Story #34
Charitropakhyan Series
This series delves into hundreds of stories from diverse traditions, religions, backgrounds, and experiences, as written or compiled by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Through these stories, Guru Sahib imparts profound lessons and values, illustrating both the lowest depths and the highest moral heights that humankind can achieve. This bani is part of "Kissa Literature"—a storytelling genre featuring interconnected episodes inspired by myths and/or historical events, crafted to teach moral principles. Below, you’ll find a translation of Charitr 34, corresponding to Episode 34 of the Charitropakhyan Series. For further exploration, visit our YouTube channel E13 Exploring Sikhi and our Instagram @storiesofdeception.
Sources used in this translation: An older commentary now out of print by Giani Bishan Singh published by the Missionary College Amritsar and a more contemporary commentary by Giani Isher Singh Ramghari.
ਚੌਪਈ ॥
chauapiee ||
ਸੁਨਹੁ ਨ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਇਕ ਕਥਾ ਉਚਰਿਹੌ ॥
Sunah[u] nripath[i] Ik Kathaa Ucharihau ||
Listen Oh King, I will share a Story with you
ਤੁਮਰੇ ਚਿਤ ਕੋ ਭਰਮੁ ਨਿਵਰਿਹੌ ॥
Thumrae Chith Ko Bharam[u] nivarihau ||
Which will take away the doubts of your mind
ਤ੍ਰਿਯ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਇਕ ਤੁਮੈ ਸੁਨੈਹੋ ॥
Threey Charithr Ik Thumai Sunaiho ||
I will share with you a deception played by a woman (ਤ੍ਰਿਯ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ)
ਤਾ ਤੇ ਤੁਮ ਕਹ ਅਧਿਕ ਰਿਝੈਹੌ ॥੧॥
Thaa Thae Thum Keh Adhhik Rijhaihau ||1||
Which will satisfy you
ਸਹਰ ਸਿਰੰਦ ਬਿਖੈ ਇਕ ਜੋਗੀ ॥
Sahar Sira(n)dh Bikhai Ik Jogee ||
Within the city of Sirhand, there lived a yogi
ਕਾਮ ਕੇਲ ਭੀਤਰ ਅਤਿ ਭੋਗੀ ॥
Kaam Kael Bheetar Ath[i] Bhogee ||
Who was constantly indulged with lust and sex
ਏਕ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਤੀ ਕੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਆਵੈ ॥
Aek Grihasthee Kae Grih Aavai ||
He came to a householder's home
ਤਾ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਿਯ ਸੋ ਭੋਗ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
Thaa Kee Threey So Bhog Kamaavai ||2||
And indulged in sex with the woman who lived in the house
ਸੁਰਗ ਨਾਥ ਜੋਗੀ ਕਾ ਨਾਮਾ ॥
Surag naath Jogee Kaa naamaa ||
The name of the yogi was Surag Nath
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਛਬਿ ਮਾਨ ਮਤੀ ਵਹ ਨਾਮਾ ॥
Sree Chhab Maan Mathee Veh naamaa ||
The name of the woman was Maan Mati
ਵਾ ਸੌ ਨਿਸੁ ਦਿਨ ਭੋਗ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥
Vaa Sau nis[u] Dhin Bhog Kamaavai ||
He would spend all of his time, day and night, enjoying this woman.
ਤਾ ਕੋ ਨਾਹ ਨਾਹਿ ਕਛੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
Thaa Ko naah naah[i] Kachh[u] Paavai ||3||
Whilst the husband of Maan Mati had no idea about the affair
ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dhoharaa ||
ਇਕ ਦਿਨ ਜੋਗੀ ਘਰ ਹੁਤੋ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਤੀ ਪਹੂੰਚ੍ਯਾ ਆਇ ॥
Ik Dhin Jogee Ghar Hutho Grihasthee Pahoo(n)chayaa Aa-i ||
One day the Yogi was at her house and the husband walks in
ਤਾ ਸੌ ਕਹਾ ਬਨਾਇ ਤ੍ਰਿਯ ਏਕ ਚਰਿਤ ਸਮਝਾਇ ॥੪॥
Thaa Sau Kahaa Banaa-i Threey Aek Charith Samjhaa-i ||4||
That moment Maan Mati played a deception (A charitr)
ਚੌਪਈ ॥
Chaupae-ee ||
ਕਾਢੇ ਖੜਗ ਹਾਥ ਤੁਮ ਧੈਯਹੁ ॥
Kaadtae Kharrag Haathh Thum Dhhaeyah[u] ||
[She tells a second individual, possibly a companion of the Yogi] “Quick, get your Sword and go running”
ਦੌਰਤ ਨਿਕਟ ਸੁ ਯਾ ਕੇ ਜੈਯਹੁ ॥
Dhauarat nikat Su Yaa Kae Jaeyah[u] ||
Come close to [my husband]
ਤਾਹਿ ਸੁਨਾਇ ਬਚਨ ਇਮ ਭਾਖ੍ਯੋ ॥
Thaah[i] Sunaa-i Bachan Im Bhaakhyo ||
and say the following to him
ਮੋਰੋ ਚੋਰ ਚੋਰਿ ਇਨ ਰਾਖ੍ਯੋ ॥੫॥
Moro Chor Chor[i] In Raakhyo ||5||
“she has kept my robber [in her house]”
ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dhoharaa ||
ਭ੍ਰਿਤਜੁ ਤੁਹਾਰੋ ਨਾਥ ਇਹ ਤਾ ਕਹੁ ਜਾਹੁ ਦੁਰਾਇ ॥
Bhrithaj Thuhaaro naath Ih Thaa Kah[u] Jaah[u] Dhuraa-i ||
Servant, this is your Master, hide him at our house
ਤਾ ਕੌ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨਿਕਾਰਿ ਹੌ ਕਛੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਬਨਾਇ ॥੬॥
Thaa Kau Bahur[i] nikaar[i] Hau Kachh[u] Charithr Banaa-i ||6||
Then I will bring him out [later] and create a deception (A charitr)
Note: Servant of Maan Mati was not formally introduced however was deduced in translation.
