He feeleth nor mental nor bodily pain : He is unfathom- able.
His glory is infrangible ; He is from the beginning, and His majesty is indestructible.
He hath no birth, no death, no caste, no pain.
He is infrangible, radiant, unamercible,i impossible to be controlled ;
He hath no worldly love, no home ; He hath affection for men and is His own master.
He is powerful, cannot be anywhere contained, radiant, the Torturer of enemies.
He cannot be depicted in the past, the present, or the future.
He is not rich or poor ; He hath no form or outhne.
He feeleth not covetousness or mental anxiety ; He is not formed out of the elements ; He belongeth to no sect.
He hath no enemy, no friend, no worldly love, no home.
^ He is not liable to be fined like mortals as a punishment.
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 279
He is eternal and ever contained in all things ; He beareth love to all.
He hath no lust, no wrath, no avarice, no worldly love ;
He is unborn, indestructible, primal, peerless, in- visible ;
He is not subject to birth or death ; He hath no caste,
no pain ;
He hath no sickness, no sorrow ; He is fearless, and with- out affliction.^
He is impenetrable, indivisible, without karma, and with- out death.
He cannot be destroyed or defamed ; He is bright and without a cherisher ;
He hath no father, no mother, no caste, no body ;
He hath no worldly love, no home, no doubt, no fear ;
He hath no form, there is no king over Him, He hath no body, no acts attach to Him ;
He hath no fear ; He cannot be killed or pierced ; He hath no doubts.
He is eternal, ever perfect, and of size beyond measure.
I bow to Him as one ! I bow to Him as one !
His glory is inexpressible ; He is from the beginning, He is unassociated, imperishable, imperceptible, and un- estabhshed.
I bow to Him as one ! I bow to Him as one !
He hath no worldly love, no home, no grief, no relation. He is afar off, pure, undefiled, none can behold Him. He hath no caste, no hneage, no friend, no minister. I bow to the one independent Being ! I bow to the one independent Being !
He hath no religion, no superstition, no shame, no rela-
m.
No armour, no shield, no karma, no fear,
28o THE SIKH RELIGION
No enemy, no friends, no son.
I bow to the primal Being ; I bow to the primal Being.
The bodies of some undergo cold, heat, and rain,
Some sit in one posture for an age.
Some make efforts to study the science of Jog.
Men strive but even then find not God's limits.
Some with their arms raised wander in different countries ;
Some scorch themselves between the sun and surrounding fires ;
Some recite the Simritis, the Shastars, the Veds ;
Some expound amorous poetry, others the books of the Muhammadans ;
Some perform fire sacrifice, some live on air ;
Some miUions eat carrion ;
Some consume vegetables, some milk, some leaves ;
But even so God becometh not manifest unto them.
The following sawaiyas also are sometimes read at the administration of the pahul.
God ever cherisheth the poor, saveth saints, and destroyeth enemies.
Birds, beasts, mountains, snakes, and kings— all he ever -cherisheth.
He cherisheth animals in sea and land ; he considereth not their evil acts.
Compassionate to the poor, an ocean of mercy, He be- holdeth man's sins, but wearieth not of giving.
He destroyeth misery and sin ; He crusheth an army of evil men in a moment ;
He breaketh those unbreakable by human power ; he smiteth the very valiant, but cherisheth love for those who truly love Him.
Vishnu, the lord of Lakshmi, cannot find His hmit ; the
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 281
Veds and the books of the Musalmans cannot utter His secret.
The Beneficent One ever beholdeth men's secrets ; yet He becometh not angry, and withholdeth not their daily bread.
He made worms, moths, deer, serpents, the past, the future, and the present.
The demigods and demons were ruined through their pride ; they knew not God's secret, and were led astray by error.
The Veds, the Purans, the Quran, and other Muhammadan books have grown weary of taking God's account, but they have not found it.
Without the light of true love hath any one obtained the honour of finding God ?
He is primal, endless, unfathomable, without enmity, and fearless in the past, future, and present.
