The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 21

[In Samvat 1545, for the seventh of the light half of (the month of) Har, the marriage day was written. Nanaki made congratulations in the house and by the hand of the Brahman Nidha a letter was sent, sprinkled with saffron. Sweetmeats and Cardamom seeds and five Rupees in cash were sent to Talvandl to the house of Kalu. In the house of Kalu, the YedT, they commenced to rejoice and to make congratulations. Kalu sent a man to his father-in-law's family in the Manjha; there also congratulations were made; they began to divide fruits (among their friends). Kalu went to Rae Bular: "0 Rae, be blessed!" The Rae said: "Kalu, what (is the matter)?" Kalu replied: "The day fixed for the marriage of thy slave' Nanak has come (to us)." The Rae said: " Kalu, don't call Nanak again our slave, we shall be grieved thereby." Kalu replied: ""Well, Sir, politeness becomes us." -

Who went to the wedding? Kalu, Lalu, Parasram, the son of Lalii, Nandlal, Indrasain, Phiranda, Jagatrae, Lolcand, JagsitmaU, Jadmall; all the Vedls were ready. When the first day of (the month of) Bhado had risen, seven days passed, then they started from Talvandl. Prom the Manjha came Rama, the maternal grandfather, and Kisna, the (maternal) uncle, and two other companions with them. When they had arrived at Sultanpur, the beginning was made in the house of Parmanand and Jairam, the Palta. When yet five days remained for the appointed day of the marriage, they started from Sultanpur. Having come to the twenty-second resting- place,^ they stopped and alighted in a garden. Parmanand, the Palta, the father of Jairam, sent the Brahman Nidha, (saying to him): " Go and inform Miila, (that) the marriage company of the Vedls has come, let it be known to you." Nidha -went and informed ilula, the Cona, he gave him a benediction and said: "0 patron, be happy!" Mula said: "0 Pandit, reverence

' The Lahore edition has struck out the word 3R5TH. "hioh all MSS. have, and substituted in its place yJT^j son.

' We drop here some other complimentary words. ^ TRTT s-"'- rest, resting-place.

(to thee)! " Nidha said: " 0 patron, tho marriage company of the Vedis has alighted in a garden, in order to inform you Bhai Parmanand has sent me." Miila replied: "It is well." Then Miila went and assembled his own brothers and relatives; he went to Hita, the Eadhava, and said: " 0 Caudhari,' the marriage company of the Vedis has come." Hita, the Radhava, said: "0 son Ajita, go with Miila; whatever Mula says, give that supply! "Whatever vessels, clothes, people, he may desire, that give, and remain thou thyself also with him! My body, 0 Miila, is old, else I would be myself with thee." "Well, CaudharT, what your order is, that is yourself." "Miila, good people have come to thy house, have an eye on (thy) honour, and restrain thy tongue, this is what I have to say. 1 have heard that Kalu, the Patvari of the Bhattis, is foul-tongued, and thou also hast a sharp tongue. But well, among them Parmanand and Jairam are called good men, therefore from thy own part politeness must be shown (to them)." Mrda replied: " Well, Caudharl, you are our refuge and asylum and the Lord also is our support." "Well, Mula, go, mind my order." Then Mula having assembled the head men of the caste sent excellent food; Ajita, the Randhava, was with them, much honour and politeness was shown (to them). At night the marriage company (of the A''edis) rose and entered (the village) with fine music, inside much honour was shown (to them). When one watch and a quarter of the night had passed, the (four) circuits (round the marriage fire) took place. "This, which I am tolling, 0 Guru, I have seen with my own eyes, I was present and speak as an eye-witness." Guru Angad having heard some words became happy and began to weep in love. "When the time of the circuits (round the fire) came, Nanak said: 'Bhai BiHa, remain thou with me.' 0 Guru, whatever was Nanak's secret expense, that was with me. I said: ' Well, Sir, I will remain with you.' 0 Guru, it was a good enjoyment. Three days the marriage company remained, on the fourth day it took leave. Having taken the Doli (with the youug wife) they came to Sultanpur. Kalii and Lalii said, that the lad and his wife should go to their own house and Nanak said: ' I will remain here.' Nanaki and Jaiiam said, they should remain here, for who would attend to the business of the commissariat? Then Kfilii said: '0 daughter Nanaki, thy mother sits (at home) full of expectation, she also is longing for comfort.' This contention was going on, when Mula came. When Miila heard of it, he said, that the lad and the girl should remain here, they should not be sent to Talvandi. This strife was going on for several days, then Parmanand said: ' Miila,- this is now the fia-st time, the mother of the lad is also full of expectation and desire,- let them go to their own house, then having returned they shall remain here, the business of the commissariat is here.'

