Attached to false scriptures, he wrangleth with the holy . 4 Taking the wages of the Lord he serveth some one else. With such qualities is mortal clothed.
He hideth himself from Him who is ever with him.
He prayeth again and again for what is useless to him. Saith Nanak, O God, compassionate to the poor,
As it pleaseth Thee so cherish me.
The intoxication of devotion :—
He who drinketh the essence of God is ever imbued with it ;
The effect of all other essences is but for a moment.
He who is intoxicated with God’s essence is ever happy ; Anxiety is produced by all other essences.
He who drinketh God’s essence is inebriated and intoxicated ;
All other essences are worthless.
The value of God’s essence cannot be described :
It is found in the saints’ shop ;
But nobody can purchase it even with millions of rupees.
The Guru giveth it to him who hath obtained his favour . Nanak having obtained its relish from the Guru,
And tasted it, hath become astounded.
Nanak having become accustomed to its taste Cannot by any means relinquish it in this world or the next.
The Guru prays for God’s protection:—
Beside Thee, O Lord, I have none other; Thou art in my heart;
Thou art my friend and my companion ; why should my soul be afraid ?
Thou art my shelter ; Thou art my hope.
Sitting or standing, sleeping or waking may I not forget Thee O God, at every breath I draw!
Protect me, protect me, O God, in Thine asylum ! terrible is the ocean of fire.
Giver of happiness to Nanak ; true Guru, we are Thy children.
God preserves His saints from worldly love, which is a malignant fever :—
God hath saved His servant,
My mind is reconciled to the Beloved ; my fever hath poisoned itself and died.
I feel not cold or heat when I sing the praises of God’s name.
My vomiting totally ceased when I took the protection of God’s lotus feet.
By the favour of the saints, God hath been kind to me and given me assistance.
Nanak ever singeth the Treasury of excellences, and thus dispelleth doubt and sorrow.
The Guru’s instruction is medicine for the mind diseased:—
I have taken God’s name as my medicine ;
I have been cured, my pain 1 hath departed.
My fever hath left me through the perfect Guru’s instruction.
I have become glad, my sorrows have all fled.
Nanak, all animals obtain happiness
By meditating on the supreme God in their hearts.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 285
The Guru fears not the death of his body :—
The time of deaths which man desireth not, shall arrive.
Without God’s order how shall the fire of fear be put out, however much we try ?
The body is dissolved by water, fire, and earth, 1
But the soul is neither young nor old, 2 O my brethren.
The slave Nanak hath entered the sanctuary of the saints,
And by the Guru’s favour the fear of death is far from him.
The advantage of saintly association and devotion :—
By association with the saints, in whom God’s light for ever shineth,
Man obtaineth a dwelling at God’s feet.
O my soul, ever repeat God’s name,
So shalt thou obtain comfort, peace, and happiness ; and all thy sins shall depart.
Saith Nanak, ye whose acts are perfect
Shall on meeting the true Guru obtain the perfect supreme Being.
O my True Guru, Holder of the play of the world, preserve Thy child.
Give me sense ever to sing Thy praises, my God, inaccessible and endless.
When a mortal is in his mother’s womb he abideth under the support of the Name ;
He is happy, he remembereth God at every breath, and the fire of the womb affecteth him not ;
So, O man, cease to covet others’ goods and others’ wives, and to slander others.
Relying on the true Guru, worship in thy heart God’s lotus feet.
The houses, mansions, and palaces which thou beholdest— of these none shall depart with thee.
As long as thou livest in this Kal age, Nanak, remember God’s name.
Everything is false save devotion to God:—
Empire, property, youth, mansions, fame, comeliness, and youthful beauty,
Great wealth, elephants, horses, and rubies purchased with hundreds of thousands,
Shall be of no avail in God’s court hereafter ; the proud must depart without them.
Why apply thy mind to any but the one God ?
Standing, sitting, sleeping, or waking, ever and ever meditate on Him.
They who were victorious in the great decorated and beautiful arenas, and in the contests of the battle-field,
Who loudly boasted that they had the power of killing, capturing, or releasing,
Left everything and departed on tile very day the order of the Supreme Being arrived.
Man performeth ceremonial works of many descriptions, but the Creator lie knoweth not.
He preacheth, but he practiseth not; he knoweth not God’s word.
Naked he came, naked shall he depart; his acts are impure as when the elephant throweth dust on its head.
Ye good saints and friends, hear me all—false is this world.
