Life Of Guru Nanak: Chapter VI | Internet Sacred Text Archive

Sikhism

CHAPTER VI

The Guru and Mardana went to Kamrup,[l] a country whose women were famous for their skill in incantation and magic. It was governed by a queen called Nurshah in the Sikh chronicles. She with several of her females went to the Guru and tried to obtain influence over him.

Then the Guru uttered the following verses:--

You buy saline earth,[2] and want musk into the bargain:

Without good works, Nanak, how shall you meet your Spouse?

The Guru continued as follows:--

The virtuous wife enjoyeth her husband; why doth the bad one bewail?

If she become virtuous, then shall she too go to enjoy her husband.

My Spouse is an abode of sweetness; why should He enjoy other women?

If a woman become virtuous and turn her heart into a thread,

She shall string her Spouse's heart thereon like a priceless gem.

I show the way to others, but walk not in it myself; I say I have already traversed it.

If thou, O my Spouse, speak not to me, how shall I abide in Thy house?

Nanak, excepting One there is none besides.

If Thy wife, O Spouse, remain attached to Thee, she shall enjoy Thee.[4]

Nurshah observed that her people's spells were of no avail, however much they tried. The Guru, on

[1. In the time of the Guru it is believed that Kâwarû, or Kâmrûp, included at least the present districts of Goalpâra and Kâmrûp.

2 Kallar, impure nitrate of soda found in sandy soils in India.

3. Compare--

'Fungar vice cotis, acutum

Reddere quae ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.'--HORACE.

4. Wadhans.]

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beholding their fruitless efforts, uttered the following hymn in the Suhi measure entitled Kuchajji, or the woman of bad character:--

I am a worthless woman; in me are faults; how can I go to enjoy my Spouse?

My Spouse's wives are one better than the other; O my life, who careth for me?[1]

My female friends who have enjoyed their Spouse are in the shade of the mango.[2]

I do not possess their virtues; to whom can I attribute blame?[3]

What attributes of Thine, O Lord, shall I blazon abroad? What names of Thine shall I repeat?

I cannot even attain one of Thy many excellences: I am ever a sacrifice unto Thee.

Gold, silver, pearls, and rubies which gladden the heart-

These things the Bridegroom hath given me, and I have fixed my heart on them.[4]

I had palaces of brick fashioned with marble.

In these luxuries I forgot the Bridegroom and sat not near Him.

The kulangs cry in the heavens,[5] and the cranes have come to roost.[6]

The woman goeth to her father-in-law's;[7] how shall she show her face as she proceedeth?

As morning dawned she soundly slept, and forgot her journey.