The supreme importance of the Guru's instruc tion :—
Through love of the Guru's instruction I have obtained real life during life.
The Guru gave me God's name, and implanted it in my heart :
He implanted it in my heart, and all doubt and trouble have departed.
Under the Guru's instruction I have meditated on the Unseen and Inapprehensible ; I have obtained the pure and supreme dignity.
On singing the true Guru's hymns the voice of the un beaten strain ever resoundeth.
Nanak, God the Giver bestowed on me a gift — my light hath blended with His.
The perverse die in their perversity, saying their property was their own.
They attach their hearts to skin-covered filth l which cometh for a moment and in a moment departeth :
They attach their hearts to skin-covered filth which is fleeting as the dye of the safHower.
They go now to the east, and now to the west, as a potter's wheel revolveth.
In sorrow they eat, in sorrow they amass and enjoy ; they extend their increase of sorrow.
Nanak, if man enter the Guru's asylum, he shall easily cross the dangerous ocean.
My God is good, inaccessible, and unfathomable.
I asked my merchant, the true Guru, for God as my stock-in-trade :
I asked for God as my stock-in-trade and bought His name ; since then I sing God's praises and they are pleasing to me.
I have banished sleep and hunger and become absorbed in divine tranquillity.
Dealers of one description 1 come and take away God's name as their profit :
Nanak, it is they who offer their souls and bodies to the Guru who acquire it.
The great ocean of God is full of jewels upon jewels ;
They obtain them to whom the Guru's words are pleasing :
They to whom the Guru's words are pleasing obtain the priceless unrivalled jewels.
They who have obtained Thy unrivalled name, O God, have their storehouses filled with Thy service.
I have churned the ocean of the body ; I have seen a rare thing come to view.
The Guru is God and God is the Guru ; Nanak, there is no difference between them, my brethren.
The following hymn is in effect a glorification of the Sikh religion which sprang up in the Kal or fourth and last age of the world. The Kal age is therefore here made out to be the best of all the four ages :—
In the Sat age all men were contented ; religion had four legs, and men meditated on God.
They sang of God with heart and soul, acquired the greatest happiness, and every heart possessed a knowledge of God's excellences.
A knowledge of God's excellences was men's wealth ; He was their salvation, and the pious became illustrious.
At home or abroad there was but the one God and no other.
Men fixed their attention on Him ; His name was their helper ; in His court they acquired honour.
Then came the Treta age — though worldlincss began to press on men's hearts, yet they practised continence and austerities.
One leg of religion dropped off ; three legs remained ; in men's minds and hearts wrath was inflamed.
A great poisonous fermentation in men's hearts and souls was wrath ; kings made war and suffered in the conflict. 1 Who deal in the Name, holy men.
HYMNS OF GURU RAM DAS 313
Men's hearts were attacked by the diseases of egotism and pride ; their conceit and arrogance increased.
If my God be merciful, the poison shall depart by the Guru's instruction and God's name.
The Dwapar age came — men wandered in doubt ; God created the milkmaids and Krishan.
Penitents practised not penances, men initiated sacrifices and offerings, and performed many religious ceremonies :
They performed religious ceremonies ; the second leg of religion dropped off, and two legs remained.
Many heroes engaged in great wars ; through pride they ruined themselves and others.
He who is compassionate to the poor caused man to meet the sainted Guru, and on meeting him impurity departed.
When God made the Kal age, religion had lost three legs and only the fourth remained.
They who acted according to the Guru's instruction obtained God's name as their medicine, and in singing His praises obtained divine rest.
The season for the praises of God arrived ; His name was magnified, and the field of God's name germinated.
If in the Kal age any other seed than the Name be sown, men lose all their profit and capital.
Nanak, when the true Guru hath been found, he showeth the Name in man's heart.
God's attributes :—
My great God is inaccessible, inapprehensible, eternal, pure, formless.
His condition cannot be described ; immeasurable is His glory ; my God is invisible and illimitable :
God is invisible, illimitable, and boundless ; only He knoweth Himself.
What can this poor creature utter, O God, which would be a description of Thee ?
He on whom Thou castest Thy glance of favour, medi- tateth on Thee under the Guru's instruction.
Thou, great God, art inaccessible, inapprehensible, eternal, pure, formless.
Thou art the primal Male, the boundless Creator ; Thy limit cannot be ascertained.
Thou art uninterruptedly within every heart, and in everything art Thou contained.
Within the heart is the Supreme Brahm, the Supreme God, whose end cannot be found.
He hath no form or outline ; He is unseen and inappre hensible ; but under the Guru's instruction the Invisible becometh visible.
He who beholdeth God shall ever be happy day and night, and shall be easily absorbed in His name.
Thou art the primal Male, the boundless Creator ; Thy limit cannot be ascertained.
Thou art the true Supreme Being, ever indestructible ; O God, Thou art the treasury of excellences.
O God, Thou alone art the Lord, there is none besides ; Thou art the omniscient Being.
Thou art omniscient and most exalted ; there is none so great as Thou.
Thine is the Word ; Thou pervadest everything ; what Thou doest cometh to pass.
The one God is contained in everything ; the pious behold Thee, O God, on repeating Thy name.
Thou art the true Supreme God, ever indestructible ; O God, Thou art the treasury of excellences.
Thou art the Creator of all ; Thy glory is everywhere ; Thou settest everything in motion as Thou pleasest :
Thou settest everything in motion as Thou pleasest ; everything is subject to Thy word :
Everything is subject to Thy word; when it pleaseth Thee, man obtaineth greatness therefrom.
If man obtain wisdom from the Guru's instruction and efface himself, he shall be absorbed in the Word.
Thy word cannot be grasped ; it can be obtained from the Guru's instruction : Nanak, he who obtaineth it, shall be absorbed in the Name.
Thou art the Creator of all, Thy glory is every where ; Thou settest everything in motion as Thou pleasest.
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The Guru's soul is thoroughly saturated with God's love :—
Mine eyes are wet with God's nectar ; my soul is dyed with His love.
God applied His touchstone to the heart, and found it brightest gold.
Through the Guru my soul and body are dyed with a deep colour.
The slave Nanak hath perfumed himself with the musk of God's love, and his whole life is supremely blest.
The word of God's love which is a pointed arrow hath smitten his heart.
He who feeleth the pain of love knoweth its torment.
He who in life is dead is said to have obtained deliver ance while alive.
Nanak prayeth, O God, may the true Guru cause me to meet Thee that I may cross over the dangerous world !
I ignorant and stupid have sought Thine asylum ; may I obtain the love of God !
I have obtained God from the perfect Guru ; I pray for the service of God alone.
My soul and body are pleased with Thy word ; I repeat it with endless pleasure.
On meeting the saints, Nanak hath obtained God in their association.
1 pray for the protection of God's name and God putteth it into my mouth.
O God, it is Thy function to love Thy saints and preserve their honour.
The slave Nanak hath sought Thy protection ; Thy name hath saved him.
The Guru has found God, who is a diamond in the golden fortress of the body :—
On searching and searching for God, the Friend, I have found Him under the Guru's instruction.
It is known that God is in the golden fortress of the body.
God is a diamond and a jewel with which my soul and body are pierced.
Having been very fortunate at my birth I have obtained God ; Nanak is kneaded with His essence.
I a young woman continually arise and inquire the road to my Spouse.
The true Guru reminding me of God's name putteth me on His road.
The Name, the antidote to the poison of pride, is the support of my soul and body.
The slave Nanak prayeth, O God, grant me to meet the true Guru who hath already met Thee.
Through the Guru, O Beloved, come to me who have been so long separated from Thee.
My soul and body are very sad ; mine eyes are moist with God's love.
O Guru, show me God the Beloved ; on meeting Him my soul shall be happy.
Nanak, God hath appointed me, a fool, to perform His duty.
The Guru's body is moistened with God's nectar, and he sprinkleth it on his disciples.
They whose hearts are pleased with the Guru's words drink their fill of nectar.
The Guru being pleased, I have obtained God and I shall no longer be buffeted.1
Nanak, the man of God and God have become one.
God ever preserves His saints :—
God produced saints in every age, and continueth to preserve their honour.
God destroyed the wicked Harnakhas and saved Prahlad.
God turned His back on the proud and the slanderers, but showed His face to Namdev.
Nanak hath so served his God that He will deliver him at last.
It is said that the following hymn was composed by Guru Ram Das before he had become Guru.
HYMNS OF GURU RAM DAS 317
Guru Amar Das was highly pleased with this and other compositions of his saintly son-in-law :—
Come home, 0 my beloved soul, which hath wandered afar.
Thou shalt be happy, O my dear, if God show thee mercy. Nanak, when the Guru is pleased, my dear, he will blend man with God.
1 did not heartily taste God's love, my dear ; 1
So the thirst of my heart hath never been slaked ; my dear, it formeth ever new desires.
Youth is ever passing away, my dear, the god of death stealeth away the breath.
Nanak, she is a fortunate wife, my dear, who claspeth God to her heart.
Mine eyes are refreshed by the Beloved, my dear, as the chatrik with his raindrops.
On drinking the raindrops of God, my dear, my heart is comforted.
Separation from God kept me awake, my dear, and I could by no means sleep.
But now Nanak by loving the Guru hath obtained God, the Friend, my dear, and is at rest.
In the month of Chet, my dear, beginneth the pleasant season of spring ;
But without my Beloved, my dear, the dust was flying about my court.2
There was hope in my heart and I was waiting, my dear ; both mine eyes were fixed on Him.
But now Nanak on seeing the Guru is happy, my dear, as a mother on seeing her child.
My dear, the true Guru hath repeated to me tales and legends of God.
I am a sacrifice to the Guru, my dear, who hath caused me to meet God.
God hath fulfilled all my desires, my dear ; I have obtained the fruit my heart desired.
When God is pleased, my dear, the slave Nanak is ab sorbed in the Name.
Without the love of my beloved God, I rejoice not.
How shall I find the Guru through whom I may behold my Beloved ?
