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DASAM GURU, GRANTH SAHIB
NOT
DASAM, GURU GRANTH SAHIB

There goes a story that the husband of a lady had gone for fishing and did not return for three days. Desperate wife left the prayer message for the pastor to read, “John having gone to sea, his wife requires the prayer of the congregation for his safe return.” The pastor read the message, “John having gone to see his wife, requires the prayer of the congregation for his safe return.” Misplacing a simple comma in the sentence had catastrophic implications on the prayer.

Guru Granth Sahib says ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਘਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਭਗਤ ਉਤਰਿ ਆਯਉ ॥੧॥ (ਗੁ.ਗ੍ਰੰ. ਸਾ. ੧੪੦੭) . . Here too the correct placing of coma has to be like this ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ , ਘਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਭਗਤ ਉਤਰਿ ਆਯਉ ॥੧॥ This mean Guru Arjan has taken birth in the house of Guru Ram Das ji. However, if the coma is placed after arjan ghar it will read ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਘਰਿ , ਗੁਰ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਭਗਤ ਉਤਰਿ ਆਯਉ ॥੧॥ and will carry wrong meaning that Guru Ram Das has come to the house of Guru Arjan.

This is what happens when the comma is not put at the right place. This is what is happening in not placing the comma correctly while mentioning the title of Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib or more commonly called Dasam Granth.

Since its compilation the voluminous tome from the pen of Guru Gobind Singh ji was appropriately called Dasven Patshah Ju Ka Granth or ‘The Granth of the Tenth Master’. The message is absolutely clear that this is the Granth of The Tenth Master. Even the copy of the Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib at Patna Sahib, which was compiled in 1698 AD, carries the title Dasven Patshah Ju Ka Granth.

Table of contents page of Patna Sahib Beerh (1698 AD) that bears the name 'Dasven Patshah Ju Ka Granth'

The only Granth which has been bestowed with the title ‘Guru’ is Guru Granth Sahib and none else. In the title ‘Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib’, the word ‘Guru’ refers to ‘Dasam’ and not at all to ‘Granth’. Hence ‘Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib’ means that this is the Granth of the Dasam Guru. If we wrongly place the word ‘Dasam’ with ‘Granth’ then it will carry the meaning that it is the tenth Guru Granth. If that’s the case then where are the other nine Guru Granths? Hence, this makes the assumption of those detractors utterly flawed who insist that calling the Granth as 'Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib' is a challenge to Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The word Dasam is for the Guru and not for the Granth. This is the only correct interpretation and meaning. Even the title Dasam Granth is misnomer and denotes that this is the tenth Granth and does not reflect the correct meaning. The issue is not in the composition of the name but how to call it.

So the appropriate title for the collected works of Guru Gobind Singh ji, as has been prevalent since its inception, is Dasven Patshah ka Granth. It ought to be addressed as Dasven Patshah ka Granth or Dasam Guru, Granth Sahib.