I
He who singeth not God’s praises rendereth his life useless ;
Saith Nanak, worship God, O my soul, as the fish loveth water.
II
Why art thou enamoured of the deadly sins ? thou renouncest them not for a moment.
Saith Nanak, repeat God’s name, O my soul, so that Death’s noose may not fall on thee.
III
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 ?
V
Wealth, wife, riches, all that thou deemest thine own—
None of these shall depart with thee ; Nanak, know this as true.
VI
God is the Saviour of sinners, the Dispeller of fear, the Lord of the helpless ; Saith Nanak, know Him, He dwelleth ever with thee.
[ p. 415 ]
VII
Thou hast not loved Him who gave thee a human body and wealth :
Saith Nanak, O crazy man, why dost thou abjectly tremble ?
VIII
Saith Nanak, hear O man, why rememberest thou not God
Who gave thee human body, wife, wealth, prosperity, and commodious mansions ?
IX
God and no other is the Bestower of all happiness ;
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, by remembering Him deliverance is obtained.
X
Adore God, O my friend, by remembering Him deliverance is obtained ;
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, life is ever growing shorter.
XI
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.
XII
The saints proclaim that God dwelleth in every heart—
Saith Nanak, adore Him, O man, and thou shalt cross over the terrible ocean.
XIII
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, in God’s image is he
Who is unaffected by weal or woe, by covetousness, worldly love, or pride.
XIV
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.
[ p. 416 ]
XV
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.
XVI
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, call him a person possessed of divine knowledge,
Who inspireth no fear, and who hath no fear of others.
XVII
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.
XVIII
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, God dwelleth in the heart of him
Who hath abandoned mammon and selfishness, and renounced everything.
XIX
The man who having renounced selfishness recognizeth
God as the Creator, Saith Nanak, is saved ; be sure, my soul, that this is true.
XX
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 successful in his undertakings.
XXI
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.
[ p. 417 ]
XXII
The mortal who renounceth selfishness, covetousness, worldly love, and conceit,
Saith Nanak, shall be saved himself and shall save others.
XXIII
Know that the world is like a dream or[1] a play ;
There is nothing real in it, Nanak, but God.
XXIV
Day and night mortal wandereth after wealth ;
Among millions, O Nanak, few there are who remember God.
XXV
As bubbles are formed from water and continually disappear ;
So was this world constructed,[2] saith Nanak; hear this, O my friend.
XXVI
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.
XXVII
If thou desire eternal happiness take God’s protection ;
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, difficult of attainment is human birth.
XXVIII
Fools and ignorant people run after wealth ;
Saith Nanak, without repeating God’s name their lives pass in vain.
XXIX
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.
[ p. 418 ]
XXX
Man is entangled with mammon and forgetteth God’s name ;
Saith Nanak, without repeating God’s name of what avail is life ?
XXXI
Mortal blinded by the intoxication of mammon remembereth not God ;
Saith Nanak, without worshipping God Death’s noose shall fall on man.
XXXII
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.
XXXIII
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.
XXXIV
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.
XXXV
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.
XXXVI
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 ?
[ p. 419 ]
XXXVII
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 happeneth ;
He meditateth deceiving others, O Nanak, and a halter Is put round his neck.
XXXIX
Man maketh many efforts to obtain happiness, but none to obtain misery ;[3]
Saith Nanak, hear, O man, what pleaseth God happeneth.
XL
The world goeth about begging ; God is the Bestower of all;
Saith Nanak, remember Him, O man, and thy desires shall be fulfilled.
XLI
Why entertainest thou false pride? Know that the world is like a dream ;
In it there is nothing which is thine, Nanak preacheth.
XLII
Man is proud of his body which perisheth in a moment, my friend ;
The man who reciteth God’s praises, Nanak, hath conquered the world.
XLII
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. :
XLIV
Consider that person, O Nanak, as a hog or a dog
In whose heart there is no devotion to the one Ged.
[ p. 420 ]
XLV
As a dog never abandoneth his master’s house,
Nanak, in the same way worship God with single mind and single heart.
XLVI
Going on pilgrimages, fasting, and giving alms, while pride is in the heart,
Nanak, these things are as fruitless as an elephant’s bathing.[4]
XLVII
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.
XLVIII
XLIX
Know, my friend, that the structure of the world is all unstable ;
Saith Nanak, like a wall of sand it is not permanent.
L
Ram passed away, Rawan passed away with his large family ;
Saith Nanak, nothing is permanent; the world is like a dream.
LI
LII
What is born dieth to-day, to-morrow, or the next day ;
Nanak, sing God’s praises, and lay aside all entanglements.
LVII
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
OXFORD PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS BY HORACE HART, M.A. PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
Ar in the original. ‘The word, however, eenerally means ‘and.’ ↩︎
That is, men are born and die like bubbles. ↩︎
It comes of itself according to prenatal acts. ↩︎
There can be no purity as long as sin dwells in the heart ; ablutions will then be like those of the elephant which after being bathed bespatters himself with mud. ↩︎