Nanak continued to address Kalu: 'Father dear, it is God who arrangeth marriages. He maketh no mistake, and those whom He hath once joined He joineth for ever.' By these words the Guru perhaps meant to establish monogamy[2]. The Guru's mother then interposed, and asked her son to stand up and go with them, and cease his nonsense. He would obtain wealth by attending to his worldly duties. The Guru replied with the following hymn:--

In the end of the night call upon the name of the Lord,

And tents, umbrellas, pavilions, and carriages shall appear, ready for your celestial journey.

They are ever obtained by those who meditate on Thy name, O Lord.

Father, I am without good works and false; I have not meditated on Thy name.

My mind is blind, led astray by superstition.

The pleasures I have had have blossomed into pain by primal destiny, O mother.

The pleasure was little; the pain great; in much pain have I passed my life.

What separation is there from those who have separated from God? and what meeting is there with those who have met Him?

Praise that Lord who made and beholdeth this play.

By good destiny men meet God and enjoy pleasures even

in this life.

By evil destiny they who meet separate, O Nanak, but even so they meet again by God's favour.[3]

[1. Sûhi Chhant.

2. Bhâi Gur Dâs, so understood the Guru's words when he wrote-Be chaste with one wife (War, vi, 8). In the Prem Sumârag, a work containing the supplementary teaching of Guru Gobind Singh, is found the injunction: 'Be satisfied with one wife. That befits a good man.'

3. Mâru.]

{p. 101}

Kalu, finding his arguments vain, appealed to his son on the score of his health and safety, and pointed out how regardless of them he had been. The following was the Guru's reply:--

I have no anxiety regarding death, and I have no desire for life.

Thou, O God, art the Cherisher of all living things; our breathings[1] are taken into account.

Thou dwellest in the holy; as it pleaseth Thee, so Thou decidest.

O my soul, by uttering God's name the heart is satisfied.

Under the Guru's instruction divine knowledge is obtained, and the burning of the heart extinguished.[2]

The Guru again addressed his parents: 'Father dear, mother dear, I have returned home. I have been until now a hermit. Obey God's order and let me again depart.' His mother replied: 'My son, how shall I console myself, seeing that thou hast only now returned after an absence of twelve years?' Then the Guru urged, 'Mother, agree to what I say; consolation shall come to thee.' She then became silent, thinking it was useless to make further remonstrance.

Next: Life Of Guru Nanak: Chapter IX

Sikhism

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