| Bachittar Natak ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਟਕ | |
|---|---|
| Dasam Granth | |
 The hymns from the first chapter of Bachitar Natak by the hand of Guru Gobind Singh | |
| Information | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Author | Guru Gobind Singh |
| Language | Braj Bhasha |
| Chapters | 14 |
| Verses | 471[1][2] |
| Part of a series on the |
| Dasam Granth ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ |
|---|
 |
| Main compositions |
| Apocryphal compositions (Asfottak Banis) |
| Various aspects |
| Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms |
TheBachittar Natak orBachitar Natak[note 1](Gurmukhi:ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਟਕ,romanized: Bachittar Natak; 'The Wonderful Play') is partly an autobiography ofGuru Gobind Singh.[3][4] The appellationBachitar Natak is sometimes confusingly only applied around theDasam Granth.[5][4] TheBachitar Natak Granth, not to be confused with theBachittar Natak composition, contains a large corpus of the Dasam Granth canon.[6]
The Bachittar Natak is part of theDasam Granth,[3] the second holy scripture ofSikhism.[3] The composition covers various aspects, including the lineage of Guru Gobind Singh,[5] the persecution ofGuru Tegh Bahadur, the author's own rebirth,[3] and the defense and spread ofdharma (righteousness). It also includes descriptions of battles, hunting expeditions, and journeys in Punjab and theHimalayan foothills.[3][7] The Bachitar Natak consists of fourteen chapters, sometimes also called "Apni Katha" (meaning "my story"), which provides an autobiographical account of Guru Gobind Singh's life until the year 1696.
The Bachitar Natak is partly an autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh,[5] the tenth Sikh Guru, in which he narrates the events and circumstances of the first 32 years of his life. It outlines the history and challenges faced by the Sikh community during that time. It states the author wasmeditating in the Himalayan foothills on a 7-peaked mountain before being called to take birth.[5] This previous incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh is known as Dusht Daman.[7]
The Bani (composition) starts with a praise of theAkal Purakh (the ultimate being) and then provides a genealogy of the Bedis and Sodhis, tracing their lineage back toLava andKush.[5] It also includes the author's own biography and discusses significant events such as theBattle of Nadaun,[8] "the Husaini Battle", and the arrival ofPrince Muazzam in Punjab. The composition concludes around AD 1696.
The Bachitar Natak contains 14 chapters.
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Historical sources from the 18th century, such as Gur Sobha Granth, Gurbilas Patshai Dasvin, Bansavlinama Dasan Patshahian Ka, andRahitnamas, mention the compositions of the Dasam Granth, including the Bachitra Natak.[6] These sources attribute the writings to Guru Gobind Singh.
The Bachitra Natak Granth refers to a large corpus of compositions within the Dasam Granth, the compositions referenced as part of theBachitra Natak Granth include:[5]
1. Apni Katha (theBachittar Natak proper)
5. Brahma Avatar
These compositions follow a specific pattern, with Apni Katha discussing various avatars and their reinterpretation in line with Sikh thought and philosophy.
The Bachitra Natak Granth is a part of the Dasam Granth, but the Dasam Granth is not solely the Bachitra Natak Granth. The confusion arises from the fact that many compositions within the Dasam Granth mention the words "Bachitra Natak Likhyate,"[6] but there is more to the Dasam Granth than just the Bachitra Natak.
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