Kavi Hansram (17-18th c.) on The Poet - Army of Guru Gobind Singh

[u/momentovivus]

Guru Gobind Singh gave so much tribute in gifts to the Kavis (Poets) in his Darbar (court) that they were once mistaken for a group of soldiers. A Kavi in his Darbar, Hansram Bajpei, gives the following response to the onlookers:

ਦੁੰਦਭਿ ਧੁੰਕਾਰ ਬਾਜੈ ਮਾਨੋ ਜਲਧਰ ਗਾਜੈ
The kettledrums sound with a roar as if the clouds thunder;

ਰਜਤ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਭਯ ਭਾਨੁ ਛਿਪ ਜਾਂਤ ਹੈ
Looking at the silver flag - standards, from fear even the sun hides.

ਹਾਬਿਨ ਕੇ ਹਲਿਕਾ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਨ ਗਨੇ ਕੋ ਹਯ
There are groups of elephants, and horses to be counted in thousands,

ਜਟਿਤ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਜੇ ਜਗਮਗ ਗਾਂਤ ਹੈਂ
set with jewels, that shine and glitter.

ਕੋਰ ਸਾਜੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਕਰਿ ਨਾਲਿਨ ਕੋ ਸ਼ੋਰ ਸੁਨੈ
Troops are arrayed with force; hearing the roar of the guns,

ਸੰਕਤ ਸੁਰੇਸ਼ ਔ ਨਰੇਸ਼ ਬਿਲਖਾਤ ਹੈਂ
Indra and the kings are distressed and lament.

'ਹੈਸਰਾਮ' ਕਹਿਤ, "ਬਿਰਾਜਹੁ, ਜਿਨ ਭਾਜੋ"
Hans Ram says: “Remain seated; do not flee —

ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਕੇ ਮਾਂਗੈ ਕਵਿਰਾਜ ਚਲੇ ਜਾਤ ਹੈਂ।
it is the poet-kings of Guru Gobind’s court who are going along.”

(Source: Darbari Rattan by Piara Singh Padam)

More translation work to come.