He is without end. One out of many, without blemish, sin, or stain, and indestructible.
He is the Creator and Destroyer of worlds ; He sup- porteth life on sea and land.
Compassionate to the poor, a mine of mercy, beautiful is the holy Lord of wealth.
He hath not lust, or wrath, or covetousness, or worldly love, or sickness, or sorrow, or enjoyment, or fear.
He is without a body ; He beareth love to all, yet is He devoid of sensual love ; He is homeless and indestructible.
To those who know Him He giveth ; to those who know Him not He also giveth ; He giveth to the earth ; He giveth to the heavens.^
O man, why waverest thou ? the beautiful and holy Lord of wealth will care for thee.
^ Zanuhi is here understood lo be for dsmdn.
He preserveth men in many ways — from sickness, from sorrow, from water, and from sprites.
When enemies aim blows at us, none of them may reach our bodies.
For He holdeth out His hand to protect us and hinder the army of sin from approaching us.
What else need I say to thee, O man ; God protecteth thee with the screen of the womb.
The Yakshas, serpents, demons, demigods, all meditate on Thee, the Inscrutable One.
On earth, in heaven, and in the nether regions of hell ^, Yakshas, serpents, all bow their heads unto Thee ;
But they cannot find the limit of Thy glory ; the Veds describe Thee as indescribable.
All the demigods who searched for Thee have grown weary of their search ; they have not found Thee, O God.
Beings hke Narad, Brahma, Rumna ^ the Rikhi all com- bine to sing Thy praises.
The Veds and the books of the Musalmans have not found Thy secret ; all have grown weary in their search : God hath not been found by any one.
Shiv, the lord of Uma,^ cannot find Thy Hmit. The Sidhs with their spiritual leaders and the sons of Brahma meditate on Thee.
O men, meditate in your hearts on Him whose immeasur- able power is diffused throughout the whole world.
The Veds, the Purans, the Quran, and other Musalman
^ There are said to be seven hells. Fatal is the seventh and lowest. 2 Also known as Lomash, who was remarkable for his long life. ^ One of the names of Parbati.
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 283
books, have not found His secret ; all kings ^ have grown sore weary searching for it.
They could not find the secret of the Inscrutable ; after great travail they proclaimed Him invulnerable.
Thou, O Lord, hast no passion, no form, no outline, no colour, no relation, no sorrow, no companion.
Thou wast in the beginning and yet hadst no beginning ; Thou art unfathomable, without distinguishing dress,^ and without jealousy : he who repeateth Thy name shall save his relations.
Men have performed millions of ablutions at places of pilgrimage ; they have made many offerings and endured great fasts.
Putting on the dress of great penitents and wearing long hair, they have wandered in many countries, but they have not found the Beloved God.
They have made miUions of attitudes of contemplation and prostrations, many offerings of their hmbs to tutelary divinities, 3 and blackened their faces ;
But without meditating on the name of the Compassionate to the poor, the Deathless, they have at last gone to Death's abode.
Thou art the Discharger of arms, the Holder of the earth and the umbrella, the Betrayer of kings, the great Tor- mentor of enemies ;
The Bestower of gifts, the great Enhancer of honour, the Giver of a resting-place, the Cutter of Death's noose ;
Conqueror in the fight. Remover of obstacles, great Be- stower of wisdom, Thou art honoured even among the most honoured.
Thou art learned in divine knowledge ; Thou art the great Giver of wisdom, the Destroyer of the god of death.
The dwellers of the East know not Thy limit, the goddess Hingula^ who dwelleth in the Himalayas meditateth on Thee ; the Gurdezis of Ghor ^ sing the praises of Thy name.
The Jogis practise Jog to be united with Thee ; how many suspend their breath to obtain Thee. The Arabs of Arabia worship Thy name.
The Firangis of France worship Thee, the Kandharis and Qureshis know Thee, the residents of the West recognize Thee as the object of their love.
The Marathas, the Magadhis ^ heartily do Thee penance, the natives of Tilang * fix Thee in their hearts, and recognize Thee as the abode of religion.
