Yet his mind is the most humble of all—
Nanak, only those are Brahmgyanis 1 Whom God Himself maketh so—
The man who knoweth God is the dust of all men’s feet, The man who knoweth God feeleth spiritual pleasure, The man who knoweth God showeth kindness to all, From the man who knoweth God copieth nothing evil. The man who knoweth God ever looketh on all with , an equal eye—
Nectar raineth from the glance of him who knoweth God—
The man who knoweth God is free from entanglements ; The way of the man who knoweth God is pure ;
Divine knowledge is the food of the man who knoweth God ;
The man who knoweth God meditateth on Him,
The man who knoweth God hath his hopes on One alone,
The man who knoweth God shall never perish,
The man who knoweth God is steeped in humility,
The man who knoweth God delighteth to show kindness to others,
The man who knoweth God is not involved in worldly affairs,
The man who knoweth God restraineth his wandering mind;
Very good are the acts of the man who knoweth God ; 2 Everything prospereth with him who knoweth God ;
Jn the company of the man who knoweth God all shall be saved—
Nanak, the whole world praiseth the man “whu knoweth God.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
.5
The man who knoweth God loveth Him alone ;
God abideth with the man who knoweth Him ;
The Name is the support of the man who knoweth God,
The Name is a halo 1 for the man who knoweth God; The man who knoweth God is ever watchful,
The man who knoweth God renounceth pride,
The heart of him who knoweth God feeleth supreme delight,
The home of him who knoweth God is ever happy,
The man who knoweth God dwelleth in peace and rest, The man who knoweth God, 0 Nanak, shall never perish—
The man who knoweth God is called a Brahmgyani,
The man who knoweth God loveth but Him alone,
The man who knoweth God is free from care ;
Pure is the doctrine of him who knoweth God ;
He is a Brahmgyani whom God maketh so ;
Great is the glory of the man who knoweth God.
A sight of the man who knoweth God is only obtained by good fortune ;
Be a sacrifice to the man who knoweth God ;
Shiv searcheth for the man who knoweth God—
Nanak, the Brahmgyani is himself God.
The man who knoweth God is priceless,
The man who knoweth God knoweth everything—
Who knoweth the secret of him who knoweth God ? Obeisance ever to him who knoweth God !
Even half a letter of his praises who knoweth God cannot be written—
The man who knoweth God is the lord of all—
Who can tell the worth of the man who knoweth God ?
Only the man who knoweth God knoweth his own state; The man who knoweth God hath no end or limit.
Nanak ever boweth to the man who knoweth God.
The man who knoweth God is the creator of the whole world,
The man who knoweth God liveth for ever and dieth not, The man who knoweth God bestoweth on creatdres spiritual and temporal benefits,
The man who knoweth God is the perfect being, the arranger,
The man who knoweth God is the patron of the patronless,
The man who knoweth God holdeth his arm over all, The man who knoweth God owneth the whole world,
The man who knoweth God is himself the Formless One— The glory of the man who knoweth God is peculiar to himself—•
Nanak, the man who knoweth God is the lord of all. Slok IX
Nanak, he is an Aparas 1 and saveth all,
Who preserveth the Name in his inmost heart,
Who seeth God in all things,
And who every moment boweth to the- Lord.
Ashtapadi IX
Nanak, among millions there is scarcely an Aparas Whose tongue toucheth not falsehood,
Whose heart loveth to behold the Bright One,
Whose eyes gaze not on the beauty of others’ wives, Who serveth holy men and loveth saints,
Whose ears hear not slander of any one,
Who deemeth himself the worst of all men.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 225
Who by the favour of the Guru renounceth all wickedness, Who banisheth all evil desires from his heart,
Curbeth his passions, and refraineth from the five deadly sins.
He is a. Vaishnav with whom God is pleased,
Who is free from the influence of mammon,
Who in performing good acts looketh not for reward 1 — Of such a Vaishnav pure is the religion—
Nanak, that Vaishnav shall obtain final salvation,
Who desireth not a reward for anything,
Who is only attached to God’s service and singing His praises,
Who remembereth God in his mind and body,
Who is merciful to all creatures,
Who himself holdeth fast God’s name and causeth others to repeat it.