Fools have died in agony speaking of their belongings.
On meeting the Guru, Nanak hath meditated on the Name ; the true Name hath saved him.
Few are wakeful in God’s service:—
The whole world is fast asleep in error and silly occupations ;
Only some rare servant of God is awake.
Man is absorbed in greatly fascinating mammon who is dearer to him than life :
Few are they who forsake her.
Some rare holy man is attached
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 287
To God’s incomparable lotus feet, and the instruction of His saints.
Nanak, they who are very fortunate, and to whom God showeth favour,
Are wakeful in the company of the saints, and become imbued with divine knowledge.
The fate of the slanderer :—
The slanderer who washeth away the filth of the sins committed by the slandered in various births, shall obtain his deserts.
He shall have no happiness here, no entrance into God’s court hereafter , and he shall be tormented in the realm of Death.
The slanderer hath lost his life in vain.
He cannot succeed in anything, and hereafter shall not find a place.
Such is the fate of the wretched slanderer : what can the poor creature do ?
He shall be ruined where he shall have no protector : to whom shall he appeal ?
There is no salvation anywhere for the slanderer : such is the will of God.
The more the saints are slandered, the happier are they.
Thou, O God, art the prop, Thou art the helper of the saints. '
Saith Nanak, God protecteth His saints, and the slanderer He consigneth to the stream.
The following was addressed to a hypocritical Sanyasi:—
He who washeth his body while he hath filth in his heart shall lose his happiness in both worlds.
Here he suffereth from lust, wrath, and worldly love ; hereafter he shall sob and weep.
The way to worship God is different.
The serpent is not killed by striking its lair on the out : side, neither doth the deaf man hear the Name.
The hypocrite while abandoning his worldly occupations knoweth not of devotion ;
He applieth himself to criticism of the Veds and the Shastars, but knoweth not the real means of union with God.
As a bad coin 1 is discovered when examined by a moneychanger,
So the Searcher of hearts knoweth everything ; how shalt thou hide thyself from Him ?
The false are at once ruined by their falsehood, deception, fraud, and hollowness.
Nanak uttereth this most verily ; see and remember this in your hearts.
The wonders wrought by the Guru’s teaching:—
By the Guru's instruction , a low Chandal woman becometh a Brahmani and a Sudar woman attaineth the highest rank ;
The craying desire 2 for terrestrial and celestial enjoyments is extinguished and destroyed.
The cat 3 of the household 4 is now differently trained ; on Seeing mice 5 it feareth them.
The Guru hath subjected the lion 6 to the goat 7 ; the dogs 8 eat grass ; 9
A hut 10 hath been raised without pillars in which the homeless find a home.
Without a setter jewels are set 11 and a marvellous precious stone 12 placed among them.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 289
It is not by clamour the plaintiff succeedeth ; by silence he obtaineth justice.
Man dead to God while enjoying wealth, and seated upon costly carpets, now knoweth that what appeareth to the eye quickly vanisheth.
He who saith he knoweth, knoweth nothing ; but he who really knoweth is well known.
Saith Nanak, the Guru hath given me nectar to drink, and on tasting it I am happy.
The Guru’s dependence on God:—
Where Thou, O Lord, art, what fear is there ? whom shall I praise but Thee ?
Where I have only Thee I have everything ; there is none but Thee.
O Father, I have seen that the world is poison.
Preserve me, O Lord of the earth ; Thy name is my support.
Thou knowest the whole state of my mind ; to whom shall I go to tell it ?
Without the Name the whole world hath gone mad ; when it obtaineth the Name it becometh sane.
What shall I say ? to whom shall I tell my condition ? what I want to say must be told to the Lord.
What Thou hast done prevaileth ; ever and ever my hope is in Thee.
If Thou grant greatness, it is to Thine own greatness : let me everywhere meditate on Thee.
O God, Thou art ever the Giver of happiness to Nanak ; Thy name alone is my strength.
The Guru acknowledges his obligations to God:—
When I forget Thee, every one vexeth me; when I remember Thee, men do me service.
I know none but Thee, Thou true, invisible, and inscrutable One.
When I think of Thee, Thou art always merciful; what is the wretched crowd then to me ?
U
SIKH. Ill
Say whom shall I call bad or good ? All men are Thy creatures.
Thou art my prop ; Thou art my support; Thou givest me Thy hand and protectest me.
He to whom Thou showest mercy can suffer no ill.
Only that is happiness and that greatness which is pleasing to God.
