When talking about the inspiration behind the Sarbloh Granth, the author, attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, makes note how the idea of Sarbloh is linked to Akal Ustat (see [[Akal Ustat's Significance for Sarbloh]]). Just a few lines after this passage the author writes beautifully and humbly how they are unaware of poetics. This section has come under criticism from Nirmala scholar, Tara Singh Narotam, who argued that the Guru for one could not have written so humbly, describing himself as an inept writer. Secondly he writes that in verse #8 (see below) there is a mention of a text called Rūp Dīp Piṅgal, a text written in 1719 - thus indicating that the Sarbloh Granth was written after the life of Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708). However when reading the lines in context this does not seem to be the case. [Pingala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pingala) was a Sanskrit author of the 3rd-2nd century BCE, who wrote on poetics. His Sanskrit work, called Chand Shastra, had been written into the vernacular (as mentioned below) many times prior to the completion of Rūp Dīp Piṅgal (1719). Even within the court of Guru Gobind Singh, Kavi Girdhari Lal wrote Piṅgal Sār in the late seventeenth century. When reading the full passage in context it shows how Narotam was interpreting the line in order to conform to his idea that Sarbloh Granth was not written by Guru Gobind Singh. ਹੋਂ ਕਬਿ ਨਾਹਨਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰੀ, ਨਾਹਨਿ ਕੋਵਿਦ ਗ੍ਯਾਨੀ ॥ I'm not a poet, nor a Pandit of the Shastras, or even a basic poet or wise man. ਕਵਿ ਜਨ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਗ੍ਯਾਨਿਨ ਕੇਰੋ, ਚੇਰੋ ਮੁਗਧ ਅਗ੍ਯਾਨੀ ॥ I am only an ordinary ignorant servant of poets, Pandits, and scholars. ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਕੋ ਕਿੰਕਰ ਸੇਵਕ, ਸਾਧੁ ਜਨਾ ਕੋ ਗਾਨੀ ॥ I am a servant of Sri Sarbloh and I sing the praises of the saints. ਜਾ ਅੱਛਰ ਅਰੁ ਪਦ ਮਹਿ ਸੰਕਾ, ਲੇਹੁ ਸੁਧਾਰ ਸੁਰ ਗ੍ਯਾਨੀ ॥7॥ If I have made any mistake in the letters or words, oh wise scholars, please correct it! ਅਗਨ ਸਗਨ ਗਨ ਭਗਨ ਇਤ੍ਯਾਦਿਕ ਪਿੰਗਲ ਮਾਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨਾ ॥ Within Pingal (poetics) are all the esteemed syllabic clusters like the anapest (short-short-long), dactyl (long-short-short), etc ਝੂਲਨਾ ਛੰਦ ਸੋਰਠਾ ਚੌਪਈ ਅੜਿਲ ਕਬਿੱਤ ਅਡਾਨਾ ॥ The metres of Jhulna, Sortha, Chaupai, Adil, and Kabit, with the Raga Adana. ਰੂਪ ਦੀਪ ਭਾਖਾ ਕਰਿ ਪਿੰਗਲ ਗੁਰੁ ਲਹੁ ਬਰਨ ਸੁਗ੍ਯਾਨਾ ॥ The wise have recited and illuminated upon the form of Pingal (poetics from the Chand Shastra) into the vernacular, understanding the heavy [and light] syllables. ਤਾ ਮਤਿ ਅਤਿ ਬਿਸੇਖ ਤਿਨ ਬਰਨੀ ਪਦ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਜਟਿਤ ਬਿਧਾਨਾ ॥8॥ With such brilliant intellect, they have recited it: every word in order, together in great form. ਬੇਦੋਕਤ ਸੁਕ ਬਚਨਨ ਕੋ ਮਤਿ ਅਤਿ ਅਗਾਧ ਅਤਿ ਊਚੀ ॥ The discourse of the Vedas and the sermons of Shuka (within the Bhagavata Purana) have such a sophisticated philosophy; so limitless and lofty. ਭਾਖ੍ਯ ਕੌਮੁਦੀ ਅਰੁ ਛਾਂਦਸ ਬਹੁ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਨ ਭਾਸ੍ਯ ਸਰੂਚੀ ॥ The great sages have produced and recited such eloquent commentaries on grammar, like the Kaumudi and on poetics. ਤੇ ਜੇ ਬਦਹਿ ਕਾਵ੍ਯ ਬੁਧਿ ਜਨ ਸਭਿ ਅਤਿ ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਕ੍ਰਮ ਮੂਚੀ ॥ Those intellectuals who recited all those poetic treaties, they are so wonderful and structurally beautiful. ਤਾ ਪਦ ਕੋ ਕਛੁ ਗ੍ਯਾਨ ਨ ਮੋ ਮਹਿ ਸਤ੍ਯ ਕਹਿਤ ਹੌਂ ਸੂਚੀ ॥9 I myself have no understanding of those words, I am speaking the pure truth! To continue reading the next verses, click here: [[The Guru's Humility]] This is from: [[Sarbloh]] Granth, Volume 2, page 432. Also in regard to Narotam's first criticism regarding how the Guru could not have written such lines which make him appear so inept as a poet, on the Khaas Patrey of Guru Gobind Singh, we find a very similar line, the image is below: ਹਉ ਕਬਿ ਨਾਹਿਨ ਕਬਿਨ ਕੋ ਦਾਸੂ - I am not a poet, I am the servant of the poets! ![[ho kab nahin .jpg]] To learn more about that Khaas Patra, view this video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eQcCZZ4zTFI