ੴਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥
ਬਲੁ ਛੁਟਕਿਓ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਰੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਬ ਓਟ ਹਰਿ ਗਜ ਜਿਉ ਹੋਹੁ ਸਹਾਇ ॥੫੩॥
ਬਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਬੰਧਨ ਛੁਟੇ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੁਮਰੈ ਹਾਥ ਮੈ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਹੋਤ ਸਹਾਇ ॥੫੪॥
ਸੰਗ ਸਖਾ ਸਭਿ ਤਜਿ ਗਏ ਕੋਊ ਨ ਨਿਬਹਿਓ ਸਾਥਿ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਮੈ ਟੇਕ ਏਕ ਰਘੁਨਾਥ ॥੫੫॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਰਹਿਓ ਸਾਧੂ ਰਹਿਓ ਰਹਿਓ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਜਗਤ ਮੈ ਕਿਨ ਜਪਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਮੰਤੁ ॥੫੬॥
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰ ਮੈ ਗਹਿਓ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸਮ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਜਿਹ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸੰਕਟ ਮਿਟੈ ਦਰਸੁ ਤੁਹਾਰੋ ਹੋਇ ॥੫੭॥੧॥

Some historians have concocted the story that the 53rd Salok of Salok Mahalla 9 was sent in letter form by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Jee to His son Sri Guru Gobind Rae Jee as a form of a test; a question needing an answer, to see what was in the heart of His son. To which Guru Sahib replied in the following Salok numbered 54.

Those people who believe this Salok to be the composition of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee are not familiar with Gurmat Vichaar. The most shocking thing is that some misinformed writers, under the influence of this fake story, have even gone so far as to add the sirlekh of Mahalla 10 into some handwritten saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. As shown below:





These writers, rival historians, and translators of Gurbani have not understood the divine nature of the composition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee which occurred directly under the authority of God, not through any random guesswork. The faulty addition of ‘Mahalla 10’ can instantly be recognised through the impenetrable numbering security system of Gurbani. If Sri Guru Dashmesh Jee had truly written this Dohra then the number at the end of it would be ‘1’ and not ‘54’. Furthermore, even if the Mahalla 10 occurred with the correct numbering of ‘1’, after it a ‘Mahalla 9’ preceding the 55th Salok would again be required. No such Saroop with the correct initial Sirlekh (Mahalla 10), numbering (1), and following Sirlekh (Mahalla 9) is known to be in existence, however some combination of these can be found in rare cases, as pictured above.

In addition, other leading scholars and translators of Gurbani such as Bhai Joginder Singh Talwara and Professor Sahib Singh have nowhere mentioned the existence of a ‘Mahalla 10’ in their steeks.

These imaginary stories concocted by reckless storytellers do not fit within the confines of Gurmat. We should very carefully look after our Father’s treasure chest and recognise that those who try to mix and modify Gurbani are not friends of the Khalsa Panth.

---
The above is loosely translated and adapted from Giani Harbans Singh, Aad Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Darshan Nirnai Steek vol. XIIII (Patiala: Gurbani Seva Prakashan, 2010), p. 576-577.

The purpose of the article was not to stir up any controversy or offend anyone but rather to correct a small mistruth that has been propagated in some circles. Apologies for all mistakes.