ਚੌਪਈ ॥
Chaupae-ee ||
ਕਹਿ ਐਸੇ ਆਇਸਹਿ ਪਠਾਯੋ ॥
Kah[i] Aisae Aaisah[i] Pattaayo ||
Saying this [she] sent him [outside]
ਆਪ ਤਵਨ ਸੋ ਭੋਗ ਕਮਾਯੋ ॥
Aap Thavan So Bhog Kamaayo ||
She herself went to make love with [the Yogi]
ਆਵਤ ਪਤਿਹਿ ਦੁਰਾਯੋ ਤਾ ਕੋ ॥
Aavath Pathah[i] Dhuraayo Thaa Ko ||
When her husband came, she hid [the yogi]
ਆਪ ਬਚਨ ਭਾਖ੍ਯੋ ਇਮਿ ਵਾ ਕੋ ॥੭॥
Aap Bachan Bhaakhayo Im[i] Vaa Ko ||7||
And Spoke the following
ਸੁਨੋ ਨਾਥ ਇਕ ਕਥਾ ਉਚਰੋ ॥
Suno naath Ik Kathaa Uchaaro ||
“Oh master, listen to this story”
ਤੁਮ ਤੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਚਿਤ ਮੈ ਡਰੋ ॥
Thum Thae Adhhik Chit Mai Daro ||
“I am so scared of you”
ਕੋਪ ਏਕ ਜੋਗੀ ਕਹ ਜਾਗ੍ਯੋ ॥
Kop Aek Jogee Keh Jaagyo ||
“[There was a] yogi who got mad”
ਨਿਜੁ ਚੇਲਾ ਕਹ ਮਾਰਨ ਲਾਗ੍ਯੋ ॥੮॥
nij[u] Chaelaa Keh Maaran Laagyo ||8||
“And vowed to kill his own disciple”
ਮੈ ਜੁਗਿਯਾ ਕਹ ਦਯੋ ਹਟਾਈ ॥
Mai Jugeeyaa Keh Dhayo Hataaee ||
“I broke up their fight”
ਵਾ ਚੇਲਾ ਕਹ ਲਯੋ ਛਪਾਈ ॥
Vaa Chaelaa Keh Laayo Chhapaaee ||
“And hid the disciple”
ਚਲਹੁ ਨਾਥ ਉਠਿ ਤੁਮੈ ਦਿਖਾਊ ॥
Chalah[u] naath Utt[i] Thumai Dhikhaaoo ||
“Come my master, let me show you”
ਤਾ ਤੇ ਤੁਮਰੋ ਹ੍ਰਿਦੈ ਸਿਰਾਊ ॥੯॥
Thaa Thae Thumro Hridhai Siraaoo ||9||
“So that I can make your heart happy”
ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
Dhoharaa ||
ਭਲਾ ਕਿਯਾ ਤੈ ਰਾਖ੍ਯਾ ਸੁਖਿਤ ਕਿਯਾ ਮੁਰ ਚੀਤਿ ॥
Bhalaa Keeyaa Thai Raakhyaa Sukhith Keeyaa Mur Cheeth[i] ||
[To which the Husband responds by saying] “You have done such a good job and have given me immense peace and comfort.”
ਸਰਨਾਗਤ ਦੀਜਤ ਨਹੀ ਇਹੈ ਬਡਨ ਕੀ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੧੦॥
Sarnaagath Dheejath nahee Ihai Batdan Kee Reeth[i] ||10||
“those that come into our sanctuary should not be given away [to an enemy] this is the tradition of our elders”
ਸੁਨਤ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਬਾਤ ਜੜ ਰੀਝਿ ਗਯੋ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Sunath Manohar Baath Jarr Reejh[i] Gayo Man Maah[i] ||
Listening to this mind pleasing talk, the foolish man become happy
ਅਧਿਕ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਤਾ ਸੋ ਕਰੀ ਭੇਦ ਪਛਾਨਾ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੧੧॥
Adhhik Preeth[i] Thaa So Karee Bhaedh Pachhaanaa naah[i] ||11||
His heart filled with love [for his wife] and he was unable to understand her secrets.
ਇਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਪਖ੍ਯਾਨੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਯਾ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰੋ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੀ ਭੂਪ ਸੰਬਾਦੇ ਚੌਤੀਸਵੋ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਮਾਪਤਮ ਸਤੁ ਸੁਭਮ ਸਤੁ ॥੩੪॥੬੭੧॥ਅਫਜੂੰ॥
Ith[i] Sree Charithr Pakhyaanae Threeyaa Charithro Ma(n)three Bhoop Sa(n)baadhae Chautheesvo Charithr Samaapatham Sat Subham Sat ||34||671||Afjoo(n)||
Moral of the Story:
The Power of Manipulation: Words and actions can be skillfully manipulated to create illusions, as the woman in the story cleverly convinced her husband of her innocence while hiding her infidelity.
Blind Trust Can Be Dangerous: The husband's unquestioning trust in his wife allowed her deception to succeed. Blind faith without critical thinking can make one vulnerable to being exploited.
Be Discerning, Not Naïve: The story warns against being easily swayed by appearances or flattery. It underscores the importance of developing wisdom and the ability to see through deceit.
