The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 55

' Xaras, a kind of centaurs, with the limbs of horses and human bodies. — Wilson, Vishnu Parana, p. 42.

' The Sikh commentaries have totally misunderstood the whole verse.

' It may also he translated by the second person, "thou supportest," as concluded from Sodar (after the Jap-ji), where ^ ^^ ir3\ is found.

(To thee) sing the Sidclhs (Jogis) in their deep meditations,' the Sadhs (devotees) sing (to thee) having reflected.

(To thee) sing the truthful and contented, (to thee) sing the hardy heroes. (To thee) sing the Pandits and Rakhisars (great abstinent men), who read continually with the A^edas (in their hands).

(To thee) sing the fascinating women, who enchant the mind in the heavens, in the mortal world' and in the nether regions.'

(To thee) sing the gems, produced by thee, with the sixty-eight Tlrthas.

(To thee) sing the heroes very powerful in battle, (to thee) sing the four mines.*

(To thee) sing the (nine) regions, the countries, the worlds,' which are made and preserved by thee.

Those sing to thee, who please thee; thy worshippers, steeped (in thee) are full of happiness. Many others, who sing (to thee), do not come to my mind; what can Nanak reflect (judge)?

He, he is always the real Lord, true, of a true name. He is and will be, he will not be destroyed, by whom creation is made.

By whom a Maya (illusive world) of various colours, kinds and sorts is produced. Having made (it), he sees, his own work is, as his greatness is.

What is pleasing to him, that he wiU do, no order can be given (to him).

He is King, Lord of Kings; Nanak (says): the order (pleasure) of the Lord abides (firmly).

(Who) makes contentment the earring, shame the vessel (bowl) and wallet, (who applies to his body) ashes of meditation. (Who makes) death his patched quilt, his body a virgin, the use of the staff faith.'

He is an AIpanthT,' (joining) all assemblies; by the heart being overcome the world is overcome.

Salutation to him, salutation! Who is first, spotless,' without beginning, immortal (not killed), having the same dress through all ages.

' The difference of ftfltn^ •'"'d ^THlft is thus stated by Patanjali: " Restraint of the body, retention of the mind and meditation exchisively confined to one object, is dhyan; the idea of identification with tlie object of such meditation, so as if devoid of individual nature, is samddhi." — Vish. Pur. p. 637, note 21.

' "^^ "the mortal workl" (instead of VfT^i Sansk. *(t4|), commonly called the 'V^yS «o?' (JTRT^^). " the world of mortals."

' "The fascinating women in heaven and on earth are the Apsarasas, who are of two kinds, wOQq^ {lankik), worldly, who are said to be thirty-four in number, and ^f^f^5" {(la'wik), ten in number." — Vish. Pur. p. 150, note 21. " In the regions of Patala, the lovely daughters of the Daityas and Danavas wander about, fascinating the most austere." — Vish. Pur. p. 204.

■* The four mines are: VHSf^ (what is liorn or produced from an egg); ^(Jrl (what is horn from a foetus, Yfg'^ Sansk. ■atl^l^); Q^^rl (produced l)y growing out, as plants, trees and some lower animals, Sansk. ''3f^^); fl^iT (Sansk. ^?1I), produced from sweat (as lice, etc.).

° t^d^oil, s.m. = "ST^llS, Brahma-egg, globe, world; m is first changed to b and then aspirated by the influence of the preceding r.

' ^T^rf? 3^ signifies here: tise of the staff, Sansk. ^Tl^^rfW; all the Sikh explanations are wrong. The sense is: he uses faith for the same purposes as he uses his staff.

' Amongst the twelve divisions of the Jogis there is one called Alpanth'is, of whom Man! Singh says: I^J^t TTTK fXd^d vlfS ^75$ vH^ " They live without enmity with all men."

° llf^V?5 " not blue," an epithet of the water = spotless, and thence water generally. But here its original signification must be kept fast: spotless. The explanation of the old commentary: Jlf^T?5 ofr^ti TvIlW \n^^ "what is called anilu"? "water," is therefore wrong.

(His) food (is divine) knowledge, mercy the cook, in every body sounds (his conch's) sound.'

He himself is the Lord of Lords, whose are all the increases and perfections, to the others the enjoyment.-

Union and separation, both works he sets agoing, (his divine) allotment comes into account.

Salutation to him, salutation! Who is first, spotless, without beginning, immortal, having the same dress through all ages.

There is one ilaya,' who was delivered of " setting agoing," her three servants are chosen. One is the creator of the world, one the storekeeper, one keeps the court of justice.*