The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 7

' See Rag Suhi, Sabd 9, Mah. I. ' Rag Suhi, Sabd 8, Mali. 1.

■*(^(H (or ^ fin ell) s.m. a kind of cloth, half-cotton and half-silk (Sansk. '^^tI)- It signiSes also red lac-dye, to stain the feet witli (at festivities). Tlie latter is meant liere. ' Sirl Rag, Pahire 1, Mah. I. (p. 84).

The Baba departed thence and went on. Then said Mardana: " Sir, where shall the rainy season be spent?" The Baba answered: "Well, if some village be met with, there a stay will be made." Having gone above one Eos from the city they sat down in a village. In that viUage one Ivhatri was attached (to Nanak). He came one day to have an interview, and after having had the interview he came continually to do service. One day he made the vo^v, that without having had an interview he would not take any draught of water. One of his neighbouring shopkeepers osked: "Brother, why art thou continually going, to what rendezvous art thou going?" That disciple replied: "Brother, some pious man has come, I go to meet him." That one said: "Sir, let me also have an interview with him!" One day that one also came with him; (but) coming and coming he attached himself to a slave-girl. Thence they were always going together from home, but that one went to the whore's house, and the other, who had been coming before, went to do service to the Guru, the Lord. One day that one said: "0 brother, I go to do a bad work and thou art going to render service to the holy man. To-day let us make an agreement between om-selves, that we will see, what will accrue to me and what will happen to thee. If thou wilt come first, sit down here, and if I should come first, I will sit down here. To-day we will go to- gether away." When that one went, he found the slave-girl not at home. Being vexed he rose and came to the (appointed) place and sat down there. In his stray thoughts he began to dig up the ground; when he looked on, it was a gold coin.' Then having drawn out his knife he began to dig (more). When he looked, they were charcoals, a whole jar full. The other, after he had fallen down at the foot of the Guru, went away. Outside the door a thorn pierced his foot. Having bound up his foot with a cloth he came (to the appointed place), with one shoe drawn off and one being put on. That one asked: "0 brother, why hast thou drawn off one of thy shoes?" He replied: "0 brother, a thorn has pierced my foot." That one said: "0 brother, to-day I have found a gold muhar and thee a thorn has pierced; we must ask about this matter. For thou goest to do service to the Guru and I go to commit sin." Then both came and told the whole truth. The Guru said: "Be silent!" They replied: "Sir, may an explanation be given (to us)!" Then the Gm'u said: "The jar of charcoals were gold muhars; it is what he has sown in his former birth. He had given one muhar to a holy man, these his alms had become muhars. But in proportion as he ran after wickedness, the muhars became charcoals. And in thy destiny an im- paling-stake was written. In proportion as thou wast coming to do service (to me), the impaling- stake decreased, of the impaling-stake became a thorn, as the result of service rendered (to me)." Then they rose and fell down at his feet and became devotees of the name; they began to mutter: "Guru, Guru!" Then 'the Baba recited a Sabd, in Bag Maru, llahala I. [there follow four verses].-

Then they departed thence. On the road they fell in with Thags.^ Having seen the (travellers) they said: "In whose face there is such a lustre, he is not empty, in his purse there is much money, but it is concealed. They surrounded the Baba and stood before him, but with seeing his sight they became weak (= discouraged) within. The Guru asked them: "Who are you?" They answered: "We are Thags, we have come for thy jewels." Then the Baba said: '•Well! Having done one work you may kill (me). Where that smoke is coming into sight, thither come a little further on! There you may kill and brand me! " The Thags said: " Where is the fire, where? we will kill and remove him! " Then said some Thags: " We have killed many men, but laughing none has said: 'kill me!' where is he going in hope?" Then two Thags

' HvTfcT *•/"■ a gold coin or muhar (= ^-il ), worth about one £1 11«. 8d.

' "S^t a robber, who inveigles his victhn and kills him; literally: a cheat.

ran towards the fire. Wlien they came there, a funeral pile was burning and the troops ' of Eama and the troops of Tama were standing and quarrelling. The Thags asked: "Who are you and why are you quarrelling?" Those answered: "We are the troops of Yama, liaving received the order of the Lord we are going to take this creature (here) to the pot-hell.^ But after us these troops of Eama have come and have snatched him away from us. Ask them, why they have torn him away from us." The Thags asked then: "Why have you snatched him away from those?" The troops of Rama answered: "The Guru, the Lord, whom you have come to kiU, by his favourable look the 'smoking fire of this one's funeral pile has been applied, (having been) a sacrifice to hini he has (now) reached paradise." The Thags hearing this ran back and said: "By whose favourable look one has become entirely emancipated, when the fij-e was applied (to his pyre), him we have come to kill." Then they came and fell down at his feet. The others asked and were told the matter; then they also came and fell down at his feet. Joining their hands (in supplication) they stood before him and began to beseech (him) and said: " Sir, make us attached to the name! Destroy thou our sins! we have perpetrated very horrible sins." Then Guru Nanak became moved with compassion and said: "Your sins will then be extinguished, when you abandon this occu- pation and take to agriculture; and whatever (stolen) thing rests with you, that give away in the name of the Lord (as alms)! Seek the favour of ascetics and devotees!" They obeyed his order; whatever thing they had, they brought and put down before him. They began to mutter: "Guru, Guru! " Their life was adjusted.' Then the Bfiba recited a Sabd, in the Sri Rag, Maliala I. [there follow four verses].^ The Guru was much pleased and departed thence. Say: vah Guru!

