ਪਾਂਡਵ (paaṅḍav)
Meaning: noun: The Pandavas, the five brothers who were victorious in the great war of Mahabharat.
Quote:
ਰੋਵਹਿ ਪਾਂਡਵ ਭਏ ਮਜੂਰ॥ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਹਤ ਹਦੂਰਿ॥
ਪਾਂਡਵ ਰੋਂਦੇ ਹਨ (ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਰਾਜੇ ਵੈਰਾਟ ਦੇ ) ਮਜਦੂਰ ਬਣੇ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ ਸੁਆਮੀ (ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਜੀ ) ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸਨ।
rovahi paaṅḍav bha-e major. jin kai suaamee rahat hadoor.
The Pandavas who lived in the presence of their Swami (Sri Krishan) weep when they became mazdoors. -Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 954
Message: The Pandavas were the five sons of Pandu, a king of the Kuru dynasty of Hastinapur, currently a city in Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh, India. According to the Hindu epic, Mahabharat, the five brothers were exiled when they lost in gambling. The terms of the game were that the loser would be sent to 12 years of exile into forests, and a 13th year to be spent in disguise. If discovered during the 13th year, another cycle of 12 years would ensue.
Pandavas had grown up in a princely family. Now, they had to conceal their identity and assume non-princely professions for one year in the court of a king, to avoid being detected. Though they had their cousin, friend, and mentor, Sri Krishna, also in their camp and company, nothing helped.
Beware! Gambling is risky and one should not indulge in it. One has to suffer the consequences of one’s choices and actions. One has to undergo the misery. No one can avoid it.
Etymology: The word Pandava is derived from their father’s name, Pandu, meaning offspring or descendants of Pandu.
