disclosed to him their spiritual doubts and difficul ties, which he successfully solved. When the Guru was subsequently visited by the Chaudhri and the heads of the lay population of Hardwar, they asked him why he caused the four castes of Hindus to do him homage when he himself did homage to no one. He replied that the Brahmans were already very proud, and, if he paid them homage, their pride would only increase the more. And as regards the homage paid to him by the four castes, neither he nor his predecessors required it from any one. It was only when the earth, overladen with the burden of sin, raised its protest to heaven, that Guru Nanak appeared to point out the easy path of salvation, and not to obtain the praise or homage of human beings.
^ When the Guru and his party had all returned to Goindwal, Jetha, in response to numerous inquiries and requests, gave the following metrical account of the recent pilgrimage : —
A sight of the true Guru was our bathing during the Abhijit,1
The filth of evil inclinations was cleansed, and the darkness of ignorance dispelled.
The ignorance of those who saw the Guru was dispelled, and light beamed on their hearts.
The pains of transmigration vanished in a moment, and men obtained God the imperishable Lord.
God the Creator Himself made this auspicious time, when the true Guru went to the fair at Kurkhetar.
A sight of the true Guru was our bathing during the Abhijit.
The lunar month, though generally considered twenty-eight days, is really only twenty-seven days, odd hours, minutes, and seconds. Abhijit was intercalated between the 2ist and 22nd asterisms to adjust the difference.
LIFE OF GURU AMAR DAS 113
Sikhs travelled with the true Guru on his journey.
Every day, every hour, and every moment service was held;
God's service was held, and all people came to behold the Guru.
God blended with Himself those who obtained a sight of him.
The true Guru made the toil of pilgrimage in order to save all people ;
And Sikhs travelled with the true Guru on his journey.
It was an auspicious time when the true Guru first arrived in Kurkhetar.
When it was known, the beings of the three worlds came to behold him.
All the demigods, munis, and saints of the three worlds came to behold him.
The sins of those who touched the perfect true Guru were all erased.
Jogis, Digambars, Sanyasis, and men of the six schools entered into conversation with him.1
It was an auspicious time when the Guru arrived in Kurkhetar.
The Guru then proceeded to the Jamna where he caused
people to repeat God's name.
The tax-gatherers met the Guru with offerings and allowed
his followers to cross over.
All those in the Guru's train who meditated on God, were
exempted from toll- Death the tax-gatherer approacheth not those who walk
in the true way according to the Guru's instruction —
Everybody took the Guru's name, and by taking it all the
pilgrims were excused toll.
SIKH. II