Then they came to the country of Kauru.^ One day Mardruia became hungry; he rose and went. He came to the door of a woman and stood there. She called him and asked him if he ■wished to eat. Then she hound him with a thread, made him a ram and seated him. Having bound him she went for water. The Baba came then and having seen (him) he (Mardana) began to bleat (like a sheep). When she came back with her water-jar. Guru Nanak asked her and said: "My man has come here." She answered: "No one has come here, look (yourself)!" Then the Baba uttered (this) Slok:

The female traffickers in barren soil ask musk from the bramble. Without (good) works, 0 Nanak, how will they meet with their Lord?

On this the jar on her head remained fixed, it did not go off, as a punishment for her false- hood; she went about with it. Then Nur Shahi heard that siich a (great) conjurer had come, that the jar did not go off. She gave the order that no female conjurer in the town should remain behind. Then, wherever there was a conjurer, they all came with their skill. One came mounted on a tree, another came mounted on a deer-skin, another on the moon, another on a wall, another brought with her a tiger, another came beating a drum. Having come they commenced to practise their jugglery, binding threads. Then the Baba saw Mardana bound; Mardatia began to mew. The Baba laughed and said: "Mardana, say: 'vah Guru!' bow thy head and bring the rebeck!" Then Mardana bowed his head and the thread broke and fell off his neck. He brought the rebeck. Then the Guru said: " Play the rebeck, 0 Mardana! " Mardana played it and the Sabd in the Eagu Vadhans, Mahalii I. was sung [there follow four verses].^ Then no answer whatever was

^ of3\ Ado< > name of a hell, in «hicli people are boiled as!ii a pot.

' iTSiJ T^lfSJKT. their life was adjusted, i.e. they gained the object of their life, or: were emancipated.

° Cf. Sakhi 25 (Lahore edit.). There the name of the country is written STI^H. Kuvaru or afT3, Karu.

made. Intelligence reached 'Nur Shahl that no mantra nor charm 'was availing. Nur Shahi was the head of all conjurers; she came with her best disciples mounted on an apparatus of paper, and began to apply her mantras and charms. Then Mnak recited the Sabd, in the Eag Suhl, Mnhala I. [there follow four verses].' The Baba having said: " Vah, vah! " '^ rose. Nur Shahi also became tired of practising her mantras and speUs, they took no effect whatever. She said: "I have done wrong," and remained silent from shame. Drums also were standing near, they began to dance and to sing. Then the Baba said: "Mardana, play the rebeck!" Mardana played the rebeck, the Eag Sri Eag was made, Mahala I., the Baba uttered the Sabd [there follow four verses and a Slok].' After the Guru had said this Slok, Nur Sliahi said (within herself): "I will delude him with the Maya (= wealth)." She brought things of many kinds: pearls, jewels, gold, silver, coral, camphor, clothes; whatever good things there were, she brought and put them down before him. She began to beseech him, that he should desire something. The Guru replied: "Mardana, play the rebeck! " Mardana did so and the Eag Tilang was made, Mahala I. [tliere follow four verses].^

After this she fell down at the feet of the Guru. Having put a veil over her cheeks she stood before him and commenced to say: " How shall our salvation be brought about and how will tho water-jar go off from the head of this one?" The Guru answered: "Having said: 'vah Guru!' you wiU. make the water-jar go off from her head and your salvation also will be effected; mutter: ' Guru, Guru! ' " Then she came and fell down at his feet; she became a votary of the name. Say: vah Guru!