Like milk in Chirawadh, like buttermilk in Chhatraner, like moonlight on the banks of the Jamna,
Like a female swan in Turkey of the Shiahs, hke a diamond in Husainabad, like the stream of the Ganges when it blendeth with the seven seas.
Like quicksilver in Palaugarh, like silver in Rampur, like saltpetre in Surangabad,
Like the champa flower in Chanderikot, like moonlight in Chandagarh, Thy praise flourisheth hke the malati flower .^
Like crystal in Kailas, Kamaungarh, and Kashipur, like a mirror in Surangabad,
Like snow in the Himalayas, like Shiv's necklace ^ in Halbaner, hke a swan in Hajipur on seeing which the heart is fascinated ;
Like white sandal in Champawati, like the moon in Chan- dragir, like moonlight in Chandagarh,
Like the Ganges on Shiv's head, like cranes in Bulanda- bad shineth the light of Thy praises.
^ Hingula is another of the names of Parbati or Durga.
* The Telegu country on the east coast of India between UrTsa (Orissa) and Madras.
^ A kind of jasmin with fragrant white blossoms.
^ Har har. Shiv was beheved to wear a white snake as a necklace.
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 285
The Persians, the EngUsh, the double-faced men of France, the mirdang ^ — players of Makran sing Thy praises.
The inhabitants of Bhakhar, of Kandhar, and of Ghor, the Gakhars, the Gurdezis, and those who live on air medi- tate on Thy name.
In the east in Palau, in Kamrup, and Kamaun, wherever man goeth there Thou presidest.
Thy glory is perfect ; written and spoken incantations cannot affect Thee, O Lord, and none can find the limit of Thy praises.
God is peerless, imperishable ; His throne is immovable ;
He is peerless, endless ; His praise is unrivalled ;
He is indestructible and the invisible Lord.
He is everywhere king ; He blossometh in the forests and the glades.
His splendour is like the spring everywhere diffused.
The Great One pervade th the woods and glades, birds and quadrupeds.
He ever3rwhere blossometh, He is beautiful and wise ;
He blossometh like flowers, and glitter eth like the peacock.
Cupid on recognizing Him waveth a chauri over Him.
His power is perfect. He is the Bestower of food, the Merciful,
The Treasury of favour, the Perfect, the Bounteous.
Wherever we look there appeareth His splendour.
He is free from anger and a treasury of favour.
He everywhere blossometh ; He is beautiful and wise.
He is the great king of the woods and glades, of sea and land.
His splendour appeareth everywhere ; He is the treasury of favour.
His light dazzleth. His glory is perfect.
The sky and the earth repeat His name.
Over the seven heavens and the seven hells
His net of karma is spread unseen.
^ A small drum or tambourine.
ViCHITAR NATAK
Guru Gobind Singh addresses God as a sword to destroy his enemies.
I bow with love and devotion to the Holy Sword. Assist me that I may complete this work.
Thou art the Subduer of countries, the Destroyer of the armies of the wicked, in the battle-field Thou greatly adornest the brave.
Thine arm is infrangible. Thy brightness refulgent, Thy radiance and splendour dazzle like the sun.
Thou bestowest happiness on the good. Thou terrifiest the evil, Thou scatterest sinners, I seek Thy protection.
Hail ! hail to the Creator of the world, the Saviour of creation, my Cherisher, hail to Thee, O Sword !
I bow to Him who holdeth the arrow in His hand ; I bow to the Fearless One ;
I bow to the God of gods who is in the present and the future.
I bow to the Scimitar, the two-edged Sword, the Fal- chion, and the Dagger.
Thou, O God, hast ever one form ; Thou art ever un- changeable.
I bow to the Holder of the mace
Who diffused light through the fourteen worlds.
I bow to the Arrow and the Musket,
I bow to the Sword, spotless, fearless, and unbreakable ;
I bow to the powerful Mace and Lance
To which nothing is equal.
I bow to Him who holdeth the discus,
Who is not made of the elements and who is terrible.
