Last Moments of Sahib Singh Bedi

The passage below documents the last moments of Sahib Singh Bedi's life with his son, Bikram Singh, who can be seen in this image taken in 1849.

ਪੁਨ ਪੂਛਾ ਦਿਨ ਕਿਤਨਾ ਆਵਾ । ਚਤੁਰ ਘਰੀ ਸਿਖ ਬੈਨ ਅਲਾਵਾ ।

Then [Sahib Singh Bedi] asked, how much of the day had passed? A Sikh replied, "an hour and a half".

ਅਮਲ ਲਯਾਵੋ ਆਇਸ ਦੀਨੀ । ਸੁਨ ਸਪੂਤ ਪੁਨਿ ਬਿਨਤੀ ਕੀਨੀ ।

[Sahib Singh Bedi] commanded, bring the intoxicants, his son [Bikram Singh] obeyed, bringing it then bowing down.

ਅਮਨਲ ਵੇਲਾ ਭਾ ਸੁਖਦਾਈ । ਗਦ ਗਦ ਬਾਨੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਅਲਾਈ ।

The time for intoxicants was greatly pleasing, with great enjoyment the Guru's [descendant, Sahib Singh Bedi] recited Gurbani.

ਪੂਤ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਵੇਲਾ ਹੋਵਾ । ਹਰਿਪੁਰ ਗਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਹਮ ਜੋਵਾ ।

[He then said], "Listen my son, my time has come, I have seen that it's time for me to travel to Hari's Abode."

ਐਸੇ ਕਹਿ ਮਾਵਾ ਕਰ ਲੀਨਾ । ਨੀਰੈ ਸਾਥ ਅਚਨ ਤਬ ਕੀਨਾ ।

In saying this he took the ball of opium in his hand, and with water [Sahib Singh Bedi] consumed it.

Gurbilas Baba Sahib Singh Bedi (1858), page 814.

Photo: Bikram Singh Bedi, Calotype, Dr John McCosh, Lahore, November 1849