Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The bugles play and the drums beat.
The wrestlers enter the arena and circle around.
I have thrown the five challengers to the ground — and the Guru has patted me on the back.
Toot-i nafaree-i, dhol-u bajaai-aa — the bugles sound (toot-i nafaree-i — the nafaree, the ceremonial trumpet has sounded) and the drum (dhol-u) beats (bajaai-aa). The ceremonial announcement: the match has begun. The nafaree and dhol signal the formal opening of a wrestling match in Punjabi tradition. All the preparation — the Guru's turban (Pauri17), the Merciful Lord taking His seat (Pauri17) — has led to this moment.
Pehl-waanaa-n, dhaa-i-aa akhaari-aa, ghar-i ghoom-ai-aa — the wrestlers (pehl-waanaa-n) have rushed (dhaa-i-aa — run, charged) into the arena (akhaari-aa — the wrestling ground), circling (ghoom-ai-aa — going around, circling the ground as wrestlers do before engagement). The traditional wrestlers' entry: running into the arena, circling the space, demonstrating presence and readiness.
Panj-u janaa kar-i pich-hi paa-i-aa, Gur-u pith-i ditt-aa — I have thrown (pich-hi paa-i-aa — put on their backs, thrown down) all five (panj-u janaa) to the ground; the Guru has patted me on the back (pith-i ditt-aa — placed his hand on my back in approval and encouragement). The five challengers are the five vices: lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego. They have been thrown. And the Guru's hand on the back is the master's approval: the Guru who gave the turban in Pauri17 now gives the pat of victory.
What are your five challengers — the five forces you wrestle with most? And what would throwing them down actually look like in your daily life?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI