The father again pressed the son to return with him, if only for once. He said he had built a new house which he should like to show him after his long absence. Nanak ought also to visit his wife, and then, if he felt so disposed, he might continue his wanderings. Nanak replied:--

The pleasure of the Name is as mansions and palaces; Thy favouring glance, O Lord, is as family for me.

To please Thee is mine empire; to say more were altogether useless.

Nanak, true is the King; He decideth without taking others' counsel.

Father, other intercourse affordeth ruinous happiness

By indulging in it the body is pained, and sin entereth the mind.'

Kalu again said: 'My son, tell me at what thou art offended. If thou desire it, I will find thee another wife.' The Guru replied as follows:--

He who made the world watcheth over it, and appointeth His creatures to their various duties.

Thy gifts, O Lord, are as light to the mind, and as the moon and lamps to the body.

[1. Sri Râg.]

{p. 99}

Thy gifts are as the moon and lamps to the body, by which the pain of darkness is dispelled.

The bridal procession of attributes which accompany the Bridegroom who hath chosen His bride, appeareth beautiful.

The marriage hath been performed with splendour to the accompaniment of the five musical instruments.[1]

I am a sacrifice to my unchanging companions and friends.

I have exchanged hearts with those to whom my body is attached.

Why should I forget those friends with whom I have exchanged hearts?

Let those whose sight giveth pleasure be clasped to the heart.

All merits and not one demerit is theirs for ever and ever.

If one have a casket of virtues, let him extract odour from it.

If our friends possess virtues, let us go and become partners with them.

Let us form a partnership with virtue and abandon vice.

Let us wear silk, go in state, and take possession of our arena.[2]

Wherever we go, let us sit down, speak civilly, and skim and drink nectar.

If one have a casket of virtues, let him extract odour therefrom.

It is God Himself who acteth; to whom should we complain? No one else acteth.

Go and complain to Him if He forget.

If He forget, go and complain to Him; but why should the Creator Himself forget?

He heareth, seeth, giveth His gifts without asking or praying for.

The Giver, the Arranger of the world giveth His gifts, Nanak, and true is He.

[1. The voice, stringed instruments, wind instruments, leather instruments, as drums, and metallic instruments as cymbals, bells, &c. Pânch sabd may also mean the five species of breath enumerated by Jogis.

2. That is, the company of saints.]

{p. 100}

When He Himself acteth, to whom should we complain? No one else acteth.[1]