"Nanaki and the mother, the Coni,' and all the other marriage company that had come from Talvandi, went with the Doli of the mother, the Coni; Nanak (also) went to Talvandi and left the commissariat to me.

" Nanak returned again to Sultanpur and took the mother, the Cuni, to her father Mula's house, then he went to the commissariat and sat down there and commenced his work. As the custom of Guru Nanak was, so it continued to be. He showed little afi'ection to his wife and the mother, the Coni, became (in consequence thereof) angry, the conduct of the Guru did not please her, the Guru did not apply her to his mouth {i.e. he did not kiss her). Two mouths passed and he did not enter the house.

In other JVISS. he is also called JJ^ ^^ MCdcand, cand being an epithet frequently added to the names of Khatrls.

HT3T ^^W'. the mother, the Coni, i.e. Nanak's wife. As soon as a girl is married, her proper name Is dropped and she is only c.dled by the name of her family. Nanak's wife was of the CoiiS family and slie is therefore only called by that name; her maiden name was Sulakhani (J???rV:(^); see p. hwiii, 1. 5.

" "When Mula came to see tis daughter, she said to him: ' 0 father, where hast thou given me away? This one is feeding the people and does not at all care for his house.' Mula went to Jaiiam, made a great row and said: ' Having obtained my daughter thou hast di'owned her! ' And to Nanak he said: ' 0 thou, whence hast thou been born? ' But Nanak did not speak at all. The name of the mother, the ConT, was SulakhauT, and because she came to the house of the Guru, she was called the mother, the Coin. They made continually altercations and months on months passed in squabbles. The name of the mother-in-law of Nanak was Candoranl. Candorani came to her daughter and the daughter began to weep before her mother. CandoranT became very angry and went to Bcbe Nanaki and began to quarrel with her. She said: ' How so? You begin to govern thus, that you ruin other people's daughters? You have no fear of God, thou dost not admonish thy brother, thou dost not consider thy sister-in-law as one (with thee), thou dost not look after thy sister-in-law! Neither does thy husband admonish his brother- in-law, tell me, what you have in your mind? ' Bebe NanakI replied: ' Hear, 0 aunt, how shall I admonish my brother? My brother is no thief, nor adulterer, nor gambler, he is not committing any wickedness, this is (all), that he is giving alms to the naked and hungry; with what one earns oneself, one may do what one pleases. Then you may reproach him, when

your daughter remains hungry or naked.' Candoranl remained silent, she could not say

anything. She came back to her daughter and said: '0 daughter, thy sister-in-law has put me quite to shame, I could not give her any answer; 0 daughter, behave thou also a little humbly.' Sulakhanl replied: '0 mother, I am not hungry nor naked, jewels, clothes, food, all this I have.' ' But daughter, if thou hast all this, why art thou giving a bad name to the son of a Khatri? ' She said: ' 0 mother, what shall I do '? He is not applying me to his mouth, he does not speak to me face to face, what shall I do, to whom shall I speak? ' Candorani went then again to Bebe Nanaki and commenced to say: ' 0 daughter, I have much admonished thy sister-in-law; she admits, that she is not hungry nor naked, but she says that he does not speak to her face to face, nor apply her to his mouth: what shall I do?' Bebe Nanaki replied:

' 0 aunt, the manner of my sister-in-law is rough, but she herself will become discreet.'