He is a Bhagauti who loveth God’s service,
Who forsaketh the company of all wicked men,
Who removeth all superstition from his mind,
Who deemeth and worshippeth all nature as the Supreme Being,
Who by association with the saints washeth away the filth of sin—
Of such a Bhagauti supreme is the wisdom—
He who continually serveth God,
And dedicateth his soul and body to His love,
Who placeth God’s feet in his heart—
Nanak, such a Bhagauti shall obtain God.
He is a Pandit who awakeneth his own mind,
Who searcheth for God’s name in his heart,
Who drinketh the excellent juice of God’s name—
SIKH. Ill Q
The world liveth by that Pandit’s instruction—
The Pandit who implanteth God’s word in his heart Shall not be born again.
Nanak ever maketh obeisance to that Pandit Who understandeth the real meaning of the Veds, the Purans, and the Simritis,
Who recognizeth the great in the minute, 1 And who instructeth the four castes.
The Name, the ground spell, giveth knowledge to all;
He who among the four castes Repeateth it, shall obtain salvation.
Some rare man obtaineth it by association with the saints. By the favour of God, the keeping of the Name in the heart
Shall save brutes, sprites, blockheads and hard-hearted persons. 2
The Name is the medicine for all diseases ;
Singing God’s praises is beatitude and joy.
God’s name is found not in any other way or by any other religion.
Nanak, he for whom such destiny was written from the first, shall obtain God’s name.
He in whose heart is God’s dwelling,
May truly be called God’s slave.
The soul of the world appeareth to his gaze.
And he hath obtained the state of God’s slave of slaves. The servant of God who believeth that He is ever near,
Shall be acceptable at His court.
His servant to whom He showeth kindness,
Shall obtain all knowledge.
The man who among all men is a recluse at heart,
Thus becometh, 0 Nanak, a slave of God.
* Literally—stones. '
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
He whose heart loveth God’s order
Is said to have obtained salvation during life.
To him joy and sorrow are the same ;
He is ever happy and is never separated from God,
To him as is gold so is dross,
As is nectar so is bitter poison,
As is honour so is dishonour,
As is the poor man so is the king.
He who deemeth what cometh from God as best,
Shall, O Nanak, be said to have obtained salvation during life.
All places belong to the Supreme Being ;
Creatures have different names according to where God placed them.
God is able to act and cause others to act;
What pleaseth Him shall ultimately be.
God extended Himself in endless waves ;
The play of the Supreme Being cannot be understood. Man’s enlightenment is according to the' understanding God giveth him.
The Supreme Being, the Creator, is imperishable ;
He is ever, ever, ever compassionate :
By remembering and remembering Him, Nanak hath become happy.
Slok X T
Many people praise Him who hath neither end nor limit : Nanak, God created His creatures of many kinds and various species.
Ashtapadi X
Many millions are His worshippers,
Many millions are engaged in religious and worldly duties, Many millions dwell at places of pilgrimage,
Many millions wander as anchorets in the forest,
Q 2
Many millions listen to the Veds,
Many millions perform excessive penances.
Many millions meditate on God in their hearts,
Many millions of poets compose verses in His praise, Many millions meditate on His ever new names—
Even then, Nanak, they find not the Creator’s limit.
Many millions are proud.
Many millions are in blind ignorance,
Many millions are hard-hearted misers,
Many millions are unsociable 1 and morose at heart, Many millions steal others’ property,
Many millions bring false charges against others,
Many millions make efforts to acquire wealth,
Many millions wander in foreign lands ;
Where Thou didst place men, O God, there are they: Nanak, only the Creator knoweth His own creatures.
Many millions are Sidhs, Jatis, and Jogis ;
Many millions are Kings and enjoy pleasures;
Many millions of birds and serpents have been created ; Many millions of stones and trees have been produced ; Many millions of winds, waters, and fires ;
Many millions of countries and regions of the earth Many millions of moons, suns, and stars ; 2 Many millions of demigods, demons, and crowned Indars.
God holdeth all things by His string,
And, O Nanak, saveth those whom He pleaseth.
Many millions of beings were created with the three qualities of impulse, darkness, and goodness,
* Abhig. This is believed to be from a, negative, and the Panjabi bhijna.