Then the Baba departed thence. Going about he came to a desert and sat down. Then by the order of tho Lord the Kali-yuga came to frighten him,' having assumed a visible form. A storm arose and the trees began to fly about. Mardana got very much afraid and said: " 0 King, thou hast brought me into the desert and killed me; even grave and shroud I must forego." Guru Nanaksaid: "Mardana, don't become troubled!" Mardana answered: "Up to this day I have now lived, but such a calamity I have not seen, for what has happened here to us! " Then a form of fire was shown; ° a smoke arose from the four sides and in the four quarters a fire was made. Tlien Mardana, covering his face fell down and said: " Sir, I am waiting." Then a form of water was made (by the Kali-yuga); he came having gathered clouds. "Water began to rain, but it fell at some distance from the Guru. Then the Guru said: "Mardana, disclose thy face, rise and sit down! play the rebeck!" "Mardana rose, sat down and played the rebeck." The Eag Maru was made. The Baba uttered the Sabd, Mahala I. [there follow four verses].' Then assuming the form of a Daitya he (the Kali-yuga) came near. The top of his head he had raised up to heaven. In proportion as he approached, he decreased in size. Joining his hands he stood and said: "Sir, take something from me! walk in my word!" The Guru Baba asked him: "What hast thou?" Kali-yuga answered: "I have everything. If thou order me, I will build thee a palace of pearls and stud it with gems and rubies, I will besmear it with sandal-powder and aloe- wood." Then tho Guru recited a Sabd (as written) in the Eag Siil Eug, Mahala I. [there follow three verses].' The Kali-yuga said: "Take something from me! thou mayest become a Sultan, thou mayest exercise sovereignty." Then the Guru recited the fourth Pauri [there follows the fourth verse]. Then the Kali-yuga walked round (Nanak) in adoration, came and fell down at

' SuhT, Kucaji 1 (p. 840). = Vah, vali = bravo! bravo!

^ These Hues are not found among the Sabds of Nanak. * Tilang, Sabd 4, Mah. I.

' Cf. Sakhi 26 (Lahore cd.). « i.e. by the Kali-yuga.

' The quotatiou is wrong; in the Granth these verses are ascribed to Guru Arjuii; see Maru, Sabd 1, Mah. V. (p. 1108).

his feet and said: "Sir, how may my salvation be effected?" Guru Xanak answered: "If among a crore some one will become my disciple, his sacrifice ( = devotion to me) wUl become thy salvation." The Kali-yuga then fell down at his feet and was dismissed by the Buba. Say: vah Guru!

The Guru and Mardana continued their wanderings; they came to a city of ants.' When they looked about, trees and shrubs, all appeared black, the whole ground also. When ilardana saw this, he was much frightened and said: " Sir, let us depart hence! such a great black thing I have never seen, go away from this black thing!" The Guru Baba replied: "Ilardana: (here) is their realm, though some one {i.e. ant) may go to a hundred jungles. If some young one of an animal is born, they eat it, and if eggs be laid by some snake, they eat them also, but none will come near thee." Then said ilardana: "Sir, has ever any one come here?" The Guru answered: " Mardana, one day one Raja had come up here. Having formed a host of fifty-two complete armies he had marched out against some Eaja and come to this counti-y. One ant went and met him and said: ' 0 Raja, remain here and do not march on! And if thou art marching, then march according to my will.' The Eaja asked: 'What is thy will?' The ant replied: '0 Eaja, my will is this, that having eaten my bread thou shouldst go.' The Eaja said: ' I am the Eaja of fifty-two complete armies, how should I eat thy bread? ' The ant replied: ' If not, thou wUt go after a battle.' The Eaja said: ' WeU, let it be so! ' 0 Mardana, the Raja taking his fifty- two complete armies began to fight with the ants. The chief of the ants gave the order to the ants: ' Go and fetch poison! ' Having fiUed their mouth with poison from the Piyal-tree they brought it; every one died, to whom they applied it. 0 Mardana, the whole host of fifty-two complete ai-mies died with (=by) the order of the Lord; the Eaja alone remained alive. Then that ant went and said: '0 Eaja, hear my word, now thou wilt accept my bread.' The Eaja joining his hands stood (as a suppliant) and said: ' "Well, may it be so! ' Then that ant gave the order to the (other) ants: ' Go and bring nectar! ' In the nether region there are seven pools of nectar and seven pools of poison. The ants went, filled their mouth with nectar and brought it. To whom they applied it, he rose and stood; so the host of fifty-two complete armies rose and stood with the order of the Lord. Then the Eaja having risen went to eat bread with his fifty-two complete armies. When the bread was given (them), it was cold, and when the grass was given to the horses, it was soaked, and when the corn was given, it was chopped. The Eaja asked: ' Why is such bread given and soaked grass and chopped com?' The ant answered: '0 Eaja, some time ago a Eaja had come, for him I had prepared bread; what was left by him, that I have served out to thy army, and the corn, and grass, that was left by his horses, was given to thy horses.' When the Eaja on going away looked about, full magazines stood there. The pride of the Eaja was humbled and he said: 'Such are the habits of the Rajas.' Then the Eaja returned to his house." The Baba uttered this Slok:

Lions, hawks, falcons and birds of prey he makes eat grass.

Who eat grass, them he makes eat flesh, such is his habit.

In rivers he shows heaps of sand and on dry land he makes bottomless pools.

Having killed the creatures he vivifies them, (if) he bestows his look and favour on the

creatures. He establishes an ant and gives it dominion and an army he reduces to ashes. Xanak (says): as it pleases the True one, so he gives a morsel.

Then Mardana fell down at his feet. Say: vah Guru!

They departed thence and having come to a village they sat down there. In that Tillage no

one gave them a place to stay in, they began to rail (at themj. Then the Guru Baba uttered this Slot: