Bhai Nand Lal · Bhai Nand Lal
Bhai Nand Lal, Ganj Nama: in praise of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Bhai Nand Lal, who wrote under the pen-name Goya, was a Persian poet and a revered Sikh of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's time. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism gives his dates as about 1633 to 1713. It reports, from Guru Kian Sakhian, that he reached Anandpur in 1682. He passed away at Multan. His work is not part of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, but it may be recited at Sikh religious gatherings.
The Ganj Nama, 'treasure book', is a Persian tribute to the ten Gurus in verse and prose. Its longest section has 56 couplets on Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, each line ending with Guru Ji's name. These are the first three couplets of that section and its last, numbered 105 to 107 and 160 in BaniDB, which gives the Persian in Gurmukhi script. The book gives no biographical detail. It speaks only of the Gurus' spiritual standing.
- 1ਨਾਸਿਰੋ ਮਨਸੂਰ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘnaasiro manasoor gur gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, protector of those without help, and under God's own protection,
Note. The Persian words are read here as BaniDB's English gives them. Other readings of 'nasir' and 'mansur' are possible, and a scholar should review this line.
- 2ਈਜ਼ਦਿ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੦੫ ॥e'eezadh manazoor guroo gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, accepted by God.
Note. 'Izad' is a Persian name for God. The original gives the name without titles in every line, and the full form is used here out of respect.
- 3ਹੱਕ ਰਾ ਗੰਜੂਰ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘhak raa ganjoor gur gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in whose charge the treasure of truth lies,
- 4ਜੁਮਲਾ ਫ਼ੈਜ਼ਿ ਨੂਰ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੦੬ ॥jumalaa phaiz noor gur gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, wholly grace and light.
- 5ਹੱਕ ਹੱਕ ਆਗਾਹ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘhak hak aagaeh gur gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who knows the truth of truth,
- 6ਸ਼ਾਹਿ ਸ਼ਹਨਸ਼ਾਹ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੦੭ ॥shaeh shahanashaeh gur gobindh singh
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, king over emperors.
- 7ਬਾਦ ਜਾਨਸ਼ ਫ਼ਿਦਾਇ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘbaadh jaanash phidhai gur gobindh singh
May his life be given for Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
Note. The poet speaks of himself in the third person, having named himself Lal a few couplets earlier.
- 8ਫ਼ਰਕਿ ਊ ਬਰ ਪਾਇ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੬੦ ॥pharak uoo bar pai gur gobindh singh
and his head rest at the feet of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Our line is a reading of the intent. For the Gurmukhi source text and reference translations seeSikhiToTheMax and SikhRI's Guru Granth Sahib Project.[DB][EoS][EoS]