Who treasureth God's name in his heart even for a moment. Saith Nanak, save me, 0 Lord, with those who are desirous of one glance of Thee.
In this Sukhmani is the name of God which like ambrosia bestoweth happiness.
And giveth peace to the hearts of the saints. 2
By remembering God man doth not again enter the womb ;
By remembering God the tortures of Death disappear;
By remembering God death is removed ;
By remembering God enemies retreat;
By remembering God no obstacles are met;
By remembering God we are watchful night and day ;
By remembering God fear is not felt;
By remembering God sorrow troubleth not:
Men remember God in the company of the saints—
Nanak, by the love of God all wealth is obtained.
By remembering God we obtain wealth, supernatural power, and the nine treasures ;
By remembering God we obtain divine knowledge, meditation, and the essence of wisdom ;
Remembrance of God is the real devotion, penance, and worship;
By remembering God the conception of duality is dispelled ;
By remembering God we obtain the advantages of bathing at places of pilgrimage ;
* Also translated—This Sukhmani dwelleth in the hearts of the saints.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 199
By remembering God we are honoured at His court;
By remembering God we become reconciled to His will; By remembering God men’s lives are very profitable : They whom He hath caused to do so remember Him— Nanak, touch the feet of such persons.
To remember God is the most exalted of all duties.
By remembering God many are saved ;
By remembering God thirst is quenched ; 1 By remembering God man knoweth all things ;
By remembering God there is no fear of death ;
By remembering God our desires are fulfilled ;
By remembering God mental impurity is removed,
And the ambrosial Name filleth the heart.
God abideth on the tongue of the saint Whose most humble slave Nanak is.
They who remember God are wealthy ;
They who remember God are honoured ;
They who remember God are acceptable ;
They who remember God are distinguished ;
They who remember God feel not want ;
They who remember God rule the world ;
They who remember God dwell in happiness ;
They who remember God live for ever ;
They to whom God showeth mercy ever remember Him—
Nanak prayeth for the dust of such men’s feet.
They who remember God are philanthropic ;
I am ever devoted to those who remember God.
The faces of those who remember God look bright;
They who remember God pass their lives in bliss ;
They who remember God chasten their hearts;
The ways of thds^Vvfe) remember God are holy ;
They who remember God feel extreme joy;
They who remember God dwell near Him,
And by the favour of the saints are watchful night and day—
Nanak, meditation on God is obtained by complete good fortune.
By remembering God everything is accomplished ;
By remembering God man never grieveth ;
By remembering God man uttereth His praises ;
By remembering God man is easily absorbed in Him ;
By remembering God man findeth an immovable seat; By remembering God the lotus of man's heart bloometh ; By remembering God man heareth the unbeaten melody ; The happiness which is obtained by remembering God hath no end or limit :
They to whom God is merciful remember Him ;
Nanak seeketh the protection of such men.
By remembering God His saints have become distinguished ;
By remembering God the Veds were composed ;
By remembering God men have obtained supernatural power, continence and generosity ;
By remembering God even the lowly are known in every direction ;
By remembering God the whole earth is supported ; 1 Remember, remember God the Cause of causes.—
• For the remembrance of God He created the whole world :
Where God is remembered there is God Himself:
Nanak, the pious whom God hath mercifully instructed, »Have obtained the boon of remembering Him.
SimYl 11
- ' V, , • •)*
O Thou Destroyer of the pain an^.grjpf of the distressed, Lord of every heart, Thyself without a lord,
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 201
I have come under Thy protection ; O God, be with Nanak!
Ashtapadi II
Where man hath neither mother, nor father, nor son, nor friend, nor brother,
There, 0 my soul, God’s name shall be with thee and assist thee.
Where the very terrible ministers of Death crush thee, There the name of God alone shall go with thee.
Where there are very great obstacles,
The name of God will remove them in a moment.
Thou shalt not be saved even by many expiations ;
It is the name of God which removeth millions of sins.
O my soul, utter the name of God under the Guru’s instruction ;
Thus shalt thou, saith Nanak, have manifold joys.
The king of the whole world is miserable ;
Only he is happy who uttereth God’s name.
Even though there be millions of entanglements,
By uttering the name of God, we shall be freed from them all.
The various pleasures of the world allay not our thirst, But by pondering on God’s name it is quenched.
On the road on which man goeth alone, 1 The name of God is with him to cheer him.
