The Vicitra Natak

Indubhusan Banerjee

The Vicitra Natak

Vol. 1 · No. 1March - 1925pp. 59–68English

Summary

The article offers a critical introduction to the ‘Bachitra Natak’ (often transliterated as Vicitra Natak), a semi‑autobiographical composition traditionally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. After summarising the content – which recounts the lineage of the tenth Sikh Guru, his battles against Mughal and Hill Rajas, and his divine mission – the author examines the work’s language and metre. The text blends Braj Bhasha with Persian loanwords and deploys the chopai metre common in Sikh literature. The article situates the composition within the broader Dasam Granth, debating its authorship and authenticity. Some scholars argue that later poets embellished or interpolated parts of the narrative. The article also discusses the historical context of late seventeenth‑century Punjab, marked by Mughal persecution and the militarisation of the Khalsa. By reading the Vicitra Natak alongside contemporary Persian chronicles and Sikh traditions, the author assesses its value as a historical source and as a proclamation of divine kingship.

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Conclusion

The study highlights the Vicitra Natak as both a literary and historical document. While questions remain about its authorship, the text provides unique insight into Guru Gobind Singh’s self‑representation and the religious–political ethos of the early Khalsa, blending mythic ancestry with contemporary struggles.

Key passages

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“There 1૨ clear internsl evidence that different parts of the Dasam Padshih દિઠ Granth were written by different outhors at different times, but કહ किए the authorship of the Vicitra Natak itself there has never been arny doubt, though the date of composition has not as yet been definitely settled.”
“The Vicitra Natek very early attracted the attention of modern scholars and more than hundred years ago Malecolm brought, it to light and incorporated English translations cf several important extracts from the work 10 his Sketch ૦/ the Sikhs”

Works cited in this article

Dasam Granth
Macauliffe’s unrivalled translation
Narang, Transformation of Sikkism
Cunningham’s History of the Sikhs (Garrett’s Edition)
Browne’s India Tract

Discussed in this article

People

Guru Govind Singh 5
Lahu
Kalrai
Rama 54
Kalket
Sodhi Rii
Guru Amar Dis
Hem Kunt
Bhai Mani Singh
Kunsu

Places

Sanaudh
Lahore 22
Kassar

Texts & works

Vicitra Natak
Dasam Granth

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In this issue

Vol. 1 · No. 1

1–4IntroductionSten Konow 4–17The Date of Zoroaster and the RgvedaArthur Berriedale Keith 18–30The Northern BuddhismHariprasad G. Shastri 31–36Bharavi and DandinSushil Kumar De 36–42Some Aspects of the Economic Life in Ancient India ( AS DEPICTED IN THE RGVEDA )Prafulla Chandra Basu 42–50The Aryan Rule of IndiaW. F. Gunawardhana 50–58Message from Barhut Jataka LabelsB. M. Barua 59–68The Vicitra NatakIndubhusan BanerjeeCurrent article 69–79Bengal School of ArtSatish Chandra Mitra 79–85Rama Raya, Regent of Vijayanagar (1542–1565)H. Heras 86–87Seniya BimbisaraHem Chandra Raychaudhuri 88–91Sumerians in IndiaLaurence Austine Waddell 91–94Some observations on Pusyamitra and his EmpireRamesh Chandra Majumdar 94–99Politics and Political History in the MahabharataNarayan Chandra Banerji 100–102Etymologies of Kubha lagh, eagh-, gevaya, and Laghulo.Muhammad Shahidullah 103–111The Bhasa ProblemK. Rama Pisharoti 111–116Some Wall‑Paintings from KelaniyaStella Kramrisch 116–119Pāvapuri and its Temple PrasastiPuranchand Nahar 119–125Mandukya Upanishad and the Gaudapada KarikasVidhushekhara Bhattacharya 126–129Lakshmana Sena’s Flight from NadiaC. V. Vaidya 130–136Rasātala or the Under‑WorldNandu Lal Dey 137–166The Kosalas in Ancient IndiaBimala Charan Law 167–171MISCELLANY - Oriental Studies in Russia 172–176Progress of Historical Research in the Madras PresidencyC. S. Srinivasachari 176–179Recent Discoveries in Sind and the PunjabS. K. Chatterjee 179–184The All-India Oriental Conference (Third Session)Sushil Kumar De 185The Date of Manik Ganguli's Dharma MangalMuhammad Shahidullah 185–186Oriental Studies in JapanR. Kimura 187–191ReviewsRamesh Chandra Majumdar, B. M. Barua, Kaccayana, D. M. Bhattacharya 192–196Select Contents of Oriental Journals 197–198BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

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