Chandi Charitar II

Chandi Charitar II(Punjabi: ਚੰਡੀ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ (ਭਾਗ ੨) , also called Chandi Charitar Part 2 is a heroic poetic composition, included as 5th chapter of Dasam Granth, whose authorship is generally and traditionally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.^[1][2] This composition was written in Braj Language at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab

Overview

Chandi Charitar II composition has eight cantos, contains 262 couplets and quatrains, mostly employing Bhujang prayat and Rasaval measures.^[3] This work was composed at Anandpur Sahib, sometime before AD 1698, the year when the Bachitar Natak was completed. The Compositions contains following chapters

• Chapter 1 - Story of Killing of Mahishasura
• Chapter 2 - Story of Killing of Dhumar Nain
• Chapter 3 - Story of Killing of Chand Mund
• Chapter 4 - Story of Killing of Rakat Beej
• Chapter 5 - Story of Killing of Nishumbh
• Chapter 6 - Story of Killing of Shumbh
• Chapter 7 - The Glories of Chandi - The Giver
• Chapter 8 - The Glory of Holy Composition i.e Chandi Charitar 2

The poetic meters used in Composition are Sortha, Sangit Naraj, Sangit Bhujang Paryat, Sangit Madhubar, Kulka, Chaupai, Totak, Dohra, Naraj, Bijai, Beli Bidrum, Bridh Naraj, Bhujang Prayat, Madhubhar, Manohar, Rasaval, Ruamal and Rual. It is believed to be translation of Devi Bhagwat Granth, though there is no internal evidence support this fact.

Selected Verses

• The most magnificent portion of this composition is Chandi Ji Ki Ustati where Guru Gobind Singh explained various qualities of Chandi and declared it a formless entity.^[3]

ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰੀ ਪੁਨੀਤਾ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਪਰੇਯੰ ॥
Thou art pure, holy, ancient, great;
ਪ੍ਰਭੀ ਪੂਰਣੀ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੀ ਅਜੇਯੰ ॥
Feminine of Prabh(God), Perfect, Feminine of Parbrahm and unconquerable.
ਅਰੂਪੰ ਅਨੂਪੰ ਅਨਾਮੰ ਅਠਾਮੰ ॥
Thou art formless, unique, nameless and abodeless.
ਅਭੀਤੰ ਅਜੀਤੰ ਮਹਾਂ ਧਰਮ ਧਾਮੰ ॥੩੨॥੨੫੧॥
Thou art fearless, unconquerable and treasure of the great Dharma.32.251.

— (Chandi Charitar II, verse 251)

• Following verse of Chandi Charitar 2, which contains benefit/boons of understanding this composition, is often read in Sikh Ceremonies :

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
DOHRA ਜੇ ਜੇ ਤੁਮਰੇ ਧਿਆਨ ਕੋ ਨਿਤ ਉਠਿ ਧਿਐ ਹੈ ਸੰਤ ॥
All those saints, who will ever meditate on Thee;
ਅੰਤ ਲਹੈਂਗੇ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵਹਿਗੇ ਭਗਵੰਤ ॥੬॥੨੬੨॥
They will attain salvation at the end and will realize the Lord.6.262.

— (Chandi Charitar II, verse 262)

• Following verses are the most sing verses from Chandi Charitar(by Hazoori Ragi Bhai Balbir Singh, Nihung Akali Vadbhag Singh and others) from Mahishasura Killing Section^[4]:

