Tale of King of Sirmaur: Difference between revisions

This article contains explanation of one of Charitar from the work Charitropakhyan by Guru Gobind Singh ji which is contained in Dasam Granth. The explanation presents the view of the kathakaar and one may not agree to this. The article is for information purpose. Please do not amended this article. If you have any comments, please discuss them here

Tale of King of Sirmaur, a Historical Event, is one of 405 tales written in the Charitropakhyan, bani by Shri Guru Gobind Singh. This tale is the Seventy-first (71st) Charittar of the Charitropakhyan. This tale, is presumably taken from the events in the guru's life, during the years that he spent in Paunta Sahib. The events in the tale recounts the reception that the people Guru Sahib gave to the Guru, his family and the many Sikh devotees on their arrival at Kapal Mochan, a 'shopping' trip to Nathan and the bounteous hunting that he had enjoyed along the way. It also relates a plan by which the Guru and his Sikhs were able to punish some punish some manmukhs who had come to to the area 'disguised' as pilgrims, while at the same time his plan provided 'Robes of Honor' for the crowds of devotees that came for Darshan of the Patishah.

This particular Chariter tells us of the political skills and love of hunting of Guru Gobind Singh.

History

Gurdwara Kapal Mochan Sahib

After Battle of Bhangani, Guru Gobind Singh thought that it is not good to stay at Paunta due to tension between hill Rulers. So Guru Gobind SIngh came to Kapal mochan which was in Buria State. It was not part of Sirmaur. It was under Delhi. So Hill rulers could not attack on Guru in this state. There were many Sikhs of guru living here. Guru Nanak also visited this place during his travels.

Problem at Kapal Mochan
However, the behavior of some dolts and thoughtless people soon provided the guru with a solution. They spoiled the sanctity of the place. Guru sahib saw The people use to urinate around Sarovars at Kapalmochan. So when it rained the whole faecal matter and waste came into those Sarovars and other water bodies. Those Sarovars and ponds were used to drink water, people bath in them and Even Hindu Priests also do their pooja taking water from them and they put same water on Devi Devtas. Guru ji was against all this and asked priests, to which they replied that they always say this to people but no one listens.

Arrival of Sikhs
Many Sikhs arrived to meet guru sahib. Guru Sahib wanted to give robes of honour, a custom still practiced in Panjab to this day. Guru ji sent some of his sikhs to Paonta and Buria to purchase robes, but their efforts were in vein, as no robes were available in any shop of the city. Now it was a problem. Guru Ji Played a Charitar(in limits of religion).

Turban Snatching Issue
Wanting to teach them a lesson, Guru Sahib told his Sikhs, that if they found any person urinating/or passing stool on banks of the Sarovars, they should remove his turban and send them back without turban. The Sikhs did as guru sahib said and many turbans of those men who were caught urinating at that place were taken as the men were told so that they would not do the same in the future. When such people go to their places and when people asked where is your turban then such people replied that Sikhs snatched. Why? because they were ruining sarovars. Guru's warriors started taking turban off. It was stampede in which many turbans fell off people head.

Many, many turbans were taken, which tells us the huge number of men without proper respect. This tale is to kill two with one arrow. Guru sahib, was able to put the ignorants on the right track, while he also got robes for honouring sikhs. So after some sewadars washed and cleaned the turbans, the Guru was able to honor his sikhs with Robes of Honor when only a few days before none could be found.

The Chariter in Gurbani script, with each line translated into English:

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dohira

ਨਗਰ ਪਾਵਟਾ ਬਹ੝ ਬਸੈ ਸਾਰਮੌਰ ਕੇ ਦੇਸ ॥ ਜਮ੝ਨਾ ਨਦੀ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਬਹੈ ਜਨ੝ਕ ਪ੝ਰੀ ਅਲਿਕੇਸ ॥੧॥
Paonta City was established in the country of Sirmaur, It was on the bank of River Jamuna and was like the land of gods.(1)

ਨਦੀ ਜਮ੝ਨ ਕੇ ਤੀਰ ਮੈ ਤੀਰਥ ਮ੝ਚਨ ਕਪਾਲ ॥ ਨਗਰ ਪਾਵਟਾ ਛੋਰਿ ਹਮ ਆਝ ਤਹਾ ਉਤਾਲ ॥੨॥
The pilgrim place of Kapaal Mochan was on the banks of the Jamuna. Leaving the City of Paonta, we came to this place.(2)

ਚੌਪਈ ॥
Chaupaee

ਖਿਲਤ ਅਖੇਟਕ ਸੂਕਰ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਬਹ੝ਤੇ ਮ੝ਰਿਗ ਔਰੈ ਹਨਿ ਡਾਰੇ ॥ ਪ੝ਨਿ ਤਿਹ ਠਾ ਕੌ ਹਮ ਮਗ੝ ਲੀਨੌ ॥ ਵਾ ਤੀਰਥ ਕੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੀਨੌ ॥੩॥
While hunting, we had killed many deer and boars,Then we had taken the road to that place and paid obeisance to that pilgritn entity.(3)

