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Written in exquisite Persian verse, the Zafarnama or ‘Epistle of Victory’ was a defiant message composed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, and addressed to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, following a series of fierce battles between the imperial forces and Sikh warriors.  Despite the ravages of the war and the loss of his four sons and many brave fighters, the guru felt that he had won a moral victory over the emperor.

With wisdom and honesty, the guru indicts the emperor for the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of his empire, as exposed by the treachery of the emperor’s commanders in battle. The 111 stirring stanzas in this timeless text form the core of the guru’s spiritual philosophy, highlighting his espousal of morality in thought and action as well as his deep understanding of the true nature of God and Creation.

In this brilliant new translation, Navtej Sarna brings to life the valiant voice of Guru Gobind Singh and the power of his poetic genius in a passionate disavowal of tyranny that remains ever relevant.