The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 4

When Baba (Xanak) was five years old, he began to talk of the Shastras and of the Yedas; whatever he says, that he (also) understands; cveiybody received comfort from him. The Hindus say, that some form of a god has become incarnate and the Musalmans say, that some holy man of God has been bom.

' I used for this purpose a Giirmukhi MS. belonging to myself, a MS. belonging to the India Office Library, marked ^'^ Bibliotheca Leydeniann, and a lithographed copy, published at Lahore (1871) with the title: tTTJ^WT^^ "STm AIAWtft^ TTf^^ J3Wf^ UTSrT 73^ ^jfe WlJd ^TWr^ ^jdS-H^l f^vR5t 0 \<it{ J>)tf\"H ^rVs % 2}JI|q^|(J. This book, containing many bold \voodcnts, is utterly spoiled in the bitter half by the maliciousness of the scribe, the letters being purposely so disfigured, that they can no longer be read without the help of a manuscript. Large extracts are also contained in the f'TVft 7 d CH •?! f%f^'KT> published at Ludihana by tlie American Mission Press, 1868.

' Both Janam-sakhis agree as to the year, liut not as to the month; for according to B (2), he was born in the month of Katak (middle of October — the middle of November). The month Vaisakh is middle of April — middle of May; his birtli took therefore place either in May or November of 1409 a.d.

"When the Baba was seven years old, Kalu said: "0 Nanak, read!"' Then he brought Guru Nanak to the schoolmaster. Kalu said: " 0 schoolmaster, teach this one to read! " The school- master wrote a slate and gave it to him, containing the thirty-five letters (of the Gurmukhi alphabet); the slate (is contained) in the Rag Asa, JIahala I.^ The first word he read was: "By the favour of the holy true Guru! "

[Now follows a quotation of thirty-four verses from the Rag Asa, but without any translation or paraphrase being added to it. After some conversation between the schoolmaster and Nanak on the subject of these verses the story continues.]

The Pandit became astonished and paid reverence (to him), " because this is a perfect one." " What comes into thy mind, that do! " Then the Guru Baba went home and sat down. It was the order of the Lord, that he did no work whatever. When he sits down, he remains seated; when he goes to sleep, he remains asleep. He associates with Faqirs. His father Kalu became astonished, what would become of him.^

(two leaves being lost). Nothing of the field of this one is spoiled.* Then the

BhattT said: " Sir, my field indeed is laid waste; I am robbed, my field is spoiled. Procure me justice, if not, I go to the Turks." Guru Kanak answered: " 0 Divan, health (to (thee)! if one blade be spoiled or cut ofi", then answer must be made for it; but send thou thy own man and

look!" Then Rae Bular sent his own footmen (a lacuna in the MS.) Not one blade

was destroyed. Then the Baba made a Sabd; * it is written in the Rag Suhi, Mahala I.'' [four verses follow without a paraphrase]. Then Rae Bular called that Bhatti a liar. Niinak and Kiilu both went home.

Then came the order of the Lord, that in the house of Guru Nanak two sons should be born, LakhmT-das and Siri-cand. But Nanak's retirement from the world was not given up; Guru Nanak going to trees remained (there) retired from the world (ilS. p. 21).

Then one day the Baba Guru Nanak went and fell asleep in a garden.' The day went down again and be did not rise. At that time Rae Bular, the Bhatti chief, was occupied in this business (of his chieftainship, i.e. measuring land). Coming and coming when he entered the garden, some one had fallen asleep under a tree. But when he looked on, he saw, that the shade of the other trees had gone, and that the shade of this tree was remaining. Rae Bular said: "Awaken him! " When he was raised, it was found, that it was the son of Kalu. Then Rae Bular said: "Friends, we have seen a wonderful thing, and look also at this, it is not empty! " ' Then Rae Bular went home and sent for Kalu, and said to him: "Kalu, don't be saying to this thy son: 'Fie upon thee, die! ' he is a great man, my town is a sacrifice to him. Kalu, thou hast become exalted and I also am exalted, in whose town this one has been born." Kalu said: " The things of God even God knows," and went home.