Thou art wise, Thou art ever kind, 0 Lord; if I obtain Thy name, I am happy.
In Thy presence this is my humble representation; my soul and body are totally Thine.
Saith Nanak, whatever distinction I possess is Thine ; no one knoweth my name. 1
The following represents a conversation between a Sikh and a devout lady who had asked him the questions contained in the first part of the hymn. The conversation was versified by the Guru.
Thou hast escaped worldly love, impurity, and sloth ; by whose favour was it done ?
Worldly love once greatly fascinating thou feelest no longer ; whither hath gone thy sloth ?
By what arduous mortification hast thou escaped from lust, wrath, and pride,
Which have ruined godly men, demigods, demons, beings possessed of the three qualities, and the whole world ?
A forest fire consumeth much grass ; 2 some rare green shrub like thee hath escaped.
I cannot describe such an omnipotent being ; his praises cannot be expressed.
In this chamber of lamp-black thou hast not been besmirched ; 3 nay, thou hast assumed a spotless colour.
? The Sikh’s reply:—
The great spell of the Guru hath taken its dwelling in my heart, and I have heard the wonderful Name.
HYMNS OF GURU. ARJAN 291
God hath mercifully looked on me with favour, and attached me to His feet.
Through love and service Nanak hath obtained happiness in the association of the saints.
The following represents another conversation between the same lady and the Sikh :—
Thy red jacket 1 becometh thee ;
Thou art pleasing to the Lord, and thou winnest His heart.
Who hath given this bloom to thy face ?
What dye hath given thee thy bright complexion ?
Thou art beautiful, thou art a happy wedded wife.
In thy house is thy Beloved, in thy house is good fortune.
Thou art chaste, thou art distinguished,
Thou art pleasing to thy Beloved, thou possessest superior knowledge.
The Sikh's reply :—
I please my Beloved, wherefore I have this bright complexion.
Saith Nanak, God hath looked on me with a favouring glance.
Hear, my friend, this is the reward of my toil,
That God Himself decketh and adorneth me.
Man is happy on meeting God, as a woman on meeting her husband:—
When Thou wert distant, I greatly suffered ;
Now that I have contrived to meet Thee,
My female companions cease to taunt me.
My suspicions have fled; by the Guru I am united with my Beloved.
My Beloved hath approached and placed me on the couch :
I no longer heed what people say.
In my temple 2 is the light of the Word.
My Spouse is joyful and happy.
U 2
Through the destiny recorded on my forehead my Beloved hath come home to me,
And Nanak hath found lasting wedded bliss.
The Guru, while associating with the world, ever thinks on God:—
My soul is attached to the true Name ;
My love for men is but artificial guise ;
My ties are only external: I smile on every one,
But I am separate from them as a lotus from the water. I converse with everybody,
But I keep my heart with God.
I appear very formidable.
But in reality my heart is the dust of every one’s feet, The slave Nanak hath found the perfect Guru ;
He hath shown me the one God both in my heart and in nature.
However great man’s pleasures, he is, as it were, dead without devotion :—
Man may enjoy pleasures in the vigour of youth,
But without the Name he is blended with the dust.
He may wear costly earrings and fine clothes;
He may have a comfortable couch, and be proud thereof ; He may have elephants to ride and a golden umbrella over his head ;
But without the worship of God he is, as it were, beneath the earth.
Man may enjoy many beautiful women.
But without the essence of God all relishes are insipid. Deceived by mammon man is led into sin and evil.
But he is saved, O Nanak, by entering the sanctuary of the merciful God.
The saints are likened to a garden, the Guru to a gardener:—
There is a garden 1 in which many trees are planted ; They bear the ambrosial Name as fruit.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 293
So contrive, O man of God,
That thou mayest obtain the rank of nirvan.
Around the garden, my brethren, are poisonous pools; within it is nectar ; * ,
There is one gardener to irrigate ;
He tendeth the leaves and branches ;
He bringeth many vegetables and planteth them therein ;
They all without exception bear fruit.
He who hath received the ambrosial fruit of the Name from the Guru,
Crosseth over the world’s ocean according to the slave Nanak.
The Guru prefers the spot where the saints congregate to any place of pilgrimage :—
If I go on a pilgrimage I see men boasting ;
If I inquire of Brahmans, I find them immersed in mammon.
O my friend, show me that place
Where God’s praises are ever sung.
