHARITRA UKATI based on Markandeya Purana.1.
They began to think that it is translation of Makandeya Purana as Guru Gobind Singh Mentioned it, which is totally wrong.
First we should know what actually Translation is.
- According to Oxford Dictionary, Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. [1]
- According to Mahankosh, Kahn Singh Nabha, Translation or Anuvaad or Tarjuma or Ulatha, is Changing text from one language to another language.[2]
If we study Devi Mahatyam of Markandeya Puran and CHandi Charitar Ukati Bilas of Guru Gobind Singh then we find huge differences between both. There is difference in Metres used, Difference in Fighting style, difference in Killing of Deamon, Difference in poetry, Difference in Manglacharan, difference in Army Plot and so on which we are covering in this article.[3][4]
Structural Differences
The Structure of Markandeya Puran/Durga Sapatsati and Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas is totally different. Every Chapter have it's own structure and it's own way of explaining Spiritual aspects of Chandi Charitar. Consider Following Points:
| S. No.. | Topic | Markandeya Puran | Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas | Remarks |
| 1 | No. Of Chapters (ਧਿਆਇ) | There are 13 Chapters. | There are 8 Chapters. | With this basic Fact, one could easily Assume that It could not be translation |
| 2 | No. Of Stanzas | It have 700 Shalokhas | It Contains 233 Chandds | If we consider it a translation then it could not be 700 -> 233. |
| 3 | Manglacharan | Every Chapter have Manglacharan Starts with "Om"(ढ़) | The Manglacharan "ੴ ਵਾਹਿਗਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ ॥ਸਰੀ ਭਗਉਤੀ ਜੀ ਸਹਾਇ ॥"", and there is no other Manglacharan in any Internal Chapter | Guru Gobind Singh,in very beginning, has mentioned that Chandi have no Form and it is "Jyot Roopa". His hands are formless. |
| 4 | Type of Composition | It is Discource Format | It is in Lecture Format | The Style of Markandeya is type of Discourse, like Devyu Vacha, Vaishya Vacha, Rishi Vacha, etc. but Chandi Charitar Ukati bilas is not a discourse. |
Difference in Chapters:
| S. No.. | Topic(Acc. to Chandi Charitar) | Markandeya Puran | Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas | Remarks |
| 1 | Chapter 1(Madhu Keetab Killing) | There are 104 Stanzas | There are Just 12 Stanzas | |
| 2 | Chapter 2(Mahisasura Killing) | |||
| 3 | Chapter 3(Dhumarlochan Killing) | |||
| 4 | Chapter 4(Chand Mund Killing) | |||
| 5 | Chapter 5(Rakatbeej Killing) | |||
| 6 | Chapter 6(Nishumbh Killing) | |||
| 7 | Chapter 7(Shumbh Killing) | |||
| 8 | Chapter 8(Shumbh Killing) |
Thought Differences
Internal Evidences Prove It is not Translation
- In Chandi Charitar Ukat(i) Bilas, Guru Gobind Singh wrote in his composition
ਕਉਤਕ ਹੇਤ ਕਰੀ ਕਵਿ ਨੇ ਸਤਿਸਯ ਕੀ ਕਥਾ ਇਹ ਪੂਰੀ ਭਈ ਹੈ ॥
The poet hath composed it for the pleasure of his mind, and the discourse of seven hundred sholokas is covered in it.
ਜਾਹਿ ਨਮਿਤ ਪੜੈ ਸਨਿ ਹੈ ਨਰ ਸੋ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਤਾਹਿ ਦਈ ਹੈ ॥੨੩੨॥
For whatever purpose a person ready it or listens to it, she assuredly bless him.232.
It is claimed by many people that this is translation of 700 Salokhas of Sapatsati, which is not technically correct as 700 Shalokhas should have 700 Stanzas but it is only 233. One can read it's preceding lines :
ਚੰਡਿ ਚਰਿਤਰ ਕਵਿਤਨ ਮੈ ਬਰਨਿਓ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਰਸ ਰਦਰਮਈ ਹੈ ॥
I have narrated this Chandi Charitra in poetry, which is all full of Rudra Rasa (Sentiment of Rage).
ਝਕ ਤੇ ਝਕ ਰਸਾਲ ਭਇਓ ਨਖ ਤੇ ਸਿਖ ਲਉ ਉਪਮਾ ਸ ਨਈ ਹੈ ॥
The stanzas one and all, are beautifully composed, which contain new similes from beginning to end.
Though Internal Evidence claim it to be New Praise, with base of Markandeya Puran. GUru Gobind Singh was not translator but author of this poetry. - In Beggining, Guru Gobind Singh himself said that he is going to Compose Chandi Charitar and for that he seek god's help. He is composing it with Enlightened Mind. He quoted :
ਕਰਿਪਾ ਸਿੰਧ ਤਮਰੀ ਕਰਿਪਾ ਜੋ ਕਛ ਮੋ ਪਰਿ ਹੋਇ ॥
O Ocean of Mercy, if Thy Grace is bestowed upon me:
ਰਚੋ ਚੰਡਿਕਾ ਕੀ ਕਥਾ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਭ ਸਭ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥
I may compose the story of Chandika and my poetry be all good.2.
ਪਰਮਦ ਕਰਨ ਸਭ ਭੈ ਹਰਨ ਨਾਮ ਚੰਡਿਕਾ ਜਾਸ ॥
She shoes name is Chandika, delights and removes fear of all.
ਰਚੋ ਚਰਿਤਰ ਬਚਿਤਰ ਤਅ ਕਰੋ ਸਬਧਿ ਪਰਕਾਸ ॥੫॥
Illumine me with good intellect, so that I may compose Thy wonderful deeds.5.
