Bhai Gurdas Singh
Bhai Gurdas Singh was a contemporary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He is not to be confused with Bhai Gurdas Ji, who were the scribe of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji under Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Bhai Gurdas Singh's work was added as a "supplement" to Bhai Gurdas Ji's 40 Vaars, and is known as the "41st Vaar." Bhai Gurdas Singh Ji's work contains the famous Shabad of 'ਵਾਹ ਵਾਹ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਪੇ ਗਰ ਚੇਲਾ' (Vah Vah Gobind Singh Ape Gur Chela). In 'Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Steek' Bhai Vir Singh Ji states:
There have been three or four Bhai Gurdas. First was Bhai Gurdas Bhalla who was a cousin of Bibi Bhani and was a courtier of Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Masters. The Vaaran (Epics) are his pious literary debuts. Second Bhai Gurdas was a Sikh of Ninth Master. He was the father of the renown Sikh mace-bearer of the Tenth Master. The Third, from the lineage of Bhai Behlo, was a Masand (Designated Representative). He had served Baba Ramraiji for a long time.... This 41st Vaar is not the creation of any one of these. This is denoted to another poet, Bhai Gurdas Singh who lived long time after the Tenth Master.... This Epic is found in the Sarb Loh Granth as well and at the end of the Epic a couplet exists... (which) gives the date of its creation as Samvat 1757 (1700 AD) but internal research makes it clear that it was written much later. In the line 13 of the Pauri 19 states.... that at the time of its creation 12th century Hijri (Muslim Calender) had passed. This makes it Samvat 1844 (1787)....
First Part of Bhai Gurdas Singh's 41st Vaar
ੴ ਸਤਿਗਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ikonkaar satigur prasaadi ॥
Line 1
ਬੋਲਣਾ ਭਾਈ ਗਰਦਾਸ ਕਾ
bolanaa bhaaee guradaas kaa
Line 2
ਹਰਿ ਸਚੇ ਤਖਤ ਰਚਾਇਆ ਸਤਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੇਲਾ ।
hari sachay takhat rachaaiaa sati sangati maylaa|
Line 3
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਿਧਾਂ ਖੇਲਾ ।
naanak nirabhau nirankaar vichi sidhaan khaylaa|
Line 4
ਗਰ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਮਨਾਈ ਕਾਲਕਾ ਖੰਡੇ ਕੀ ਵੇਲਾ ।
guru simari manaaee kaalakaa khanday kee vaylaa|
Line 5
ਪੀਓ ਪਾਹਲ ਖੰਡਧਾਰ ਹੋਇ ਜਨਮ ਸਹੇਲਾ ।
peeao paahul khandadhaar hoi janam suhaylaa|
Line 6
ਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਮਨਮਖੀ ਦਹੇਲਾ ।
sangati keenee khaalasaa manamukhee duhaylaa|
Line 7
ਵਾਹ ਵਾਹ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਪੇ ਗਰ ਚੇਲਾ ॥੧॥
vaah vaah gobind singh aapay guru chaylaa ॥1॥
Shabad
