The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 248

(4). We are poor and wretched, 0 Lord! protect, 0 Hari, thine own, thou art very great.

The name is the support and prop of humble Nanak, even in the name of Hari is the pith of comfort.'

(1). In this fort ( = body) is Hari, Earn, the King, (but) the impudent one gets no taste (of him).

(On whom) Hari, who is merciful to the poor, bestows his favour, (by him) Hari is tasted and seen by means of the word of the Guru.

The praising of Earn Hari is (made) sweet by meditation on the Guru.

(2). Hari, the Supreme Brahm, is inapproachable, incomprehensible, the true Guru being found acts as mediator.^

To whom the words of the Guru are pleasant in (their) mind, to them I come and fall down before them.*

(3). The heart of the fleshly-minded one is exceedingly hard, within it is a black venomous snake.'

Though much milk may be given to drink to a snake, poison issues (from it), in the twinkling of an eye (the bitten man) swells up.'^

(4). 0 Lord Hari, bring and join (to me) the holy Guru, (that), having rubbed (for the bite) as charm the word (of the Guru), I may take it in my mouth.'

(To) humble Nanak, the slave and servant of the Guru, the acid (becomes) sweet by clinging to the assembly (of the pious).

(1). For the sake of (obtaining) Hari (my) body is sold (by me) before the perfect Guru.

By the true Guru the name is made firm (in him), (on whose) face and forehead a lucky lot (is written).

Pause. 0 beloved, by means of the instruction of the Guru devotion to Hari is stirred up.

' ifel^ = Jfer 9; ^^ = Sansk.?T''!^, pith (=WTX)-

° This verse I laid before the assembled Graiitbis at Amritsar, but they could give me uo explanation of it whatever.

' Wife 'Mdldl > having come, I fall down before tbem. XfH^'JT O" account of the rhyme = Xr55T.

■' The words '^J^ a(S\<i\ •"""e very obscnre. I su])pose that cJ^'ffT "s corrupted from the Hindi ^^fT, a very venomous snake. Tliis suits well tlie context.

" ^fe S(»l(4l; Sf?5 = 'SfS. in tlic twinkling of an eye. S'3 occurs in this sense twice more in the Granth. swldt = S753T. '* swelling (i.e. the bitten man). The final words are so effectually corrupted in this verse, that we can only translate tliem by conjecture.

^ WIdl =?5T) I may take, "ZJ being a meaningless alliteration.

242 RAG GAURI, MAH IV., SABD XXV. XXVI. (LXIII. LXIV.)

(2). Sporting in everybody Ram, the king, is contained (therein), by means of the word of the Guru devotion to the Guru (Ram) is stirred up.

I cut off mind and body, and give (them) to the Guru, (for) my error and fear are dispersed by the word of the Guru.

(3). Having brought a lamp he kindles it in darkness, by the knowledge (communicated by) the Guru devotion to the Guru (God) is raised.

Ignorance and darkness are totally destroyed, in the house (= one's own body) the thing (=the Supreme Being) is obtained, the mind becomes awake.

(4). The Sakats are killers, depending on the Maya, Yama begins to look out for them.

They have not sold their head before the true Guru, the luckless ones come and go.

(5). Hear our supplication, 0 Lord, we ask for the protection of Hari the Lord.

The honour and reputation of humble IN'anak is the Guru, (my) head is sold before the true Guru.

(1). We are selfish, of a selfish and foolish mind, by meeting with the Guru (our) own self is done away.