7th Dohara: "Sasthr Asthr Thumhee Sipar...."

Dhan Dhan Kalgidhar Maharaj, Chittey Baja Wale Paatshah, Neela-Ghorh Asvaar, Sarbans Daani, Dasmesh Pita Ji Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj

ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਅਸਤ੍ਰ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਸਿਪਰ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਕਵਚ ਨਿਖੰਗ॥
Sasthar Asthar Thumhee Sipar Thumhee Kavach Nikha[n]g
ਕਵਚਆਂਤਕ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਬਨੇ ਤੁਮ ਬ੍ਯਾਪਕ ਸਰਬੰਗ॥੭॥
Kavachaa[n]thak Thumhee Banae Thum Byaapak Sarba[n]g

This is the 7th Doharaa, please see previous sections for relevant context


Continuing with the theme of Maharaj's Omnipresence, Guru Sahib is showing us great wonders... that Vaheguru is in every aspect of the world including the battlefield. There are two aspects of battle: offense and defense. In between this perceived duality, is the One Vaheguru. In between me and You, there is this same Ik. The Warrior is not separate from The Warrior's Weapons.  
Sarbloh Avatar from Manglacharan Puran aka Sarbloh Prakash Granth is the best way to personify the Shakti of Akaal Purakh through Shastars.
The following translation is by Jvala Singh (daas has added transliterations) and can be found on the Manglacharan Blog here: https://www.manglacharan.com/post/form-of-sarbloh-avtar

ਅਥ ਸਰੂਪ ਅਨੁਮਾਨ ਕਥਤੇ ਬਿਸਨੁਪਦ ਛੰਤ ਦੀਪਕ ਤ੍ਵ ਬਲ ॥
Athh Saroop Anumaan Kathhathae Bisanupadh Chha[n]th Dheepak Twa Bal
Now begins the description of the Form [of Sri Sarbloh Avatar]
ਸੀਸ ਸੁਹਾਵਨੁ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਸੀਸ ਸੁਹਾਵਨੁ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਹੇ ਅਤਿ ਉਤੰਗ ਖਗ ਬਕ੍ਰ ਹੇ ਦੀਰਘ ਭੀਮ ਕਰਾਲ ॥
Sees Suhaavan[u] Chakr Sees Suhaavan[u] Chakr Hae Ath[i] Outha[n]g Khag Bakr Hae Dheeragh Bheem Karaal
Adorning a beautiful quoit on the head ! Adorning a beautiful quoit on the head ! Holding a very large Kharag, Oh the appearance is so ferocious !
ਕੇਸ ਛੁਟੇ ਸਰ ਸੇਲ ਕੇਸ ਛੁਟੇ ਸਰ ਸੇਲ ਹੇ ਘੁੰਘਰਾਰੇ ਕਚ ਸੇਲ ਹੇ ਮੁਨਜਨੀਕ ਚਖੁ ਲਾਲ ॥
Kaes Chhutae Sar Sael Kaes Chhutae Sar Sael Hae Ghu[n]gharaarae Kach Sael Hae Munajneek Chukh[u] Laal
With hair open and sharp as spears ! Oh the hair is open and sharp as spears !
The hair is curly ! The red eyes are that of gun barrels !

ਨਾਵਕ ਪਲਕ ਅਨਯਾਰ ਨਾਵਕ ਪਲਕ ਅਨਯਾਰ ਹੇ ਤੁਪਕ ਨਾਸਿਕ ਗ਼ਾਰ ਹੇ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਚਰਮ ਮੁਖ ਖਾਲ ॥
naavak Palak Anaiaar naavak Palak Anaiaar Hae Thupak naasik Ghaar Hae Sravan Charam Mukh Khaal
With eyelashes like broad-head arrowheads ! Oh the eyelashes like broad-head arrowheads ! The nostrils are the barrels of a gun ! Oh the mouth and ears are those of Shields !
ਰਦਨ ਕਟਾਰਨ ਦਾੜ ਰਦਨ ਕਟਾਰਨ ਦਾੜ ਹੇ ਖੰਜਰ ਬਾਕ ਦੁਧਾਰ ਹੇ ਖੰਡਾ ਜੀਹ ਬਿਸਾਲ ॥
Radhan Kataaran Dhaarr Radhan Kataaran Dhaarr Hae Kha[n]jar Baak Dhudhhar Hae Kha[n]daa Jeeh Bisaal
The teeth and beard are sharp Punch Daggers [katars], Oh the teeth and beard are sharp Punch Daggers ! The speech is a dagger ! Oh the tongue is a double edged sword [khanda] !
ਹਸਤ ਤੁਫੰਗ ਨਖ ਢਾਰ ਹਸਤ ਤੁਫੰਗ ਨਖ ਢਾਰ ਹੇ ਸਾਯਕ ਅੰਗੁਲਿਯ ਫਾਰ ਹੇ ਨਖ ਸਿਖ ਬਯਾਘ੍ਰ ਖੰਕਾਲ ॥੧੬੮॥੬੬॥੨੩੮੫॥
Hasth Thupha[n]g nakh Tdaar Hasth Thupha[n]g nakh Tdaar Hae Saa-aik A[n]guleea Phaar Hae nakh Sikh Baiaaghr Kha[n]kaal
The hands are guns and the nails are shields ! Oh the hands are guns and the nails are shields! The fingers are arrowheads ! Oh what a ferocious force with nails and a head like a lion !

