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ON TRANSLATION OF HOLY TEXTS
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ON TRANSLATION OF HOLY TEXTS
GAJINDAR SINGH *
The mushrooming of translations and reviews of the sacred gurbani
in recent times have accelerated with many writers taking up their
pens and trying to match their wits with our Gurus. These efforts may
be welcomed and appreciated to a point, as the Sikh texts have been
shrouded in a secrecy in the tradition of the old Hindu scriptures,
which were restricted to only a few selected scholars and others were
supposed to make do with the mere recitation and the vocal sounds
of mantras. Our Gurus struggled to throw open not only the holy
places to the commoners but emphasised the need of imparting divine
knowledge to all, rejecting selectivity and secrecy. Our Gurus openly
shared their wisdom with one and all. Guru Gobind Singh went on to
engage a team of eminent poets to translate Hindu scriptures for the
benefit of common folks who had never known about the Vedas and
Shastras before, being strictly a Brahmin preserve.
The Gurus were prolific writers themselves, and encouraged
excellence in any task, spiritual or mundane, for which the Sikhs were
groomed in a lofty tradition for over two hundred years. Thus, while
we must allow the numerous efforts at translating the sacred gurbani in
as many languages as possible, we have to pause for caution to let
only authentic and honest translations of the same genre to be
attempted and those who undertake the task must be sure of their
ability and thorough knowledge of gurbani.
The first hurdle would appear, therefore, in selection of scholars
who may take up this very responsible exercise of translating our
Gurus’ sublime poetical works, which are held in highest esteem by
millions not only in the excellence of expression but the direction of
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