Ever ponder on such a Name in thy heart,
And under the Guru’s instruction, Nanak, thou shalt obtain the supreme state.
Even though thou have millions 0/arms, thou shalt not
be saved ;
But, if thou utter the Name, thou shalt be saved.
When many obstacles harass thee,
The name of God will at once save thee.
Man dieth and is born in many births,
But he shall obtain rest by uttering the Name.
The soul is defiled by filthy pride—filth which is never washed away; 1
But the name of God cleanseth all impurity :
Repeat such a Name, O my soul, with love :
Nanak, it is obtained in the company of the saints.
On the way where the miles cannot be counted.
The name of God shall there be thy provision ;
On the way where there is pitch darkness,
The name of God shall accompany and light thee ;
On the way where nobody knoweth thee,
The name of God shall be there to recognize thee ; Where there is very terrible heat and great sunshine, There the name of God shall be a shadow over thee.
O man, where thirst tormenteth thee,
There, saith Nanak, the name of God shall rain nectar on thee. 2
Uttering the Name is the business of the pious ; It giveth peace to the hearts of the saints. God’s name is the shelter of His servants ;
By God’s name millions have been saved.
The saints day and night praise God :
The pious use God’s name as their medicine. The name of God is the treasure of the holy ; The Supreme Being gave this gift to man.
* Hindus light lamps to guide the departed. They offer water to allay their thirst and umbrellas to protect them from the heat. Such offerings, which are made through Brahmans, are rejected by the Sikhs as vain superstitions.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 203
Nanak, the pursuit of divine knowledge is the rule of the holy,
Whose souls and bodies are dyed with the love of the one God.
The name of God is the way of salvation for His servant;
The food of God’s name satisfieth His servant ;
The name of God is His servant’s beauty and delight;
By uttering God’s name harm never befalleth one ;
God’s name is His servant’s glory ;
From God’s name man obtaineth lustre ;
God’s name is enjoyment and salvation to His servant;
By uttering God’s name man is never separated from Him.
Nanak, every demigod 1 worshippeth him
Who is dyed with the worship of God’s name.
God’s name is wealth and treasure to His servants ;
God Himself gave His name as a boon to man ;
God’s name is to His servant a powerful stronghold ;
God’s servant knoweth naught but God’s glory.
The man of God who is the warp and the woof, 2 is dyed with God’s love ;
In deep meditation man is intoxicated with the essence of the Name;
During the eight watches of the day the man of God repeateth His name.
The saints of God are distinguished and not obscure ;
The worship of God conferreth salvation upon many—
Nanak, how many shall be saved with holy men ?
This name of God is as the tree which groweth in heaven; 1
The singing of God’s praises is as the gifts of Kamdhen ;
Speaking of God is the best of all utterances ;
By hearing the Name pain and sorrow are removed :
The praise of the Name dwelleth in the hearts of the pious ;
By their influence all sins depart.
It is by great good fortune association with the pious is obtained;
It is by serving them man meditateth on God’s name :
There is nothing equal to God’s name—
Nanak, a few men obtain it by the Guru’s instruction.
Slok III
I have seen many Shastars, many Simritis, and searched them all—
They are, Nanak, not equal to God’s priceless name.
Ashtapadi III
Muttering spells, doing penance, pretended knowledge, all meditation,
The exposition of the six Shastars and of the Simritis,
The practice of Jog, the performance of vain religious ceremonies,
The abandonment of everything, wandering in the forest,
Superstitious efforts of various descriptions,
Almsgiving, the sacrifice, of hom, the bestowal of many jewels, 2
* Jewels may be understood literally; but the word is sometimes applied to clarified butter, sesame, sandal, cardamums, honey, &c., thrown on fire as a hom sacrifice.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 205
Cutting pieces off one’s body and making them a burnt offering,
The performance of fasting and vows of many kinds— All are not equal to the contemplation of God’s name, Nanak, even if it be only once repeated as directed by the Guru.
Were one to wander through the nine continents of the earth, live for a long time,
And become a great anchoret and penitent;
Were one to burn oneself in the fire,
Make gifts of gold, excellent horses, and lands,
Perform the niwali feat, adopt many Jogi attitudes, Adopt the Jain mortifications, make great spiritual efforts, And cut one’s body into pieces—
Even then the filth of pride would not depart.
There is nothing equal to God’s name :
Nanak, by the utterance of the Name under the Guru man obtaineth salvation.