Guru Nanak kept company with Faqirs, with any one (else) he did not converse. The whole family was grieved thereby, and said: " He has become mad." Then came the mother of Guru Nanak

' Mabiila I. designates the writings of Nanak, Mahdla II. those of Angad, etc. Every piece is thus marked in the Granth. The patti (or wooden slate) is found in the Rag Asa (Lahore lithograplied edition of the Granth), p. 477 sqq.

* See B. (4), where the same story is related.

' The Caupada and Dupada are called by one common name IJTl^f, Sabd.

' See B (5). * That is: it forebodes something important.

and said to him: "Son, it does not behove thee, to sit with Faqirs, thou hast a house and family, daughters ' and sons, do some work! leave off making continually good words! the people laiigh at us, that the son of Kalfi has become mad." Such words his mother spake, but they made no impression whatever on the heart of Nanak.

He went away again and fell down. As ho had fallen, so he passed four days. When she had ceased rubbing him," the wife of the Baba came to her mother-in-law and said: "0 mother- in-law, how canst thou sit down, whose son has fallen? It is now the fourth day, ho docs neither eat nor drink." Thou his mother came and said: "Son, it does not become thee to fall down; eat and drink something and look after thy fields and crops! be a little attentive to thy work! thy whole family is grieved. And, son, what does not please thee, that do not, we will not say anything to theo: why hast thou gone away again? " Then Kalu heard of it and came. He said: "Son, what are we commanding thee? but to do work is good. Though the sons of Khatris have money, yet they do (some) work. Son, our field out there stands ripe (for the siclde) and (that) it may not be wasted, how, if thou wouldst be standing in it? then the people will say: 'the son of Kalu has become a good son.' The field is with its owners, 0 son! " Then Guru Nanak said: " 0 father, a private field is ploughed by us, that we take care of. The plough is carried over it by us, seed is sown, a hedge made round it; day and night we stand and protect it. 0 father, we do not take care of our own field, what knowledge have we of another's (field)?" Then Kalu became astonished and said: "Look, people, what this one is saying!" Then Krdu said: "When hast thou cultivated a private field? Give up such foolish talk; but if it please thee, I will give thee at the next harvest a new field under cultivation, it will be seen, how thou wilt make it ripen and eat!" Guru Nanak answered: "Father, we have now cultivated a field and it has grown up well, it looks quite well." Kalu said: "Son, I have not seen any field of thine, what dost thou say?" Then Guru Nanak answered: "Father, this field has been cultivated by us, of which thou wilt hear." Then Baba Nanak recited one Sabd, in the Rag Sorathi it is contained, Mahala I.' [now follows the Sabd with one Rahau]. Then the Baba said again: "0 father: our field is sown, as thou hast heard. Our field is sown and stands and has grown up. We have so much reliance on this field, that the whole government tax will fall off, it will make no further demand. Sons and daughters will become happy, and the poor, brothers and relatives, all will be profited thereby. The Lord, for whom I have done farming work, gives me much assistance; for that day, when there is union with him, I am much rejoicing. Whatever I ask, that he is giving me. Father, such a great Lord I have sought and found. Traffic, service, shop, all has been entrusted by him (to me)." Then Kalu became astonished and said: " Such a Lord, 0 son, we have never seen nor heard of." Nanak answered: "0 father, by whom my Lord has been seen, by them he is praised." Then Guru Nanak recited one Sabd in the Rag Asa, Mahala I.* [now follows one Sabd, consisting of four verses]. Then Kalu said: "Give up these things and walk after the manner of other people; it is nothing to live without a calling." Then Baba Nanak remained silent. Kalu rose and went after his work. He said: "This work is beyond our strength, but may not the field

It appears hence, that Nanak had also daughters, not only two sons, as stated by the later Janam- sakhis.

