Vol. IV — Sloks of Guru Teg Bahadur
He who singeth not God's praises rendereth his life useless ;
Saith Nanak, worship God, O my soul, as the fish loveth water. jj
Why art thou enamoured of the deadly sins ? thou re- nouncest them not for a moment.
Saith Nanak, repeat God's name, O my soul, so that Death's noose may not fall on thee.
Youth hath passed away in vain, old age hath overcome the body ;
Saith Nanak, worship God, O my soul, thy life passeth away. IV
Thou hast become old ; knowest thou not that thy time hath arrived ?
Saith Nanak, O crazy man, why worshippest thou not God? y
Wealth, wife, riches, all that thou deemest thine own — None of these shall depart with thee ; Nanak, know this as true. yj
God is the Saviour of sinners, the Dispeller of fear, the Lord of the helpless ;
Saith Nanak, know Him, He dwelleth ever with thee.
SLOKS OF GURU TEG BAHADUR 415
Thou hast not loved Him who gave thee a human body and wealth :
Saith Nanak, O crazy man, why dost thou abjectly tremble ?
Saith Nanak, hear O man, why rememberest thou not God
Who gave thee human body, wife, wealth, prosperity, and commodious mansions ?
God and no other is the Bestower of all happiness ; Saith Nanak, hear, O man, by remembering Him deliver ance is obtained.
Adore God, O my friend, by remembering Him deliver ance is obtained ;
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, life is ever growing shorter.
O clever and wise man, know that thy body is composed of five elements ;
Be sure, Nanak, that thou shalt blend with that from which thou hast sprung.
The saints proclaim that God dwelleth in every heart — Saith Nanak, adore Him, O man, and thou shalt cross over the terrible ocean.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, in God's image is he Who is unaffected by weal or woe, by covetousness, worldly love, or pride.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, know that he is saved Who uttereth neither praise nor blame, and to whom gold and iron are the same.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, know that he is saved Who feeleth neither joy nor sorrow, and who treateth an enemy and a friend as the same.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, call him a person possessed of divine knowledge,
Who inspireth no fear, and who hath no fear of others.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, good fortune is inscribed on that man's forehead,
Who hath abandoned all evil passions, and donned the garb of retirement.
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, God dwelleth in the heart of him
Who hath abandoned mammon and selfishness, and re nounced everything.
The man who having renounced selfishness recognizeth God as the Creator, Saith Nanak, is saved ; be sure, my soul, that this is true.
In the Kal age God's name is the destroyer of fear and the banisher of evil thoughts ;
He who night and day repeateth it, Nanak, shall be suc cessful in his undertakings.
Utter God's praises with thy tongue, and hear God's name with thine ears ;
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, thou shalt not then be put into Death's prison.
SLOKS OF GURU TEG BAHADUR 417
The mortal who renounceth selfishness, covetousness, worldly love, and conceit,
Saith Nanak, shall be saved himself and shall save others.
Know that the world is like a dream or 1 a play ; There is nothing real in it, Nanak, but God.
Day and night mortal wandereth after wealth ; Among millions, O Nanak, few there are who remember God.
As bubbles are formed from water and continually dis appear ;
So was this world constructed,2 saith Nanak ; hear this, O my friend.
Mortal, blinded by the intoxication of mammon, payeth no heed to anything ;
Saith Nanak, without uttering God's name Death's noose shall fall on him.
If thou desire eternal happiness take God's protection ; Saith Nanak, hear, O man, difficult of attainment is human birth.
Fools and ignorant people run after wealth ; Saith Nanak, without repeating God's name their lives pass in vain.
Know that that mortal is like God who worshippeth night and day ;
Between God's saint and God there is no difference ; Nanak, recognize that this is true.