| SOLDIERING WITH FAITH | | | | Soldiering with Faith is an expression of the Sikh tradition of “sant-sipahi” or saint soldier. This spirit is reflected in the fifth verse of the ten swayyas that devout Sikhs recite as part of their daily prayers. The verse reads: | Sudh sipah durant dubah, sir saj sanah durjan dalainge,
Bhari guman bhare man mein, kar parbat pankh hale na halainge.
Tor ariri maror mavasan, maate matangan maan malainge,
Sripat Sri Bhagwan kirpa bin, tyag jahan nidhan chalenge.
| | | (Pure and trained soldiers in resplendent uniforms, destroy their enemies easily,
With pride in their minds for their skills, they can easily move mountains.
They can twist and destroy traitors and enemies, and even kill wild elephants,
But without God’s grace, they will have sacrificed their lives in vain.)
| | | | Religious faith is part of the mental makeup of soldiers, a profession which can demand sacrifice of life, should a situation so require. Faith is also manifested in the creed of soldiering where both, the leaders and the led, can perform their tasks effectively only if they have mutual faith and trust in each other. |
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