I bow to Him with the strong teeth ;
I bow to Him who is supremely powerful,
I bow to the Arrow and the Cannon
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 287
Which destroy the enemy. I bow to the Sword and the Rapier Which destroy the evil.
I bow to all weapons called Shastar (which may be held) . I bow to all weapons called Astar (which may be hurled or discharged).
Thou turnest men like me from blades of grass into mountains ; than Thou there is none other cherisher of the poor.
O God, do Thou Thyself pardon mine errors ; there is none who hath erred like me.
The houses of those who have served Thee are all seen filled with wealth.
In this Kal age and at all times there is great confidence in the powerful arm of the Sword,
Which in one moment destroyed millions of demons like Sumbh and Nisumbh ; ^
Which in an instant subdued demons such as Dhumar- lochan, Chand, Mund, and Mahikh ;
Which in a trice repelled demons such as Chamar Ran- chichhar and Raktichhan —
What careth Thy slave since he hath found a good Lord like Thee ?
Which crushed millions like Mund, Madhu, Kitabh, Mur, and Agh ;
They who never sought shelter in the battle-field and who retreated not even two paces when blows were dealt around them,
The demons who could not be drowned in the sea, and who could not be burnt by fiery arrows,
On beholding thy flash, O Sword, cast aside shame and fled.
Thou in a moment didst destroy such heroes as Rawan, Maharawan ^, Kumbhkaran 2,
Meghnad, and Akampan ^, in waging war with whom even Death grew wearied —
Kumbh, Akumbh, who having conquered the whole world washed their arms in the seven seas.*
They who were invulnerable and huge were all wounded and killed by the sword in the hand of God.
If any one flee to save himself from the Destroyer, say in what direction shall he flee.
Can man run away from God who stoppeth him with a drawn sword thundering and brandishing it ?
No contrivance hath been made by which man may escape from the wound God inflicteth.
Why, O fool, seekest thou not cheerfully the asylum of Him from whom thou canst not escape ?
Thou hast millions of times repeated the names of Krishan and Vishnu, and fully meditated on Ram Chandar and the Prophet ;
Thou hast repeated Brahma's name and estabhshed Shiv in thy heart, but none of them will save thee.
Thou hast performed millions of penances for millions of days, but none of them will avail thee a kauri.
Incantations to obtain thy desires will not be worth thee half a paisa ; none of them will save thee from the stroke of Death.
Why performest thou false penance to the gods ? it will not avail thee a kauri.
How can they save thee when they cannot protect them- selves from the stroke of Death ?
They will suspend thee in the fiery pit of terrible wrath as they are suspended themselves.
^ A first cousin of Rawan. 2 Rawan's brother.
^ Rawan's sons.
* They never again expected to find an adversary.
COMPOSITIONS OF GURU GOBIND SINGH 289
Think, think even to-day in thy heart, O fool, without the favour of God nothing can avail thee.
It is not by the practice of perpetual silence, nor by the ostensible relinquishment of pride, nor by the adoption of a religious dress, nor by shaving the head,
Nor by wearing a wooden necklace, nor by twisting matted hair round the head that God is found.
I speak the truth, hear it attentively — without entering the protection of the Compassionate to the poor
And loving Him can God be found ? the Merciful One is not pleased with circumcision.
Were I to make all the islands my paper, and the seven seas my ink ;
Were I to cut down all trees, and turn them into pens for writing ;
Were I to make Saraswati dictate for millions of ages ; were I to write with the hand of Ganesh,
O Thou who boldest the destroying sword, I could not please Thee even a little without offering Thee homage.
Thy greatness is endless and boundless ;
No one hath found its limits.
Thou art God of gods, King of kings,
Compassionate to poor, and Cherisher of the lowly.
The dumb would recite the six Sha stars, cripples would climb mountains.
The blind would see, and the deaf hear, if God would only show favour.
How can my feeble intellect, O God, Describe Thy greatness ? I cannot utter Thy praises. Do Thou correct this work :