What he shall have to part with he deemeth enduring ;
The thought of death which is to happen he putteth away from him ;
He x troubleth himself about what he must part with ;
He spurneth the Succourer who abideth with him ;
He washeth away and removeth the coating of sandal, 1
And like a donkey conceiveth a love for ashes to roll in.
Man hath fallen into a terrible blind well :
Saith Nanak, O Merciful God, extricate him :
He is only man in appearance ; his acts are those of a brute ;
He beguileth 2 people day and night ;
He weareth a religious dress, but within him is the filth of worldly love ;
However much he try, he cannot conceal his sins ;
Before the world he practiseth contemplation, meditation, and ablution,
While in his heart he hath the greed of a dog ;
In his heart is the fire of avarice while he applieth ashes to his body ; 3
There is a stone tied to his neck : how shall he cross over the bottomless ocean ?
He in whose heart God Himself dwelleth,
Shall, O Nanak, be easily absorbed in Him.
How shall a blind man find the road even though he hear where it is ?
Take his hand and he shall reach the goal.
How can a deaf man understand riddles ?
Talk to him of the night, and he will think you are talking of the dawn
P
SIKH. Ill
aio
THE SIK1H RELIGION
How can a dumb man sing a stave
When, though he try, it would break his voice, 1
How can a cripple roam on a mountain ?
He could never reach there. i ■
O merciful Creator, Nanak humbly supplicateth Thee,: That by Thy favour he may be saved.
Man thinketh not upon the Succourer "Who abideth with him ;
He loveth what is hostile to him ;
He dwelleth within a house of sand,
And indulgeth in joy, and sports, and the pleasures of the world :
He is certain in his heart that they shall last for ever.
• Attached to the sins of revenge, enmity, lust, wrath, worldly love,
Falsehood, excessive avarice, and deceit,
The thought of death never entereth his foolish heart.
In this way he hath passed several lives ;
Nanak prayclh, 0 God, save him by Thy favour.
Thou art the Lord : I make this supplication, unto Thee.
Soul and body are all Thy property ;
Thou art mother and father, we are Thy children.
By Thy favour we obtain many comforts :
Nobody knoweth Thy limit.
O God, Thou art the most exalted of the exalted.
All things are strung on Thy string, 2 And must obey the orders Thou issuest.
It is only Thou Thyself who knowest Thine own condition and limit;
Nanak, Thy slave, is ever a sacrifice unto Thee. 3
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
Slqk V
They who leave God the Giver and attach themselves to other* pleasures,
Shall never 1 be acceptable ; O Nanak, without the ‘Nlame their honour shall depart. '
Ashtapadi V
If man obtain ten things and lay them by,
Shall he basely forfeit his faith for the sake of one thing ? 1
If God give not even one thing and take away the ten things,
Say what can foolish man do ?
Ever bow down to that Lord With whom force is of no avail.
All happiness abideth in him To whose heart God is dear.
The man whom God hath caused to obey His order, Hath, Nanak, obtained all things.
The Banker giveth countless capital to man : ’
He eateth, and drinketh, and useth it with pleasure and
joy;
But if God the Banker take back some of what He hath entrusted to man,
The fool becometh angry.
He by his own act forfeiteth confidence,
And God will not again trust him.
If thou place the things 2 before their Owner,
And obey God’s order with all thy might, 3
, 1 When God has conferred many blessings, shall man be Ungrateful and rail at Him because he is bereft of one blessing ?
P 2
He will make thee fourfold happy.
Nanak, the Lord is ever compassionate.
Man is enamoured of the various forms of mammon,
But it is temporary ; know this for a certainty.
Man falleth in love with the shadow of a tree :
When that vanisheth he mourneth in his heart. Everything we see is transitory ;
Yet man, thoroughly blind that he is, is attached to it. He who giveth his love to a passing visitor,
Shall gain nothing thereby.
O my soul, the love of God’s name is comfortable. Nanak, God attacheth to Himself those to whom He sHoweth mercy.
Perishable are body, wealth, and family ;
Perishable are pride, egoism, and worldly love ;
Perishable are dominion, youth, wealth, and property;
Perishable are lust and direful wrath ;
Perishable are carriages, elephants, horses, and raiment;
Perishable the love of worldly things, a sight of which causeth man to rejoice ; 1
Perishable are deceit, worldly love, and pride ;
Perishable is self-conceit;
Imperishable the worship performed under the protection of holy men—
Nanak liveth by meditating on God’s feet—
Perishable the ears which listen to slander of others ;
Perishable the hands which steal the property of others;
Perishable the eyes which behold the beauty and other charms of another’s wife ;
Perishable the tongue which tasteth dainty food and other savours;
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 213
Perishable the feet which run after evil;
Perishable the heart which coveteth another’s goods;
Perishable the body which benefiteth not others ;
Perishable the nose which delighteth in the smell of evil;
Without understanding God everything is perishable.
Fruitful is the body, Nanak, which taketh the name of God.
Vain is the life of the infidel. 1
How can man be pure without truth ?
Vain are the spiritually blind without God’s name ;
Foul breath 2 issueth from their mouths :
Without remembering the Name their days and nights pass away in vain.