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dohira

ਤਹਾ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਸਿਖ੝ਯ ਸਭ ਅਮਿਤ ਪਹੂੰਚੇ ਆਇ ॥ ਤਿਨੈ ਦੈਨ ਕੋ ਚਾਹਿਯੈ ਜੋਰਿ ਭਲੋ ਸਿਰਪਾਇ ॥੪॥
At the place, a number of our Sikh volunteers arrived. There arose the need of giving them the robes of honour.(4)

ਨਗਰ ਪਾਵਟੇ ਬੂਰਿਯੈ ਪਠਝ ਲੋਕ ਬ੝ਲਾਇ ॥ ਝਕ ਪਾਗ ਪਾਈ ਨਹੀ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਪਹ੝ਚੇ ਆਇ ॥੫॥
Some persons were sent to the city of Paonta. But could not find even one turban and they came back disappointed.(5)

ਚੌਪਈ ॥
Chaupaee

ਮੋਲਹਿ ਝਕ ਪਾਗ ਨਹਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਤਬ ਮਸਲਤਿ ਹਮ ਜਿਯਹਿ ਬਨਾਈ ॥ ਜਾਹਿ ਇਹਾ ਮੂਤਤਿ ਲਖਿ ਪਾਵੋ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਛੀਨ ਪਗਰਿਯਾ ਲ੝ਯਾਵੋ ॥੬॥
As no turbans were available to buy, we thought of a plan, ‘Whosoever you find urinating there, snatch his turban away.’(6)

ਜਬ ਪਯਾਦਨ ਝਸੇ ਸ੝ਨਿ ਪਾਯੋ ॥ ਤਿਹੀ ਭਾਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਭਨ ਕਮਾਯੋ ॥ ਜੋ ਮਨਮ੝ਖ ਤੀਰਥ ਤਿਹ ਆਯੋ ॥ ਪਾਗ ਬਿਨਾ ਕਰਿ ਤਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਯੋ ॥੭॥
When the policemen heard thus, they all agreed upon the scheme. Any apostate who came on pilgrimage, he was sent back without the turban.(7)

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dohira

ਰਾਤਿ ਬੀਚ ਕਰਿ ਆਠ ਸੈ ਪਗਰੀ ਲਈ ਉਤਾਰਿ ॥ ਆਨਿ ਤਿਨੈ ਹਮ ਦੀਹ ਮੈ ਧੋਵਨਿ ਦਈ ਸ੝ਧਾਰਿ ॥੮॥
In one night alone, eight hundred turbans were taken away. They brought and gave them to me and I handed over to be washed, cleaned and straightened out.(8)

ਚੌਪਈ ॥
Chaupaee

ਪ੝ਰਾਤ ਲੇਤ ਸਭ ਧੋਇ ਮਗਾਈ ॥ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਸਿਖ੝ਯਨ ਕੋ ਬੰਧਵਾਈ ॥ ਬਚੀ ਸ੝ ਬੇਚਿ ਤ੝ਰਤ ਤਹ ਲਈ ॥ ਬਾਕੀ ਬਚੀ ਸਿਪਾਹਿਨ ਦਈ ॥੯॥
In the morning all the washed and the cleaned ones were brought and were worn by the Sikhs.The left over were sold and the remaining were given out to the policemen.(9)

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dohira

ਬਟਿ ਕੈ ਪਗਰੀ ਨਗਰ ਕੋ ਜਾਤ ਭਝ ਸ੝ਖ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਭੇਦ ਮੂਰਖਨ ਨ ਲਹਿਯੋ ਕਹਾ ਗਯੋ ਕਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥੧੦॥
After selling the turbans, headed towards their towns, achieving due bliss. Foolish people could not discern what game the Raja had played.(10)(1)

ਇਤਿ ਸ੝ਰੀ ਚਰਿਤ੝ਰ ਪਖ੝ਯਾਨੇ ਪ੝ਰਖ ਚਰਿਤ੝ਰੇ ਮੰਤ੝ਰੀ ਭੂਪ ਸੰਬਾਦੇ ਇਕਹਤਰੌ ਚਰਿਤ੝ਰ ਸਮਾਪਤਮ ਸਤ੝ ਸ੝ਭਮ ਸਤ੝ ॥੭੧॥੧੨੫੮॥ਅਫਜੂੰ॥
Seventy-first Parable of Auspicious Chritars Conversation of the Raja and the Minister, Completed with Benediction. (71)(1256)

References

• The content of this explanation is inspired from the katha by Bhai Mehtab Singh of Karnal, Haryana. would add his katha shortly

• Bhai Mahtab Singh Katha Part 1
• Bhai Mahtab Singh Katha Part 2
• Bhai Mahtab Singh Katha Part 3
• Bhai Mahtab Singh Katha Part 4