Deg Tegh Fateh

Deg Teg Fateh (Punjabi: ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ਼ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ, or Victory to Charity and Arms) is a Sikh slogan and anthen in the Punjabi language that signifies the dual responsibility of the Khalsa: to provide food and protection for the needy and oppressed.[1]

Deg Tegh refers to the "cauldron" and "sword", respectively – the kettle symbolizes charity and is a reference to the Sikh religious obligation to provide langar, the free distribution of food, to all people, irrespective of an individual's religion, caste or ethnicity.

Degh Tegh Fateh translation in English-

"Victory in war and prosperity in peace have been obtained from Guru Nanak-Gobind Singh. God is one! Victory to the Presence!! This is the order of Sri Sachcha Sahib (The great master) to the entire Khalsa. The Guru will protect you. Call upon the Guru's name. Your lives will be fruitful!. You are the Khalsa of the great immortal God. On seeing this anthem, repair to the presence, wearing five arms (The Panj Shaster include the Kirpan, the Khanda, the Karud, the Che-Nishanbazi and the Chakkar). Observe the rules of conduct laid down for the Khalsa. Do not use Bhang, tobocco, Poppy, wine, or any other intoxicant...Commit no theft nor adultery. We have brought Satyug (the golden age) Love one another. This is my wish. He who lives according to the rules of Khalsa shall be saved by the Guru."

The sword, or (kirpan), represents the warrior code of the Khalsa. The Khanda icon conveys this principle.

The Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur incorporated this slogan into his seal, and Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia struck it into coins in 1765 after decisively defeating the rival Afghans.

This inscription was later adopted by the Sikh Misaldar Sardars and rulers on their coins. It was the national anthem of the princely state of Patiala during the Sikh Confederacy. This national anthem had been sung in all the Sikh States until 1948. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, too, has mentioned it in his magnum opus Mahan Kosh (p. 1165 of the 1999 edition).