The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 73

' ^f?5 WTfe> such like compounds are very frequent in theGranth, signifying literally: pnce/eM in price.

* T? 1^Tf3> the true assembly or the assembly of the true disciples or saints.

'?T^rf7 'IWIvJcM. to praise Hari by means of the JT^TT or word of the Guru.

'^ ^ffe ^T> the slave of slaves (servus servorum), i.e. the Guru. This phrase is of frequent occur- rence in the Granth.

' T(<ld. nhich the Sikhs traditionally explain by messenger (^3')> 'S the same as Tf^75 = g^TOi, a Candal = executioner.

* V^T?W. like ^^TS. the thing, the real thing or substance = the best thing or including all things.

(1). By wandering about the fire (of the heart) is not extinguished, if one wander from country to country.

From his heart the dirt (=sin) does not go off, wretched is his life, wretched his (faqir's) dress. Devotion is not brought about by anything, except by the instruction of the true Guru.

0 heart, attending to the Guru, remove the fire! ■ If the word of the Guru dwells in the mind, the thirst of egotism dies away.

(2). 0 mind! it {i.e. the name) is a priceless gem, from the name of Earn honour is obtained.'

Having joined the assembly of the true ones Hari is obtained by the disciple, having applied his devotion • to Hari.

When his own self is gone, comfort is obtained, (as) water mixing with water is absorbed (in it).

(3). By whom the name of Hari, Hari is not kept in his thoughts, he comes and goes vicious.

By whom the true Guru, the Spirit,' has not been joined, he pines in the water of existence and causes (others) to pine.

This gem, 0 soul! which is priceless, goes thus for a kaudl (cowrie).

(4). Those are perfect and wise men, by whom, being desirous^ for, the true Guru is found.

Having met with the Guru the water of existence is crossed (by them), at the threshold they are manifest ^ (present) with honour.

0 Nanak! they will have bright faces, (in whom) contemplation springs up (and) attention (to the) ■word (of the Guru).°

(1). Make trafiic, 0 trader! take with care a stock of goods.

Such a thing should be bought, with which one gets through (the water of existence).

In the other world is a very knowing banker, he will look after the thing.'

' Vn<^cM (MTMUI) is also neuter, to be received, to come to hand.

° t55^ s.f. (Siiidhi ^^ s.f.), Sansk. '^'^, the entering into a thing, absorption in = deep meditation or intense devotion to.

' The true Guru is often called in the Granth Ifjtf (^'^''J)- TJ^^^ is called in the Vislinu-Purana Vishnu (who is identified nitli Bralima), Xf^'^ (spirit, individuality) being the first form of the Supreme. See Vislinn Purana, p. 9. The true Guru is considered as an Avatar of the Supreme Being, and therefore the attribute of ^TJ^ i* conferred on him too. Baba Nanak is considered by the Sikhs as an Avatar (incarnation) of tlie Supreme (Vishnu), who became again incarnate in the nine following Gurus; for this reason they all call themselves Nanak.

^ ■gflT is adjective ('?^f%»^), having a taste for, longing for, or having a right understanding for the matter.

* \\ cl^l^ has here the sense of ITtil'^j manifest, present, as used already by Tulsi Das (and written by him T:i7:?n^)-

^ No Sikh, how much soever I inquired, could explain me this verse. The sense is: those have (or will have) l)nght faces in whom contemplation (l|fX) and attention (^^IH^) of the word springs up.?r^7> sound, word, is nearly always the word of the Guru.

' The t^cV-Hldls o'" trafficker (retail dealer) takes his ^TzfH stock of goods (or 'OTf'T capital) from the 'iTvJ (^TV)> wholesale merchant or hanker, to whom he is accountable.

Having taken the praise of Hari as thy stock of goods go, if the Lord sees it, he puts confidence in it. (2). TVho have no capital of truth, how shall they obtain comfort? By carrying on a base traffic heart and body become base. Like a deer caught in a snare he has much pain and weeps always.

(3). The base ones (like base coins) are not received at the treasury, they do not obtain the sight of Hari the Guru.