' The original is: yj\ Hfe ^?^; *T55HT. to rah (a person in a swoon). Had Nanak epileptic fits? In B. (6) this is more represented under the head of idleness, Nanak is called there a JT^^f^, an idler. In the Lahore lithographed edition of the now current Janam-sakhi it is related (p. 387), that Nanak assumed the behaviour of a madman, in order to drive the people away (f^i=X<^T cjGd VTfW'KT)- Something seems to have been the matter with him, as is now and then hinted at.

' See, Sorathi, Sabd II. (1), Mah. I. * See, Asa, Caupada I., Mali. I.

outside be damaged!" Then came his mother and hegan to give him instruction: "0 son, forget for four days the name! stand up, put on clothes and go about in the lanes and streets, that the people may be reassured (of thy health) and that every one may say: 'The son of Kalu has become well (again).' " Then the Buba recited a Sabd [now follows a Sabd, consisting of four verses].'

Then his mother rose and went away and gave information (as to his state) in the family. The whole family and clan of the Vedls began to grieve and to say, that a great calamity had happened, that the son of Kalu had become mad.

Then Baba Nanak did neither eat nor drink for three months. The whole clan of the VedTs became dispirited. All began to say: " Kalu, how canst thou sit down quietly, whose son has fallen (sick)? Call some physician and give him some medicine, thy son will become well, then what is the outlay of some Rupees?" Kalu rose and called a physician. "When the physician had come, he took the arm of Nanak to feel his pulse. Nanak pulled away his arm and standing on his legs he rose and said: " 0 physician, what art thou doing?" The physician answered: " I look after the disease, that may be in thy spirit." The Buba laughed and uttered a Slok [now follow four verses].' The Baba made also a Sabd on the subject of the physician in the Rag Malar [there follow four verses].'

The physician being afraid stood in the shop and said: "Brother, don't be anxious, this is removing the pain." Then the Baba uttered a Sabd, in the Rag Gaun, Mahala I. [there follow six verses].*

Then came the order of the Lord, that Guru Nanak went away (from home). The brother- in-law of Baba Nanak was Jairam, who was the steward of the Nabab Daulat Khan.' Jairam had heard that Nanak was distracted in his mind and did no work whatever. He wrote a letter that Nanak should come to him. Guru Niinak read this letter and said: "May it be so, I will join Jairam." The people of the house said, that it would be good, if he would go, perhaps his mind would become settled there. The Baba rose and went to Sultanpur. The wife of the Baba began to weep and said: " Thou wast never kissing me before, thou art now going abroad, how wilt thou come (again)?" The Baba said: "0 silly one, what were we doing here? and what shall we do there? I am of no use to thee." She rose and addressed again this petition to him: "When thou wast sitting in the house, then I had, in my view, the sovereignty of the whole world. 0 dear, this world is of no use to me whatever." Then the Guru became tender and said: "Do not be anxious: every day the sovereignty shall be thine." She said: "Sir, I shall not remain behind, take me with thee." Tlie Baba answered: " It is (the order) of the Lord, that I am going. If I shall gain some livelihood there, I shall caU thee there. Mind thou my order." Then she kept silence. Guru Nanak then took leave from his relatives and friends and went to Sultanpur. He arrived there and met with Jairam. Jairam was very happy and said: "Brother Kanak, it is veiy good." Then Jairam went to the court and made this petition to Daulat Khan: "Nabab, health! one brother-in-law of mine has come; he wishes to meet the Nabab." Daulat Khan said: "Go and bring him!" Jairam went and brought Guru Nanak; he put some present (before the Nabab) at meeting with him. The Khan was much pleased and said: " What is the name of this one?" Jairam said: "Sir, his name is Nanak." The Khan rejoined: "He seems to be a good and honest man, entrust my work to him! " Nanak became happy and smiled. The Khan gave hira a dress of honour, and Guru Nanak and Jairam then went home. They com-

' Tlie place, where this Sabd is to be found, is not indicated.

' The place, where the Slok occurs, is not indicated.

' To be found in Malar, Sabd 7, Mah. I., but the verses are given there in a different order.