The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 560

"What is done by bending down the head (in worship), when one goes off with an impure heart?

Slok II.; mahalCi I. He reads books (and is) rehearsing the Sandhya. He worships a stone, (his) meditation (is like that) of a heron. In (his) mouth is falsehood, (outwardly) is excellent decoration. He reflects three times (a day) on the Gayatri.^ (Round his) neck is a, rosary, a mark on his forehead. (He has) two Dhotis, clothes of silk. If he thinks, (that these are) the duties of a Brahman: Certainly all (these) works (are but) dregs. Nanak says and he thinks right: "Without the true Guru he does not find the (right) way.

Panri. (His) dress and form are pleasing, having left the world he is going in.^ "What he has done himself, good and bad, that he is receiving.

Orders are given, as they please (his, i.e. Hari's) heart, in a narrow road he must go onwards. Naked he goes into hell, there a very terrible (thing) is seen. Having committed vices (in this world) he is (now) repenting.

(If) kindness (be) the cotton, contentment the thread, continence the knot, truth the twist:

(If) this be the sacred cord of the creatures, then, 0 Pandit, put it on!

This does not break, nor does filth stick to it, nor is it burnt nor does it go oif.

Blessed is that man, 0 Nanak, who departs having put on (this) on his neck!

For four Damns (= one Paisa) it ( = the janeu) was bought and sitting in a cauka * it was put on.

Instruction was delivered into the ears (of the receiver of the cord), a Brahman had become the Guru.

This one died and that one fell off; he went off without a cord.

Sloh II.; mahalO I. Lakhs of thefts. Lakhs of fornications. Lakhs of falsehoods, Lakhs of abuses. Lakhs of deceits (and) frauds are day and night (current) with the creatures. The (sacred) thread is spun from cotton, the Brahman comes and twists it. A goat is killed, cooked and eaten, every one says: put it on!

' The nords, as they stand, are totally unconnected, the sense can therefore only be guessed at. Al^l = Sausk. fsTO, deep.

" 3"UT?5 is traditionally explained by: Uayatri. -' W^f? ^l<^cM, literally: to go within or into. Wliereto, is not mentioned. The sense is very likely: he goes into the court of Yama.

When it becomes old, it is thrown away and another is put on again. Nanak says: the thread does not break, if there be strength in the thread.

Slok III.; mahald I. By minding the name honour springs up, praising (God) is the true thread. The thread, that is obtained within the threshold (of God), does not break, (it is) pure.

There is no thread for the senses, no thread for the women.

In the early morning spittle falls always on the beard.

There is no thread for the feet, no thread for the hands.

No thread for the tongue, no thread for the eyes.

He twists threads and puts them on others.

Taking the wages for prostitution he marries.

Drawing (lines on a) paper he shows the road.

He is blind in his heart, (but bears) the name of " very wise."

If the Lord become kind and bestow mercy, then he will cause that work to be done.

That servant performs service, whom he will make mind (his) order.

By minding (his) order he becomes approved of, then he will reach the palace of the Lord.

Who does, what pleases the Lord, he will obtain the fruit desired by his heart.

Then dressed (with a dress of honour) he will go to the threshold.

On the cow and the Brahman you put a tax, for cow-dung no crossing can bo made.