'Well, daughter Nanaki, there is no question of any want, but consider thou thyself: what is the custom of the women, that also is desired.' Bebe Nanaki replied: ' Thou art right, the Lord will make it well; comfort hei- and admonish her also, that she should walk according to his word, that she should be gentle and give up roughness. Thou also knowest, 0 aunt, that I am taking care of my brother and I do not consider Nanak as my brother, I consider Nanak as the Lord; put thou true faith in him! We are so afraid of Nanak, that we dare not say a word to him, for Nanak is a Faqir.' Candoiani went then home. "J

(16). NanaFs two sons are lorn. He quits the commissariat.

GurS Nanak carried on the commissariat and satisfied everybody, he commenced also to come to his own house. When he had become thirty-two years of age, a son was born in the house of the Guru, the turning pin of the world; the name of Sir! Cand was given to him. When Siri Cand was four years of age, Lakhmi-das, the gentleman, was in the womb.

The Guru was sitting in the commissariat, when one day a man of the GGvind people '

' The expression is: ftl? 3Tf^7 557; the verb refeniiig to it is throughout kept in the Sing., so that it cannot be translated by: some people of Govind. ftR?ff^^ ^? stands tlierefore for f^R Tff^^ WS77 TT.?5^ being in PaiijabI also used in the sense of " 7nan " (Sing.). The Govind lok were a sect of Faqirs. See: Sikha de riij di vithia, p. 2(38.

appeared to him in a Turkish garb. Guru Nanak said: " Sir, sit down." Then that Govind man sat down and said: "0 servant of God, what pain hast thou?" Nanak replied: "Sir, I have no pain whatever." The Govind man continued to say: "Why has thy colour become yellow?" Nanak replied: "Sir, I am the son of a Khatri, without bathing I do not eat. Four watches pass while I am sitting (in the commissariat); when two Gharls ( = forty-eight minutes) of the day are as yet remaining, then, having bathed, I put a morsel into my mouth." The Govind man answered to Nanak: "0 brother, all is present with thee: rise thou early in the morning, dip in the ' canal and sit then in the commissariat after having put some Ghl, molasses and some raw grains of corn into thy mouth, then thy Uver will remain green, it wiU not wither away." Nanak took up this custom. When six months had (thus) passed, Nanak dived in the canal and was lost. After his servant had waited (for some time) he rose and came and informed the Navfib. The fishermen began to search for him, but became tired of it; they threw in also a large net, but did not get him. Then in the commissariat and ia the public ofSce the noise was made, that Nanak, the YedT, had been lost. Some said this, some that. Some said: " He has squandered the money of the Government, for he was feeding the Faqirs." Three days and nights he was lost. On the thii-d day Nanak came out of the canal. When he had come out, the noise arose that Nanak is sitting among the Faqirs. The people said: "A demon has seized Nanak, the steward. Daulat Khan L5d! seized Jairam and said: "Nanak, thy brother-in-law, was my steward, answer thou for my money." Jairam went to Nanak and said: "Nanak, Daulat Khan the Navab demands account, go and give it!" Nanak rose and went with him and gave the account, 760 Eupees came out as surplus to Nanak. Daulat Khan was informed that 760 Rupees came out as due to Nanak on the part of the Government. Daulat Khan said again: "0 Nanak, sit down in the commissariat, what is thy own bill, settle that and take it and go on with the business of the commissariat." Nanak replied: " 0 Navab, this money is of no use to me, this money belongs to God, feed the Faqirs with this money." Nanak got discharged and did not enter his house, he remained outside. Mula, his father-in-law, burnt and became hot like coals.

On the third month (after) Lakhmi-das was born in the house of Guru Nanak. Mula, the Cona, his father-in-law, was a votary of the Pandit Sama; he went to him and wept: "Look, Sir, Nanak is neither doing any business nor does he go anywhere; I am very much afliicted."

Mfdu, his father-in-law, complains against Ncniak and declares him mad. Ifdnak proves that he is in his senses. The prayers in tlie mosqtie.