If the bounteous God cause me to meet the great Guru, I shall meet Him.
Nanak, he on whose forehead it was so written in the beginning shall find the Guru, my dear.
GUJARI
On Guru Amar Das :—
The saints of God are the best ; their speech is the best ; what they utter is for others' advantage.
God mercifully saveth those who hear their words with faith and devotion.
O God, grant me to meet the dear saints of God.
The true Guru, the perfect Guru, dear to me as my life, will save us sinners.
Very fortunate, very fortunate are the pious whose sup port is God's name.
Under the Guru's instruction they obtain God's nectar, God's essence, and a storehouse of devotion.
They who have not obtained a sight of the true Guru, the true man, are unfortunate, and shall be punished by Death.
They shall be born again as dogs, swine, and donkeys, and God will punish them as wilful murderers.
O compassionate to the poor, have mercy on Thy servant and save him.
The slave Nanak hath sought Thine asylum ; if it please Thee, O God, Thou wilt save him.
The Guru prays never to forget God's name :—
Mercifully so dispose my heart, O God, that I may night and day continually meditate on Thy name.
HYMNS OF GURU RAM DAS 319
God is all comfort, all excellence, all wealth ; by utter ing His name all misery and hunger depart.
O my soul, God's name is my companion and my brother.
Under the Guru's instruction let me sing the praises of God's name ; it will be at the last hour my helper, and deliver me in God's court.
The longing of my heart and soul is for God ; He hath fulfilled my longing since I have entered the asylum of the true Guru.
Through meritorious acts I have obtained human birth, but without the Name it would be accursed and useless.
He who is without the Name shall eat sorrow as his relish ; his countenance shall grow pale, and men shall spit on his face.
God will give glory in His court to those who have entered His asylum.
Nanak, God welcometh and applaudeth His servant, embraceth him and blendeth him with Himself.
The advantage of the Name and of the Guru's instruction :—
He who through the true Guru hath found the Lord God hath made Him dear to me by his instruction.
My soul and body have become refreshed and happy 1 since through good fortune I have meditated on God's name.
My brother, may some one come to meet me who will implant God's name in my heart !
He is my Beloved, my life, my soul, and my body ; all would I give him who would tell me of my Lord God.
1 have obtained patience, faith, and God from the Guru's instruction ; may he ever apply my mind to God and His name !
Nectar droppeth into the mouth of him who uttereth the true Guru's nectar eous words and hymns.
Pure is the Name ; no soil attacheth to it ; under the Guru's instruction repeat it with devotion.
The man who hath not found the wealth of the Name is unfortunate and dieth again and again.
Meditate on God, the root of joy, the life of the world, who giveth to all men, and thou shalt be happy.
Thou art the Giver ; all creatures are Thine, saith the slave Nanak ; thou pardonest the pious and blendest them with Thyself.
Guru Ram Das expresses his humility and his faith in family life :—
Mother, father, son are all made by God ; God estab lished all their relationships.
All my strength is as nothing before God, O my friend.
The body, soul, and person are all in God's power.
God Himself inspired His saints with faith.
Even in their families they abide as hermits.
When hearty love is established with God,
Then what man doeth is pleasing to Him.
Whatever work God hath appointed us to do,
That we do with His permission.
Nanak, they whose devotion is pleasing to my Lord,
Fix their attention on God's name.
DEVGANDHARI
The first two lines of the following embody an inquiry made by Sangatia, a Sikh. The remainder of the hymn is the Guru's reply :—
Tell me in what street I shall find my Beautiful One :
O saints of God, show me the way, and I will follow you.
The word of the Beloved comforteth the heart ; good is this custom which hath been established.
She who whether bent with age l or of small stature is pleasing to the Lord, is beautiful and becometh united with Him.
HYMNS OF GURU RAM DAS 321
There is but one Beloved ; all are His handmaidens ; she who pleaseth Him is good.
What shall the poor wretch Nanak do ? Let him walk in the way which pleaseth the Lord.
The Guru has completely devoted himself to God:-
I have now come weary to God :
Since I have come to Thy protection, save me, O God, or destroy me.
I despise 1 men's artifices and praises.
Whether one speak well or ill of me, I have humbled my body.
God mercifully preserveth him who cometh to His pro tection.
The slave Nanak prayeth, O God, preserve mine honour who have sought Thy shelter !
BIHAGRA CHHANT
The Guru encourages men to lead a religious life : —
They who think not on God's name, O my life, are per verse, foolish, and silly.
They who think on worldly love, O my life, shall regret it at their final departure.
The perverse, O my life, who are led away by sin shall not enter God's court.
Nanak, O my life, they who meet the Guru, who repeat God's name, and who are absorbed in it shall be saved.
All ye people, go and meet the Guru, O my life, who will fix God's name in your hearts.
Make no delay in repeating God's name, O my life ; nobody knoweth whether he shall draw another breath or not.
That time, that juncture, that ghari, that moment are profitable, O my life, when my God cometh into the mind.
Nanak, by remembering the Name, O my life, Death's myrmidons approach not.