As the crop perisheth without rain,
As the money of the miser is worthless,
So everything is vain without repeating God’s name.
They are to be highly congratulated in whose hearts the name of God abideth :
Nanak is a sacrifice, a sacrifice unto them.
The Sakats are of two classes, those who follow the right-hand and those who follow the left-hand way. The worship of the former is open and undisguised, and of the latter secret and concealed. The ceremonies must be attended with one or all of five objects beginning with an M—mans, flesh; matsya, fish; madya, wine; maithuna, sensuality; and mudra, naturalistic gesticulations. It can, therefore, be understood that the worship occasionally diverges from its strictly religious character.
The scriptures of the Sakats are called Tantras. They principally consist of dialogues between Shiv and his consort. Their composition is attributed to Shiv himself. There is no doubt that they possess some antiquity, for they are mentioned in the Purans.
?*4 / /TiHE SIKH, RELIGION i
7 !
He who professeth one thing and dpetlr another, ..
, In. whose heart there is no love,, but who .attacheth nien to him by his words,
Shall he trieid by the Lord, who is wise, who knoweth everything, .
And is not pleased simply by outward appearances.
He who practiseth not what he preacheth,
Shall come and go, shall be born and die.
The world shall be saved by his teaching In whose heart the Formless One dwelleth.
Only they who are pleasing to Thee, O God, can know Thee :
Nanak falleth at the feet of such men.
Supplicate th$ Supreme Being who knoweth all things, God. accepteth the prayers of His creatures :
He Himself and by Himself decideth :
To one man He showeth Himself afar, and to another near.
He Himself is free from all stratagems and wiles ;
He thoroughly knoweth the ways of man’s heart;
The man who is pleasing to Him He attacheth to His skirt— He is contained in every place—
He to whom He showeth favour is His servant.
Nanak, every moment repeat God’s name.
Slok VI
Nanak hath taken Thy protection, O Divine Guru; mercifully grant
- That his lust, wrath, avarice, worldly love, and pride may depart!
Ashtapadi VI
' ■ T
Bear that God in thy mind
By whose favour thou eatest of the thirty-six dishes.
HYMNS* OF! GURU -ARJJIAN 215
Thou shalt obtain salvation by remembering Him By whose favour thou appliest perfume to thy body. Meditate oil Him continually in thy heart By whose favour thou dwellest comfortably at home. Repeat His name with thy tongue for the eight watches By whose favour thou dwellest in comfort with thy family.
Nanak ever meditateth on Him
By whose favour thou enjoyest mental and bodily pleasure ; He is worthy of meditation . 1 '
Why shouldest thou be enamoured of others and forsake Him
By whose favour thou wearest silks and satins ?
O man, sing His praises for the eight watches By whose favour thpu sleepest in comfort on thy bed. Repeat His praises with thy mouth and with thy tongue By whose favour every one honoureth thee.
O man, ever think upon the Supreme Being alone By whose favour thy faith is preserved.
By uttering the name of God thou shalt obtain honQur at His court,
O Nanak, and go home with honour.
Fix thine attention on that lovable God By whose favour thy beautiful body remaineth healthy. O man, thou shalt obtain happiness by uttering God’s praises,
By whose favour thy honour is preserved.
O man, take shelter in that Lord God By whose favour all thy defects are concealed.
O man, at every breath remember the Most High By whose favour none can equal thee.
Nanak, perform His service
By whose favour thou obtainest a human body so difficult to obtain.
0 man, why art thou slow in remembering Him By whose favour thou wearest jewels ?
0 man, never forget thy God
By whose favour thou ridest on horses and elephants. String and keep God in thy heart
By whose favour thou hast gardens, and property, and wealth.
Standing or sitting, O man, ever meditate upon Him Who made the framework of thy body.
Meditate upon Him who is the Invisible One,
And he will preserve thee, Nanak, in this world and the next.
Meditate upon Him during the eight watches of the day By whose favour thou bestowest much in charity. Remember that God at every breath By whose favour thou performest thy religious and worldly duties.
Remember that God ever incomparable By whose favour thy form is beautiful.
Meditate on that God day and night By whose favour thou hast obtained the superior state. 1 By the Guru’s favour, Nanak, repeat His praises By whose favour thine honour is preserved.
Why attach thyself to any other and forsake Him By whose favour thine ears hear melody,
By whose favour thou beholdest wonders,
By whose favour thou utterest ambrosial words,
By whose favour thou abidest in ease and comfort,
* By whose favour thy hands move to discharge 2 their duties,
By whose favour thou art completely successful,
2X7
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
By whose favour thou obtainest supreme bliss,
By whose favour thou shalt be filled with happiness and comfort ?
Awaken thy heart, Nanak, by the Guru’s favour.
Never at all forget that God in thy heart
By whose favour thou art distinguished in the world.
O foolish man, repeat His name By whose favour thou obtainest glory.
Know in thy heart that He is ever present By whose favour thine affairs are completed.
O my soul, attach thyself to Him By whose favour thou obtainest the truth.
Nanak, utter the name of Him By whose favour all are saved.
