Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki

VAR SRI BHAGAUTI JI KI, a short anonymous poem describing an unnamed battle in which Guru Gobind Singh emerged a victor. The poem consists of only eight stanzas. It begins with a dohra, followed by six savaiyyas, and ends with another dohra. It panegyrizes the Bhagauti (sword) as the source of power, and as the defender of faith and honour. It also pays tribute to the fearless warriors who wield the sword and never turn their backs on their enemies. In capturing the battlescene, the poet has recourse to the usual devices of medieval war poetry.

In the traditional style, the mythological Kal and Narad are introduced with bloodthirsty Kaljogans swallowing bowlfuls of blood and jackals and vultures gorging themselves on the corpses of slain warriors. In the last line of the sixth savaiyya appears the name of Guru Gobind Singh, with the epithet ofFatehjang, i.e. victor of wars. In the final dohra, the poet advises the Guru`s disciples, never to have faith in anyone's gods or goddesses except Ek Onkar (God).

The language of the Var, written in GURMUKHI characters, is a mixture of PUNJABI, Sadh Bhasa and Braj Bhasa.

References

1. Padam, Piara Singh, ed., Varan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Dian. Padala, 1967