PARCHIAN PATSHAI 10 is an anonymous and so far unpublished work, comprising 50 parchis or stories from the life of Guru Gobind Singh (MS. held at the Khalsa College, Amritsar, under MS. No. 2300E). Of the 45 folios, 14 describe in brief the lives of the first nine Gurus; the rest are devoted to Guru Gobind Singh. Special mention is made of the Zafamdmah at which point the Guru`s major battles against the hill chiefs and the Mughal government are alluded to.
The abolition of the institution of masands is ascribed to the corruption that had overtaken it. Guru Gobind Singh\’s friendship with Bahadur Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzib, is justified on the ground that he (Bahadur Shah) was a great lover of saints and had served them with devotion in his previous life. The circumstances of the death of the Guru are described in some detail. His orders for Sikhs to venerate the Adi Granth as Guru after him and to read barn daily are said to have been explained to a Sikh named Prahlad Singh. A great part of Rahitndmd Prahlad Singh is reproduced in the text in 31 stanzas in a mixed form of poetry and prose. S.S.Am.
PARCHIAN PATSHAI 10 is a manuscript narrative that offers a collection of 50 sakhis (episodes) detailing the lives of the Sikh Gurus, with a predominant focus on Guru Gobind Singh’s life and legacy. Though its title appears in various forms—such as Parchian Sewa Das or Parchian Pathshahi 10—the text is widely recognized for its role in preserving early Sikh hagiographical tradition.
A closer look reveals that the text is divided in a way that the lives of the first nine Gurus are sketched briefly—with one sakhi for each of the first eight and four for the ninth Guru—while the bulk of the 50 episodes (38 sakhis) recount the events, miracles, and struggles surrounding Guru Gobind Singh. Key narratives include dramatic depictions such as the delivery of the famed Zafarnamah (the letter containing grave warnings to the Mughal authorities), insightful reflections on Sikh principles, and episodes that underscore both spiritual and martial virtues, which together have shaped the Sikh collective memory.
Dating back to the early eighteenth century, the manuscript is preserved at Khalsa College, Amritsar (MS. No. 2300E); its colophon even mentions a date—October 1708—and attributes the work to Seva Das of the Udasi sect. However, while the attribution provides important context, modern scholars continue to debate aspects of its authorship and historical accuracy. Despite these debates, its hagiographical quality and blend of prose and poetic forms offer invaluable insights into the cultural, religious, and literary currents that have influenced Sikh thought and identity over the centuries .
