Man is entangled with mammon and forgetteth God's name ;
Saith Nanak, without repeating God's name of what avail is life ?
Mortal blinded by the intoxication of mammon remem- bereth not God ;
Saith Nanak, without worshipping God Death's noose shall fall on man.
Man shall find many companions in weal, but none in woe ;
Saith Nanak, worship God, O man, and He will assist thee at the last moment.
Man wandereth about in various births without having his fear of death removed ;
Saith Nanak, O man, worship God, and thou shalt dwell in the fearless state.
I have made many efforts, but have not effaced the pride of my heart ;
I am bound by my evil thoughts, saith Nanak ; preserve me from them, O God.
Know that there are three stages of life, childhood, youth, and then old age ;
Saith Nanak, admit that they are all in vain without worshipping God.
What thou oughtest to have done thou hast not done ; thou hast fallen into the net of covetousness ;
Nanak, the opportunity hath now passed away ; why weepest thou, O blind man ?
SLOKS OF GURU TEG BAHADUR 419
The heart is absorbed in mammon and cannot escape from it, O my friend ;
As a picture painted on a wall, O Nanak, leaveth it not.
XXXVIII
Man desireth one thing, but something different hap- peneth ;
He meditateth deceiving others, O Nanak, and a halter is put round his neck.
Man maketh many efforts to obtain happiness, but none to obtain misery ; 1
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, what pleaseth God happeneth.
The world goeth about begging ; God is the Bestower of all ;
Saith Nanak, remember Him, O man, and thy desires shall be fulfilled.
Why entertainest thou false pride ? Know that the world is like a dream ;
In it there is nothing which is thine, Nanak preacheth.
Man is proud of his body which perisheth in a moment, my friend ;
The man who reciteth God's praises, Nanak, hath con quered the world.
Know that he in whose heart there is recollection of God, hath obtained salvation ;
Between that man and God there is no difference ; Nanak, accept this as a fact.
Consider that person, O Nanak, as a hog or a dog
In whose heart there is no devotion to the one God.
As a dog never abandoneth his master's house, Nanak, in the same way worship God with single mind and single heart.
Going on pilgrimages, fasting, and giving alms, while pride is in the heart,
Nanak, these things are as fruitless as an elephant's bathing.1
Thy head shaketh, thy legs totter, thine eyes are devoid of lustre ;
Saith Nanak, this is the case with thee, yet thou art not absorbed in God's love.
I have particularly observed that in this world no one is another's friend ;
Nanak, only devotion to God is permanent ; preserve that in thy heart.
Know, my friend, that the structure of the world is all unstable ;
Saith Nanak, like a wall of sand it is not permanent.
Ram passed away, Rawan passed away with his large family ;
Saith Nanak, nothing is permanent ; the world is like a dream.
Be anxious only regarding what is not expected ; z
SLOKS OF GURU TEG BAHADUR 421
It is the way of the world, Nanak, that nothing is per manent.
What is born dieth to-day, to-morrow, or the next day ; Nanak, sing God's praises, and lay aside all entangle ments.
LVII1
God's name to which nothing is equal I have clasped to my heart ;
By remembering it my troubles are at an end, and I behold Thee, O God !
END OF VOL. IV
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