22 <)
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
Many millions of Veds, Purans, Simritis, and Shastars, Many millions of jewelled oceans,
Many millions of animals of various descriptions ;
Many millions were made long-lived,
Many millions of hills and golden mountains,
Many millions of Yakshas, 1 Kinars, 2 and Pishachas, 3 Many millions of sprites, ghosts, pigs, and tigers—
God is near all, yet far from all;
Nanak, God filleth everything, and yet is separate.
Many millions inhabit the nether regions,
Many millions dwell in hell and heaven,
Many millions are born, live, and die,
Many millions wander through many wombs,
Many millions live without exertion, 4 Many millions are wearied with labour,
Many millions are created wealthy,
Many millions are anxious for riches,
Wherever God pleaseth He placeth them ;
Nanak, everything is in God’s power.
There are many millions of Bairagis Who love God’s name ;
Many millions search for God,
And find Him in their hearts ;
Many millions thirst for a sight of God,
And find Him, the Imperishable One ;
Many millions pray for the society of the saints—
They are those who love the Supreme Being.
Nanak, they are ever blest With whom God is well pleased.
®30 THE SIKH RELIGION
Many millions of sources of life and regions were .created, Many millions of skies, mundane eggs, 1 Many millions of incarnations.
In divers shapes the world was spread out; 8 Many times was extension extended.
Ever and ever there is but One God—
Many millions of creatures were made of many descriptions ;
From God they emanated and in God shall they be absorbed.
No one knoweth His limit;
Nanak, God Himself is all in all.
There are many millions of His slaves Whose minds are enlightened ;
Many millions who know the Real Thing,
And ever look with their eyes on the One alone ;
Many millions drink the essence of the Name,
Become immortal, and live for ever and ever ;
Many millions sing the excellences of the Name,
And are absorbed in divine bliss, happiness, and tranquillity.
God watcheth over every breath of His servant,
For, O Nanak, God’s servants are dear to Him.
Slok XI
The Cause of causes is the One God, there is none other. Nanak is a sacrifice to Him who is contained in sea and land, in the nether regions and the firmament.
Ashtapadi XI
The Cause of causes is capable of acting;
What pleaseth Him shall come to pass.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN
He who hath no end or limits Established and disestablished in a moment.
By His order He supported and holdeth the firmament ; 1
By His order there is creation, and by His order absorption in Himself ;
The occupations of high and low are according to His order;
By His order there are the varied phases of nature ; Having created, He beholdeth His own greatness— Nanak, God is contained in all things.
If it please God, man obtaineth salvation ;
If it please God, He maketh a stone cross the ocean of the world ;
If it please God, He can restore the lifeless body ;
If it please God, then man recounteth His praises ;
If it please God, then He saveth sin'ners.
He Himself created, He Himself designeth,
He Himself is the Lord of both worlds.
The Searcher of hearts sporteth and is pleased ;
He causeth man to do as He wished.
Nanak, there is nothing seen but Him.
Say what can be accomplished by man ;
What pleaseth God He causeth to be done ;
If man had the power he would acquire all things. 2 God doeth what pleaseth Himself,
Through not knowing God man is attached to sin ;
If he knew God, he would save himself from it.
The mind led astray by superstition wandered in every direction,
And in a moment returneth.
God bestoweth His service on him to whom He is merciful ; 1
Nanak, such a man shall be absorbed in the Name.
God the cherisher of the poor
Can in a moment make a humble worm a king;
Him who is totally obscure
God can at once render everywhere famous.
The Lord of the world will not take the accounts of those
On whom He bestoweth His favours.
Soul and body are all His property ;
Every heart is full of God’s light;
He made His own handiwork—
Nanak liveth by beholding His greatness.
Man’s power is not at his own disposal;
The Cause of causes is the Lord of all.
Helpless creatures must obey orders ;
What pleaseth God shall ultimately be.
Man is sometimes exalted, and sometimes debased ; Sometimes he mourneth, and sometimes he laugheth with delight and joy;
Sometimes he engageth in blame and praise,
Sometimes he is up in heaven, sometimes down in hell; Sometimes he is acquainted with divine knowledge, Nanak, God Himself causeth us to meet Him.