Even though the soul leave the body at a place of pilgrimage ; yet if it retain worldly desires,
Pride and arrogance will not depart from it.
Even though one practice purification day and night, The filth of the heart will not leave the body.
Even though man subject his body to much mortification, Evil passions will never abandon his heart.
Even though we wash this temporary body with much water,
How can a wall of mud become clean ?
O my soul, exalted is the name of God.
Nanak, the worst sinners have been saved by the Name.
By too much cleverness man shall feel the fear of Death:
Even by various efforts his thirst shall not be satisfied;
Even by adopting various religious garbs the fire of his worldly love is not quenched ;
Even by millions of other religious efforts man is not acceptable in God’s court.
He over whom worldly love hath spread its net,
Shall not escape in heaven or hell.
Death heedeth naught but the praises of God ;
He punisheth all other works of man.
By repeating God’s name grief is dispelled :
Nanak uttereth the Name without effort.
Let him who prayeth for the four boons,
Apply himself to the service of holy men.
Let him who desireth to remove his troubles,
Continually sing the name of God in his heart.
Let him who desireth honour for himself,
Renounce pride by association with holy men.
Let him who feareth transmigration.
Come under the protection of holy men.
Nanak is a sacrifice, a sacrifice
Unto those who thirst for the sight of God.
Among all men foremost is he
Who by association with the pious effaceth pride.
He who deemeth himself lowly,
Shall be deemed the most exalted of all.
They whose minds are the dust of all men’s feet,
Shall see God’s name in their inmost hearts.
They who expel evil from their hearts,
Shall regard the whole world as their friends. t The holy man who looketh upon weal and woe as the same,
Shall not, Nanak, be affected by evil or good.
To him who hath no wealth, O God, Thy name is wealth ; To him who hath no home, Thy name is a home ;
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
To him who hath no honour, Thy name is an honour: Thou givest gifts to all persons.
Thou, O Lord, actest and causest to act.
It is only Thou, who hast the secrets of all hearts,
Who knowest Thine own condition and limit.
Thou art, 0 God, Thine own beloved ;
It is Thou alone who canst praise Thyself.
Saith Nanak, no one else knoweth Thy praises.
Of all devotion, the best devotion is
To utter the name of God and do pious works ; 1
Of all rites, the best rite is
To remove the filth of evil inclinations by association with saints ;
Of all efforts, the best effort is Ever heartily to repeat God’s name ;
Of all speech, the divine speech is
To utter with the tongue God’s praises heard from the Guru ;
Of all places, that is the best place
Nanak, where God’s name dwelleth in the heart.
Slok IV
O unworthy and foolish man, ever remember God.
Fix thy heart upon Him, Nanak, who made thee ; this will avail thee in the end.
Ashtapadi IV
Mortal, think upon the goodness of God,
What thine origin is, and what thou appearest now— That God who made thee, fashioned thee, and adorned thee,
Who preserved thee in the fire of the womb,
Who in thine infancy gave thee milk to drink,
In thy youth food, comfort, and intelligence,
In thine old age relations to watch over thee,
And who put food into thy mouth as thou wast seated. 1 Unworthy man, however, value not these favours.
If Thou, 0 God, pardon him, then, 0 Nanak, he shall be acceptable.
Thou feelest an affection for others, and abandonest Him By whose favour thou dwellest in comfort on the earth, And rejoicest with children, brothers, friends, and wives;
By whose favour thou drinkest cool water,
And the pleasant winds and the priceless fire are at thy service ;
By whose favour thou enjoyest all pleasures,
And livest with all the necessaries of life ;
Who gave thee hands, feet, ears, eyes, and a tongue— Such sins of ingratitude attach to blind and foolish man : Nanak prayeth , save us, O Lord, from such sins.
The ignorant 2 man loveth not Him
Who protecteth him in the beginning and the end ;
The fool fixeth not his heart on Him By service to whom the wealth of the world is obtained ; The Lord who is ever and ever present Is thought by the blind to be far away;
The stupid and foolish forget Him
By service to whom honour is obtained at His court.
Man erreth ever and ever :
Nanak, the Infinite One is the only Preserver.
Man abandoneth a jewel and loveth a kauri;
He renounceth truth and occupieth himself with falsehood ;
* Gawar. Gaonwar, dweller in a village, is literally the Latin word paganus.