He uttereth God’s name whom He causeth to utter it; He singeth God’s praises whom He causeth to sing them.
Through God’s mercy man becometh enlightened ; Through God’s compassion the lotus of the heart bloometh.
If God be pleased, He abideth in man’s heart.
By God’s compassion man’s intellect is superior to that of others.
All wealth is obtained, O God, by Thy kindness ;
No one obtaineth anything by himself.
We apply ourselves to the duties to which Thou hast appointed us, O Master :
Nanak, we have no power in ourselves.
Slok VII
The supreme Being is inaccessible and unfathomable;
He who repeateth His name shall be saved.
Hear, O my friends, Nanak’s representation And the wonderful story of the saints :—
THE SIKH; RELIGION / • s
Ashtapadi VII
By association with saints the face becometh bright,,
By association with saints all filth is removed,
By association with saints pride is effaced.
By association with saints divine knowledge is revealed,
By association with saints God is known to be near,
By association with saints everything is decided,
By association with saints the jewel of the Name is obtained.
By association with saints we should strive for the one God—
What mortal can express saints’ praises ?
Nanak, the glory of saints is merged in that of God. 1
By association with saints the Unseen is obtained,
By association with saints man ever flourisheth.
By association with saints the five evil passions are restrained,
By association with saints man partaketh of the ambrosial essence of the Name,
By association with saints man becometh the dust of all men's feet,
In the association of saints is fascinating converse,
By association with saints, the mind wandereth not in any direction,
By association with saints it becometh stable,
By association with saints the mind is free from illusion—
„Nanak, by association with saints, God is well pleased.
By association with saints all enemies become friends, . By association with saints man becometh very pure,
HYMNS' OH ..GURUARiJAN 219
By association with saints man feeleth not enmity for any one, . ,
By association with saints man’s feet walk not awry—
A man cannot be evil who associateth with saints—
By association with saints man knoweth the Supreme
Joy,
By association with saints there is no fever of pride,
By association with saints man abandoneth all self- conceit.
Only God knoweth His saints’ greatness—
Nanak, there is an understanding between God and His saints—
By association with saints the mind never wandereth, ,
By association with saints happiness is ever obtained,
By association with saints man obtaineth what is unseen,
By association with saints man beareth intolerable things, By association with saints man dwelleth in an exalted position,
By association with saints man shall reach God's palace, By association with saints man’s faith is completely established,
In the association of saints the Supreme Being alone is mentioned ,
By association with saints man obtaineth the treasure of the Name—
Nanak is a sacrifice to the saints—
By association with saints all one’s family is saved,
By association with saints acquaintances, friends, and family are saved,
By association with saints that wealth is obtained From which every one gaineth advantage—
Dharmraj performeth service for those who associate with saints— :
By association with saints the king of the demigods singeth man’s praises.
By association with saints sins flee away,
By association with saints man singeth the praises of the ambrosial Name,
By association with saints man reacheth every place, Nanak, by association with saints man’s birth is profitable.
By association with saints man hath no travail—
On beholding and meeting them man becometh happy— By association with saints blemishes are removed,
By association with saints hell is avoided,
By association with saints man shall be happy in this world and the next,
By association with saints they who are separated from God shall meet Him,
By association with saints man departeth not empty,
But obtaineth the fruit he desireth.
The Supreme Being dwelleth in the hearts of saints ; Nanak, man hearing God’s delicious name from saints shall be saved.
In the association of saints hear God’s name,
In the association of saints sing God’s praises,
In the association of saints God is not forgotten,
In the association of saints man shall assuredly be saved—
To the association of saints God is dear—
By association with saints He is seen in every heart,
By association with saints man becometh obedient,
By association with saints I have been saved.
By association with saints all maladies are healed. Nanak, association with saints is obtained by good fortune.
Even tbe Veds know not the greatness oi saints ;
They described them as far as they had heard of them. The greatness of saints is beyond the three qualities, The greatness of saints pervadeth every place ;
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 221
There is no end to the glory of saints ;
The glory of saints is ever endless,
The glory of saints is the highest of the high,
The glory of saints is the greatest of the great,
The glory of saints appertaineth to them alone ;
Saith Nanak, my brethren, there is no difference between God and His saints.
Slok VIII
He whose heart is true and whose words are true Looketh at nobody but the one God.
Nanak, these are the marks of a man who knoweth God :—
Ashtapadi VIII
The man who knoweth God is ever uncontaminated,
As the lotus is untouched by the water ;
The man who knoweth God is ever stainless, 1 As all things purified by the sun ;
The man who knoweth God looketh on all men as equal, As the wind bloweth on the rich and poor alike ;
The man who knoweth God is uniformly patient,
Like the earth which one man diggeth up and another smeareth with sandal.
This is the attribute of the man who knoweth God ; Nanak, his nature is like that of fire. 2
The man who knoweth God is the purest of the pure,
As filth cannot permanently attach to water ;
The mind of the man who knoweth God is enlightened, Like the firmament above the earth;
To the man who knoweth God a friend and foe are the same ;
The man who knoweth God hath no pride ;
The man who knoweth God is the most exalted of the
exalted;