Then Mula the Coua went to the Navab and complained. The Navab Daulat Khan said: " 0 Yar Khan, who is this man, of whom does he complain? '' Yar Khan asked Mula: ""Who art thou and of whom dost thou complain?" Mula answered: "Sir, I am the father- in-law of Nanak, the steward, and I complain of Nanak." Yar Khan told it to the Navab. The Navab said: "Bring him here!" Yar Khan brought Miila and the Navab asked him: "Why art thou complaining of Nanak?" Mula said: "Navab, health! The 760 Eupees, which came out as due to Nanak, should go to the wife of Nanak." The Navab said: "0 Mula, Nanak is saying, that they should be given to the Faqirs." MCila answered: "Navab, health! Nanak has become mad." The Navab said: "These have a just claim. A.pply to Nanak a Mulla! If he has not become mad, then give the money to the Faqirs!" Then the Mulla commenced

'. lu the bixteeutb Saklii it is related that the admouitions of the Pandit Sama made no impre&siuu oil Nanak.

to make incantations to Nanak, but Nanak remained absorbed (in thought). When the smell of the burnt roll of candlewick went into the nose of Nanak, he said:

Whose field is wasted, what need have they of a threshing-floor? 0 Nanak, woe to their life, who write and sell the name!

The Mulla said further: "Who art thou? tell me thy name!" Then Nanak uttered a Sabd in the Eag Maru, Mahala I. [there follow four verses].' The Mulla became comforted aud began to praise (him). Having come the Mulla said to the Navab: " Navab, health! Xanak is not mad, with him some saint has met, he is in his senses." The JTavab said then: "Call Jairam!" Jairam was called. The Navab said: "Jairam, what shall be done? We cannot keep the money of Xanak, and Xanak has said that it should be given to the Faqirs. His father-in-law com- plains against him (saying): ' We know, that Nanak has become mad,' and the MuUa says that Nanak is in his senses. Speak thou! what thou sayest, that we will do.' " Jairam was very much afraid of Kanak, he remained therefore silent. The Xavab said again: "Jaii'am, why dost thou not give an answer?" Jairam replied: "Navab, health! The Navab understands every- thing (better than I); what shall I answer?" The jS'avab said: "Jairam, (his) wife has also a right." Jairam replied: "Nanak is also present, he is not gone far off." Then the jSiavab said: " Call iSfanak! " A man went to call _ Nauak, but Xanak did not come. The man returned and said to the Kavab: "Sir, he does not come." The Xavab Daulat Khan became angry and said: " Seize and bring him! " The man went again and said: "0 Nanak, the Navab has become very angry." Then Nanak rose and came and stood before the Navab, he made his salam (to him). The Navab got angry and said: "Nanak, why didst thou not come?" Nanak replied: "Hear, 0 Navab! when I was thy servant, I came to thee, now I am not thy servant, now I have become the servant of God." The Navab said then: "If thou hast become Buch a one, then go with me and say prayers! it is Friday to-day." Nanak said: "Go, Sir!" The Navab, the Xazi, Nanak and many innumerable people went together and stood in the great mosque. As many people as were in the mosque, they all began to say in their place, that Nanak has to-day come over to this side, and among all the respectable Hindus in Sultanpur a noise was made. Jairam was much grieved and went home. When Nanakl saw that her lord was much grieved, she rose and said: "What is the matter to-day, that thou hast come so grieved?" Jairam replied: "Hear, 0 servant of God, what thy brother Nanak has done! he is gone with the Navab to the great mosque to say prayers! and in the whole town, among Hindus and Musalmans, a noise is made, that to-day Nanak is coming over to this side; why should I not be grieved?" Nanakl said: "Compose thy mind, rise and eat food! do not be in anxiety about Nanak! Nanak, my brother, is under his {i.e. God's) strong protection, no one is able to look towards Nanak with a bad eye; rise thou and eat with joy! " Whilst they were talking thus, a noise arose. Jairam had left Nidha, the Brahman, as a spy; he came and congratulated Jairam, (saying): "0 patron, comfort and joy set La! no apprehension is to be made!" Jairam and Nanakl began to ask Nidha: "Tell, Nidha, how has it happened?" Nidha said: "I was not witliin (the mosque), but I have heard it from the mouth of the Turks, that the Navab made his prayer and that Nanak remained standing. "^Hien the Navab had finished his prayer, he began to say to Nanak: ' 0 Nanak, thou hadst come to make prayers, why didst thou not say them? ' Nanak replied: ' With whom shall I make prayers? ' The Navab said: ' Thoii shouldst have made them with us.' Nanak replied: 'Thou hadst gone to Kandahar in order to buy horses, with

"(vlioni shall I pray? ' Daulat Khfm said: ' 0 Nanak, thou art telling so mucli falsehood, I am standing here.' Nanak replied: ' Hear, 0 Khan, thy body was standing here, and he who ■was saying the prayers had gone to Kandahar to buy horses.' Then the Kazi said: ' Navab, health! how much falsehood is the Hindu telling! ' The Jfavab replied: ' 0 Kazi, Nanak is truthful. At the time of bowing down my spirit had gone to Kandahar for the sake of horses.' Again the KazT made a calumny (saying): ' Hear, 0 Khan! we surely had not gone, he should have said prayers with us! ' Then the Navab said: ' Nanak thou shouldst have prayed with the Kazi! ' Nanak replied: ' 0 Jfavab, the Kazi had gone to his house to take care of a colt, "perhaps my colt may he falling into the pit." ' "

Then both believed.' " So, 0 brother, I have heard." NanakI said again: " 0 Misr, where hast thou left Nanak?" Nidha replied: "I have left him there." Jairam began to quarrel with N'idha: " If thou hadst stood there for one hour, jS'auak would have come out and thou wouldst have met with him." Nidha replied: " Sir, he was in the mosque, and all the people that were there, returned to their houses, but he did not come into my sight, who knows where he is gone?" NanakT comforted Jairam: "Be thou not anxious at all, Nanak is coming now." In the meanwhile Nfinak came to Jairam's house. The slave-girl Tulsa cried from below: " Mistress, your brother has come! " Jaiiam became veiy happy and began to ask Nanak: "0 brother Kanak, how did the mentioned affair happen? tell thy own story, what is heard from thy own mouth, that is genuine information." N"anak said: "0 brother-in-law! Daulat Khan and the KazT began to say their prayers, we remained standing by. When he (the Khan) had finished his prayers, he began to say: ' 0 Nanak, hast thou come to say prayers or to stand here, thou hast not said prayers.' We replied:

The forehead he knocks on the ground, the heart rises to heaven, Daulat Khan, the Pathan, buying horses in Kandahar.

The Navab said: ' I have not understood it, what didst thou say? ' I said again: ' Thou hadst gone to Kandahar to buy horses, how should I have made prayers?' The Kazi said then: 'Look, 0 Khan, how much falsehood the Hindu is telling! ' The Khan replied: ' 0 KazT, the Hindu is truthful. At the time, we were making the bows (in prayers), our heart had gone to Kandahar for the sake of horses.' Then the KazT said: ' We indeed had not gone anywhere, he should have said (prayers) with us.' I replied to the KazT: ' In (thy) courtyard a pit was dug, while bowing down on the ground (thy) spirit was with (thy) colt.' The Navab said: ' 0 Nanak, why art thou saying this? ' I replied: ' The mare of the KazT had brought forth a colt, and in his courtyard is a pit; when the KazT made his bowings, his spirit was dwelling on the colt, "perhaps the colt may fall into the pit and die."' This I sajd; then Daulat Khan laughed: ' Now, KazT, what does Nanak say? speak the truth! ' The KazT began to say: ' 0 Khan, the matter is indeed so.' Then the Navab said to the KazT: ' Nanak is a perfect FaqTr.- Now not a word can be said against him.' The Navab said further: ' Hear, Nanak, thy money I cannot keep and thy father-in-law has brought a complaint against thee, that it is the right of (thy) wife, and thou hadst said, that I should give it to the Faqirs, say now, to whom shall I give the money?' I replied to the Navab: 'I have told thee, know thou, (what is further to be done)! ' The Navab said: ' Hear, Nanak; the one half of thy money we will give to thy wife and the other half to the FaqTrs, give thou it with thy own hands! ' I replied: ' We know nothing at all, know thou!' This word we have spoken, whether it please thee, 0 brother-