The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 557

By them the fetters of the world are broken, who consume little grain (and) water. Thou art the foremost donor, thou givest continually and it increases stiU more.' From the great ones'^ a great (thing or gift) is obtained.

Till. Slok I.; mahaJd I. Of men, of trees, of holy watering places, of shores, of clouds, of fields. Of continents, worlds, provinces, regions, universes.

Of the (four) places of production: of the egg-born, womb-born, plant-born, sweat-born (creatures): He knows (their) amount, (as also) of ponds, mountains ^ and creatures, 0 Xanak! Nanak (says): having produced the creatures he takes care of all. The creator, by whom the work is made, must also care for it. That creator cares for it, by whom the world is made. Obeisance to him, benediction to him! his tribunal is unbroken.

Xaoak (says): without the true name what is the (religious) mark (on the forehead), what the sacred cord?

SIoJ: II.; mahala I. Lakhs of good actions, Lakhs of approved meritorious deeds. Lakhs of austerities at Tirthas (and of) devout meditations in the desert. Lakhs of acts of heroism in war, (so that) the life is lost in battle. Lakhs of attention, knowledge and meditation, (with which) the Puranas are read.* — The creator, by whom the work is done, has fixed coming and going. Nanak (says): the wisdom (of men) is false, the favour (of God) is the true standard.

Pauri. Thou alone art the true Lord, by whom the perfectly True' one is manifested. To whom thou givest (it), he gets the True one, by him the True one is acquired. By meeting with the true Guru the True one is obtained (by them), In whose heart the True one is caused to dwell (by the Guru). The fools do not know the True one, by the self-wUled (their) life is lost. What for did they come into the world?

(If) reading and reading a cart be loaded (with it), if reading and reading a caravan be filled (with it).

(If) reading and reading a boat be laden (with it), (if) reading and reading a pit be covered (with it).

(If) it be read as many as there are years, (if) it be read as many as there are months.

° ^f3»KTffV is tlie Ablative Plur. (nitli the affix i), not the substantive ^f3*KT^. greatness.

' Literally: of Merus; mountains like Meru.

' Tlie sentence ends with an anakolutlion. The logical connexion appears to be this: all good acts, etc. are of no avail to escape transmigration, which is fi.ved by the creator, all depends on bis favour (o<d*T)- The sense, as so frequently, can only be guessed at.

' f{^ might here also be translated by truth.

(If) it be read as long as life (lasts), (if) it be read as many as there are breaths.

Nanak (says): of account there is (only) one word, the other (things) are egotism, and vain prating.

SM II. (As much as) is written and read, so much he is grieved.

(As much as) he has wandered about at many.Tirthas, so much (filth) has stuck to him. Many garbs are put on, pain is inflicted on the body. Bear, 0 creature, thy own doings! Food is not eaten, sweet taste is discarded. Much pain is incurred, (as) duality pleased (hira). He does not put on clothes, day and night he groans.

Sunk in silence how should he wake? he has fallen asleep without the Guru. He is barefooted, his own doing is earned (by him). Dirt is eaten (by him), ashes are put on (his) head. By the blind fool his honour is lost.

Without the name nothing becomes acceptable (with God). He remains in deserts, at shrines, in burning places. (But) the blind one does not know (the truth), afterwards he repents.' "Who meets with the true Guru, he obtains happiness. He (the Guru) makes the name of Hari dwell in the heart. Nanak (says): on whom (Hari) bestows a favourable glance, he gets (it). Free from hope and apprehension he burns his egotism by means of the word (of the Guru).

Pdiin. The devotees are pleasing to thy mind, those who are singing (thy) praise, are lustrous at (thy) gate. Nanak (says): without works (of a former birth) they get no entrance, they are wandering about. Some do not comprehend their own origin, their own non-existent self they bring into account. I am (the son) of a begging musician, of low caste, the others are called high-caste people. I ask for them, who are meditating on thee.

Slok I.; mahald I. False is the Raja, false the subjects, false ^ is the whole world. False is the palace, false the upper-storied house, false he who is living (therein). False is gold, false silver, false he who is putting (them) on. False is the body, false the clothing, false boundless beauty. False the master, false the mistress, they are consumed to ashes. On falsehood affection is bestowed and the creator forgotten. "With whom shall friendship be made? the whole world is passing away! Falsehood is sweet, falsehood is honey, falsehood drowns the boat's load.' Nanak makes (this) supplication: without thee (all is) but falsehood.

Slok II.; mahald I. Then the True one is thoroughly ^ known, when the True one is in the heart. The lilth of falsehood goes off, he {i.e. the disciple) washes and makes clean (his) body.

' V^^T^ = V^jIcSI, on account of tlie il.ynie.

" 5^ properly: fiilsehood, u.sed hi the sense of not really existhig or lasting.

■yj, all those, who are tog-etlier in a boat. * XTS = the Sansk. TT'?^; the form IffH is used in n similar sense (= '^ffW).

Then the True one is thoroughly known, Tvhen he entertains lore to the True one. Having heard the name the mind becomes glad, he gets the gate of salvation. Then the True one is thoroughly known, when he knows (his) soul as united (with the Supreme). Having put right the earth (of his) body he puts (into it) as seed the creator.

Then the True oneis thoroughly known, when he puts up his dwelling at the Tlrtha of his own soul. Asking the true Guru he remains and dwells there. Then the True one is thoroughly known, -when he takes true instruction,

C^Tien) he knows kindness to the creatures (as his duty) and performs some meritorious acts (and gives) alms.

The True one is the medicine for all, it washes away sins.

Nanak utters (this) supplication (to them), in whose possession the True one is.