Vaisakhi of 1699 Described in Ghazal of Bhai Sundar Singh



A ghazal of Bhai Sundar Singh (1892-1937), hazūrī rāgī of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, in the 1930s, in which he beautifully describes the panj pyārē narrative associated with the Vaisakhi of 1699:

Jūnhī nikalā kalghī vālā,
lēkē khanjar hāth mēn.
Khud bakhud ānē lagē,
āshiq līyē sir hāth mēn.

Phir gayī ik dam khushī kī,
lahir dharamī bashar par.
Mūn sē bōlē kāt lō,
hāzir parā sir hāth mēn.

Pānch sir māngē jabī,
aur pānch hī nikalē tabī.
Lē gayē phir qatl-gāh,
bāzū pakar kar hāth mēn.

Ban gayē pānchō pyārē,
karkē qurbān apnā sar.
Chhak līyā amrit pyālā,
lēkē 'Sundar' hāth mēn.


TRANSLATION:

The plume-bearing Guru Gobind Singh thus emerged, with sword in hand. Of their own accord, his devotees started arriving, head in hand.

Then passed a moment of joy upon the wave of faithful people.
"Take our heads", they said standing ready, head in hand.

When the Guru asked for five heads and five devotees emerged, they were taken to be killed, arm in hand.

Sacrificing their heads, they became the five beloved ones.
They drank from the cup of immortality, taking 'Sundar' by the hand.

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