ਸੰਗੀਤ ਭੁਜੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਯਾਤ ਛੰਦ ॥
SANGEET BHUJANG PRAYAAT STANZA ਕਾਗੜਦੰ ਕਾਤੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ ਕੜਾਕੰ ॥ਤਾਗੜਦੰ ਤੀਰੰ ਤੁਪਕੰ ਤੜਾਕੰ ॥॥
The sounds of the blows of the daggers and swords are being heard. The sounds of the shafts and gunshots are being heard.
ਝਾਗੜਦੰ ਨਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਜੇ ॥ ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗਾਜੀ ਮਹਾ ਗਜ ਗਾਜੇ ॥੩੫॥੧੧੨॥॥
Various sounds of musical instruments are resounding. The warriors are roaring and shouting loudly.35.112.
ਸਾਗੜਦੰ ਸੂਰੰ ਕਾਗੜਦੰ ਕੋਪੰ ॥ ਪਾਗੜਦੰ ਪਰਮੰ ਰਣੰ ਪਾਵ ਰੋਪੰ ॥॥
The great heroes have been struck. And the brave fighters are belching.36.113.
ਸਾਗੜਦੰ ਸਸਤ੍ਰੰ ਝਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਝਾਰੈ॥ ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬੀਰੰ ਡਾਗੜਦੰ ਡਕਾਰੈਂ ॥੩੬॥੧੧੩॥॥
The worriors seem pleased on shooting sharp arrows on the bodies. There are loud shouts with porofound resoundings, and the poets describe them in their verses.37.114.
ਚਾਗੜਦੰ ਚਉਪੇ ਬਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਬੀਰੰ ॥ ਮਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਮਾਰੇ ਤਨੰ ਤਿਛ ਤੀਰੰ ॥॥
The demons are running away and the heroes are shouting loudly.
ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗਜੇ ਸੁ ਬਜੇ ਗਹੀਰੈ॥ ਕਾਗੜਦੰ ਕਵੀਯਾਨ ਕਥੇ ਕਥੀਰੈ॥੩੭॥੧੧੪॥॥
The demons are running away and the heroes are shouting loudly.
ਦਾਗੜਦੰ ਦਾਨੋ ਭਾਗੜਦੰ ਭਾਜੇ ॥ ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗਾਜੀ ਜਾਗੜਦੰ ਗਾਜੇ ॥
The sounds are produced by the striking axes and daggers.
ਛਾਗੜਦੰ ਛਉਹੀ ਛੁਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੇ ਛੜਾਕੇ ॥ ਤਾਗੜਦੰ ਤੀਰੰ ਤੁਪਕੰ ਤੜਾਕੇ ॥੩੮॥੧੧੫॥
The arrows and the guns are creating their own noses.38.115.
ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗੋਮਾਯ ਗਜੇ ਗਹੀਰੰ ॥ ਸਾਗੜਦੰ ਸੰਖੰ ਨਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਨਫੀਰੰ ॥
The loud noise of drums and the resounding of conches and trumpets is being heard in the battlefield.
ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਜੇ ਬਜੇ ਬੀਰ ਖੇਤੰ ॥ ਨਾਗੜਦੰ ਨਾਚੇ ਸੁ ਭੂਤੰ ਪਰੇਤੰ ॥੩੯॥੧੧੬॥
The musical instruments of the warriors are being played and the ghosts and goblins are dancing.39.116.
ਤਾਗੜਦੰ ਤੀਰੰ ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਣੰ ॥ ਕਾਗੜਦੰ ਕਾਤੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਣੰ ॥
The noises of the arrows and shafts, daggers and swords are being heard.
ਨਾਗੜਦੰ ਨਾਦੰ ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਜੇ ॥ ਸਾਗੜਦੰ ਸੂਰੰ ਰਾਗੜਦੰ ਰਾਜੇ ॥੪੦॥੧੧੭॥
The music of the musical instruments and the drumming of the trumpets resounds and the warriors and chieftains are doing their job amidst such resonance.40.117.
ਸਾਗੜਦੰ ਸੰਖੰ ਨਾਗੜਦੰ ਨਫੀਰੰ ॥ ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗੋਮਾਯ ਗਜੇ ਗਹੀਰੰ ॥
The conches, clarionets and the drums resounded.
ਨਾਗੜਦੰ ਨਗਾਰੇ ਬਾਗੜਦੰ ਬਾਜੇ ॥ ਜਾਗੜਦੰ ਜੋਧਾ ਗਾਗੜਦੰ ਗਾਜੇ ॥੪੧॥੧੧੮॥
The trumpets and musical instruments produced their sounds and alongwith their resonance, the warriors thundered.41.118.

— (Chandi Charitar II, verse 112 - 118)

References

1. ^ Dasam Granth - An Introductory Study
2. ^ Sri Dasam.org - Website contain whole text of dasam granth
3. ^ ^{a b} The Poetry of Dasam Granth - Dharam Pal Ashta
4. ^ Sikhnet - Balbir Singh Sings From Chandi Charitar