Here, Guru Sahib develops an easy way to see all of these shastars/astars as One. Maharaj treats them as all part of One Body. This entire Universe is the Maya Body of Vaheguru in Their Sargun Form. All Shaktis/powers belong to Vaheguru. In the same way, all Shastars belong to the One – Vaheguru. When a warrior wields a weapon, they should know it is not their power but the power of Vaheguru. This adds a Karmic responsibility of the warrior towards how they use Shastars. Having this thinking allows us to better understand Shastar Naam Mala and the intricate spiritual teachings of Maharaj's Jungi Bani.

A Rhinocerous Hide Shield belonging to Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj

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ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਅਸਤ੍ਰ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਸਿਪਰ/Sasthr Asthr Thumhee Sipar

Mehron Steek (Similar in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Giani Harbhajan Singh Dhudhike Katha)

ਤੂੰਹੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਹਥ ਨਾਲ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਹੈਂ 

ਤੂ ਹੀ ਵਗਾਹ ਕੇ ਮਾਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਅਸਤ੍ਰ 

ਤੂੰਹੀ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਬਚਾਉ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਸਿਪਰ (ਢਾਲ)
[Vaheguru] Only You are the Shastar which is wieled in my hand;
Only You are the thrown projectile Astar;
Only You save from Shastars in the form of a Sipar (Shield)

Giani Bishan Singh Steek

Giani Ji describe Shastars as being used at short distance and then Astars as projectiles for long distance

The following is from the "Glory of Shastars" section of this Steek:
"There are multiple classifications to consider. There are four categories of weaponry (based on Indian traditional understanding):
1) Muktha (Free): that which leaves from the hand (thrown; e.g. chakkra)
2) Amuktha (Not Free): that which does not leave from the hand (meaning kept in hand; e.g. swords, punch daggers)
3) Muktha-Aamuktha (Free or Not Free): that which can leave the hand and can also be utilized while in the hand (e.g. spear, tomahawk, throwable knives)
4) Yanthra Muktha (Free using Technology): that which is launched through
the power of technology or mantra (e.g. arrows, bullets)
Projectiles (being thrown/launched) are referred to as Asthars. There are more detailed categories as well but this is a general classification based on Shukraniti"
Here is the link to this section, in case you missed it

Chaar-Aaenaa (4 mirror) Body Armour of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj; this Armour features beginning of Sri Akaal Ustat inlayed in gold

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ਤੁਮਹੀ ਕਵਚ ਨਿਖੰਗ॥/Thumhee Kavach Nikha[n]g

Mehron Steek (Similar in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Giani Bishan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Giani Harbhajan Singh Dhudhike Katha)

ਤੇ ਕਵਚ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਖੰਗ (ਭਥਾ) ਹੈਂ
You are also the Armour/Chain Mail and the Quiver

Mahaan Kosh

ਨਿਖੰਗ, ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ- ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਤੀਰ ਲਗਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਭੱਥਾ
Nikhang, meaning- that which Arrows are properly placed within, a Quiver 

Most people will think of a quiver, they think of the back quiver but there are many types. All of them belong to Vaheguru
This Chain Mail has the Name Allah on each link as a way to have Divine Protection (16th Century Safavid Iran, Metropolitan Museum of Art)

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ਕਵਚਆਂਤਕ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਬਨੇ/Kavachaa[n]thak Thumhee Banae

Mehron Steek (Similar in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Jaggi Singh Steek, Giani Bishan Singh)

ਕੌਚ ਆਦਿ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਤੋਂ ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਤੁਸੀ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਬਣੇ ਹੋ
You take on the Form of the Shastars that destroy the Body-Protecting Armour

Maharaj in the same way, You take on the Form of the Protecting Armour... You also take on the Form of Armour Destroying Shastars. Both the Offense and Defense are You. Here is an example of modern day armour penetrators, this video is about handgun bullets and how they function:

General Hari Singh Nalwa known for snapping the jaws of a tiger with his hands. This Power belongs to Vaheguru. 

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ਤੁਮ ਬ੍ਯਾਪਕ ਸਰਬੰਗ॥੭॥/Thum Byaapak Saraba[n]g

Mehron Steek 

ਅਤੇ ਤੁਸੀ ਹੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਅੰਗਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵਿਆਪਕ ਹੋ
And Only You are present within all parts of the body!

Mahaan Kosh

ਬ੍ਯਾਪਕ: Pervading; Spreading

Vaheguru Ji, You are Pervading within every ang (limb) of the warrior!
Let us take a look at the power of the body. When the warrior is unarmed, they still have the power of their limbs. Whether this is modern or ancient warfare, Vaheguru exists within hand-to-hand combat as well.

Western Documentary on hand-to-hand combat 

This is an encouragement to practice contact sports. Whether this is martial arts; traditional kushti, kabaddi, etc.; or rugby, US Football etc. Maharaj has given this body for abhiyaas (practice/repetition). For the Khalsa, this is spiritual abhiyaas and jungi abhiyaas. Maharaj exists within both.

Please forgive any mistakes & please send suggestions for illustrations/photographs.
Guru Panth Da daas,
Aaeenaa