ਪੰਚ ਬਟਵਾਰੇ (paňch baṭvaare)
Meaning: noun: Five highway robbers, dacoits.
Quote:
ਮੁਸਨਹਾਰ ਪੰਚ ਬਟਵਾਰੇ॥ ਸੂਨੇ ਨਗਰਿ ਪਰੇ ਠਗਹਾਰੇ॥
musanhaar paňch baṭvaare. soone nagar pare ṭhaghaare.
There are five highway robbers (in this town of the body). These thugs attack when the town (body) is unguarded. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 182
Message: If we do not safeguard our home or town, robbers may take the opportunity to rob us, when it is left unattended. Similarly, all the ‘residents’ of the body, our eyes, ears and other sensory organs, if ‘asleep’ and not alert, leave the body unguarded.
Since all faculties of our minds or sensory organs are busy enjoying their own pleasures (too relaxed and not alert), the five highwaymen (lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment, and arrogance) make their entry into the unguarded house of the body and rule it. These vices rob us of the valuable investments of good habits and virtues.
For example, our eyes begin casting evil glances on others, ears hearing tales of slander, tongues craving for the greed of delicious food, and mind in ecstasy of worldly wealth.
How do we prevent them from taking control of our life? Have better control over the mind by following the wisdom of Gurbani and associating with the Divine or the Guru oriented people. Then we can stay on the right path and acquire right understanding and perform right actions.
ਦਰਬਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਨਾ ਓਇ ਰਹਤੇ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਓਇ ਦੁਸਟ ਵਸਿ ਹੋਤੇ॥
They cannot be restrained by wealth or cleverness. Only through the company of the devout, sadh sangat, can those villains be brought under control. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 182
ਜਪਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸੰਗੀ ਸਭਿ ਤਾਰੇ॥ ਪੋਹਤ ਨਾਹੀ ਪੰਚ ਬਟਵਾਰੇ॥
Contemplating on the Divine, one liberates all of one’s companions (sensory organs). The five highway robbers then do not affect one. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 760
Etymology: Blend of baaṭ, from Sanskrit vartman (track of a wheel, path) → Pali vaṭum (path, road) → Prakrit vaṭṭ → Sindhi vaaṭ, Punjabi vaaṭ/baaṭ + paar (to tear, split; plunder).
