The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 223

The musician, who sings salutation to the creator:

He, (says) Kanak, causes (him) to dwell continually in his mind.

Having become a conjuror he sticks to scorpions and snakes.

AYith his own hands he himself applies to himself a faggot.

(If) it has been from the beginning the order of the Lord, he eats excessively flames of fire.'

The fleshly-minded one quarrels with the disciple, he is drowned according to justice and equity.

He himself is the Lord of both sides (= worlds), he sees, having ascertained (everything).^

Nanak (says): thus it is known, that everything is under his order.*

0 Nanak, (if one) examines himself, then he is a wise examiner.

(If) he understands the sickness and the (proper) medicine (for it), then he is an intelligent physician.

(Who) makes no transaction (on) the road, (as) he knows (that he is) a guest.

(Who) speaks, knowing the root (ground), (who) inflicts destruction (on) the destructive one.

(Who) does not walk in covetousness, (who) remains in the True one, he is chosen' and approved of.

Who directs an arrow towards the sky, how shall it arrive (there)?

Further on that (sky) is inapproachable, (with) a bumping sound it comes (to him, who) discharges (it).*

The women, (who have) love (to) the divine male' (and) are adorned with love:

Perform devotion day and night, they remain (in it and) are not prevented (stopped).

(Their) dwelling is in the palaces (of Hari), by the word (of the Guru) they are accomplished.

Those helpless (women) utter a true petition.

They are graceful at the side of the Lord, by (his) order they have departed.

' Tlie whole sentence must ueeds be taken as hiterrogative; JHTKciS is translated here as a verbal noun, which seems to suit the context best.

' f^'Q'UrQcM (from f% + JTM iGcM = Sansk. fif + TTT) has two meanings: to measure through (to ascertain) or to determine, to fix.

* The whole Slok is made against a certain juggler and conjuror.

' f^TZ, P-P- of the Sansk. verb a'^, to choose. The Sikh Granthis explain it by " mediator," which is, however, a secondary signification (= the chosen of God).

* The words: ^TvT ^^ t\ IcN are, as they stand, quite unintelligible and a barbarous diction. I have translated them according to surmise. tTT^ >s here very probably the verbal adjective: going. ^^, s.f. a bumping sound. But «j|vJ<g (as one word) may also be taken as participle present. The translation would then run tims: it {i.e. the y |c\) is going (rllcS) (to) the discharger (^Id-irf)-

' The words of the text: Aldt VTtf fUWTH) literally: " the women, the divine male, love," may be translated in any way, as there is absolutely no sign nor hint of any grammatical or logical coherence.

They address (this) petition (to their) female friends: mind (him), 0 ye beloved!

Without the name there is woe in the house, wretched that life.

By the word (of the Guru) we were accomplished, nectai- (was) di-unk (by us).

The desert is not satiated by rain, the fire (of) hunger does not cease. The Raja is not satiated by dominion, are dried-up oceans (ever) filled? Nanak (says): how much is the inquiry after the true name!