Sometimes man danceth in a variety of ways,
Sometimes he sleepeth day and night,
Sometimes he is terrible in his mighty wrath,
Sometimes he is the dust of all men’s feet,
Sometimes he is enthroned as a great king,
Sometimes he weareth the attire of a lowly beggar, Sometimes he falleth into evil repute,
HYMNS OF. GURU ARJAN 233
Sometimes he is called very good ;
As God keepeth him so he remaineth—
By the favour of the Guru, Nanak speaketh the truth.
Sometimes as a Pandit man expoundeth texts,
Sometimes vowed to silence he practiseth contemplation, Sometimes he batheth at places of pilgrimage,
Sometimes as a Sidh or Striver he preacheth divine knowledge.
Sometimes his soul wandereth in many wombs—
Is in an elephant, a worm, or a moth.
As a player he playeth several parts ;
As God pleaseth so He maketh man dance.
What pleaseth God shall come to pass ;
Nanak, there is none other than He.
Sometimes man obtaineth the saints’ society,
From which He returneth not again,
And which shall not perish :
The light of divine knowledge shall then shine in his heart. His soul and body dyed with the name of the one God Shall ever abide with the Supreme Being.
As water blendeth with water,
So light is blended with light.
Transmigration is ended and rest obtained—
Nanak is ever a sacrifice to the Lord.
Slok XII
They who have effaced themselves and become humble are happy,
While the very haughty, 0 Nanak, are consumed by their pride.
Ashtapadi XII
He in whose' heart is the pride of dominion,
Shall fall into hell and become a dog ;
He who boasteth of his youth,
Shall become a creature of filth ;
He who calleth himself good
Shall die and be bom again, and wander in many a womb; •
He who is proud of his wealth and property,
Is stupid and blind and ignorant;
He in whose heart God mercifully planteth meekness, Shall obtain, O Nanak, salvation in this world 1 and happiness in the next.
Not so much as a straw shall go with him,
Who, becoming wealthy, plumeth himself thereon.
He who relieth on his large army and men,
Shall be destroyed in ajnoment;
He who deemeth himself stronger than all,
Shall in a trice become dust;
Dharmraj shall disgrace him
Who in his pride thinketh naught of any one.
He whose pride is effaced by favour of the Guru,
Shall be acceptable, Nanak, in God’s court.
If man do millions of good acts but possess pride,
He incurreth only trouble ; all his acts are vain.
He who is proud of his various mortifications,
Shall be bom again and again in hell and heaven.
How shall he who, though making many efforts, Softeneth not his heart, go to God’s court ?
Goodness shall not even approach him Who calleth himself good.
Saith Nanak, pure shall be the glory of him Whose heart is the dust of all men’s feet.
Man hath no happiness
So long as he thinketh he can do something ;
As long as man thinketh he can do something,
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 235
So long shall he wander in wombs ;
As long as man deemeth any one an enemy or a friend, So long shall his mind not be stable ;
As long as man is intoxicated with the love of mammon, ( So long shall Dharmraj punish him.
It is by God’s grace man’s bonds are burst,
And by the Guru’s favour pride, O Nanak, is removed.
Even though man earn thousands, he will run after a lakh;
He will never be satisfied in his pursuit of wealth. Though he devote himself to the enjoyment of many evil passions,
He will never be satisfied ; he will kill himself pursuing more.
No one can be satisfied without contentment;
Otherwise all efforts are vain like the illusion of a dream. All happiness is obtained by loving the Name ;
But only a few obtain it by great good fortune—
God Himself is all in all, the Cause ©f causes;
Ever and ever, Nanak, repeat His name.
The Creator is the Cause of causes ;
What resource hath man ?
He becometh as God regardeth him—
There is only God ;
Whatever was created was according to His pleasure.
He is far from all, and yet with all;
He understandeth, beholdeth, and exerciseth judgement; He Himself is one and He Himself is many ;
He neither dieth nor perisheth ; He neither cometh nor goeth;
Nanak, He is ever diffused throughout creation ;
He Himself instructeth, and He Himself understandeth ; He Himself is blended with everything ;