By meditating on evil and good according to the Shastars and Veds,
Man again and again descendeth to hell and ascendeth to heaven.
In the family man’s life there is anxiety, and in the hermit’s pride.
The soul is entangled in religious ceremonies.
He who by God’s favour hath his mind under control,
Shall be saved, O Nanak, by the Guru’s instruction.
Sing God’s praises in the company of the saints :
The place where they dwell is obtained from the Guru.
Let God be ever present to man in all his avocations :—
Whether standing, sitting, or sleeping, meditate on God.
Taking thy walks sing God’s praises.
With thine ears hear the ambrosial Word.
By listening to it thy heart shall be glad, and all thine infirmities and troubles depart.
While working, travelling, or. wandering by the river’s shore repeat God’s name.
By the Guru’s favour drink God’s nectar.
He who day and night singeth God’s praises Shall not fall in Death’s way.
By touching the feet of him who fQrgetteth not God's name
During the eight watches of'the day, 0 Nanak, emancipation is obtained.
God’s kingdom is for the lowly:—
The lowly man whom nobody knoweth
Shall be honoured by everywhere repeating God’s name.
I crave for a sight of Thee ; grant it, O my Beloved :
Who hath not been saved by serving Thee ?
.The whole world washeth the dirt of his feet Whom nobody would approach.
The man who is useless to everybody Is invoked as a saint by the Guru’s favour.
In the company of the saints, the mind that sleepeth awaketh;
Then, O Nanak, the Lord is dear.
The omnipresence of God expressed by different metaphors:—
God is Himself the tree, and its extended branches.
He watcheth His own field. 1 Wherever I look there is the one God ;
He is in every heart.
He Himself is the sun and the expansion of its rays.
He is at once concealed and manifest.
He is described as possessing all qualities and no qualities. Both descriptions together apply to the one God.
* Saith Nanak, the Guru hath dispelled my doubts and fears, And I behold the Blissful One everywhere.
The Guru’s self-depreciation :—
I know no tricks and devices of speech,
But day and night I repeat Thy name.
HYMNS OF GURU ARJAN 295
I possess no merits—not even one.
O God, Thou doest, and causest all things to be done.
I a fool, blockhead, ignorant, and thoughtless,
Long for Thy name in my heart.
I have performed no works of devotion, penance, or mortification ;
1 have only adored Thy name in my heart.
I know nothing; I have little wisdom.
Nanak representeth, Thou art, 0 God, my shelter.
The relation of the creature to the Creator:—
Thou art my lake, I am Thy fish ; 1
Thou art my Lord, I am the beggar at Thy gate.
Thou art my Creator, I am Thy worshipper.
I have found Thy sanctuary, O God of profound excellence.
Thou art my life, Thou art my support.
On beholding Thee I bloom like the lotus.
Thou art my salvation, and mine honour; Thou art the Acceptor of the holy.
Thou art Almighty, Thou art my strength.
Nanak’s supplication to God is—
May I night and day repeat Thy name, O Lord of excellences !
The Guru one day visiting his sacred tank saw mourning in one house and rejoicing in another. Upon this he composed the following:—
Mourners practise falsehood;
They laugh while mourning for others.
One man dieth and there is weeping for him ; in the house of another there is singing.
One man weepeth, another laugheth.
From youth to old age
Man attaineth not his object; then he regretteth lost opportunities.
The world is subject to the three qualities,
And therefore man passeth through hell and heaven.
Saith Nanak, that man’s 'birth is fruitful, and he is acceptable
Whom God hath applied to the repetition of His name.
A man had a dream which he related to Guru Arjan. He thought he had fallen into a well and tried to ascend by the well-rope. Two mice, one black and the other white, were gnawing it away. In the well was a venomous serpent which he feared would sting him. In this dilemma a drop of honey fell into his mouth from a tree which grew over the well, and he awoke. The following was composed by the Guru on the subject of the dream:—
Night and day mice gnaw the rope. 1
He who falleth into the well eateth sweets. 2
The night 3 passeth away in thinking and reflecting.
Man while considering the various pleasures of the world never thinketh of God.
Deeming the tree’s shadow immovable he buildeth his house beneath it;
But Death’s noose is round his neck, and Maya aimeth her arrow at him.
The sandy shore which is exposed to the waves
The fool considereth to be peimanent.
He who repeateth the Sovereign God’s name in the society of the saints,
Shall, Nanak, live for ever singing God’s praises.
The following was addressed to a dead body:—
With the soul thou didst play.