A woman may be stupid, untidy, black, and impure-minded;

Yet, if she possess merits, she meeteth her Beloved; otherwise, Nanak, the woman is to blame.

The Shaikh then put the following questions

What is that word, what that virtue, what that priceless spell;

What dress shall I wear by which I may captivate the, Spouse?[4]

[1. This reply of the Guru was subsequently versified by Guru Amar Dâs:--

Why tear thy coat, Nânak, and why wear a blanket?

Seated at home thou shalt find the Lord if thine intentions be good.

2. Wadhans ki Wâr.

3. Farîd's Sloks.

4. Farîd's Sloks.]

{p. 104}

The Guru replied:--

Humility is the word, forbearance the virtue, and civility the priceless spell.

Make these three[1] thy dress, O sister, and the Spouse shall come into thy power.[2]

The Spouse shall be hers who serveth Him.

Forsaking all His other companions He will go to her.

The Shaikh then said he wanted a knife--'Give me such a knife as will make those who are killed with it acceptable to God. With the ordinary knife in use the lower animals are killed, and if a man's throat be cut with it he becomes carrion.' The Guru replied: 'Dear Shaikh, here it is:--

Truth is the knife, truth is pure steel;

Its fashion is altogether incomparable.

Put it on the hone of the Word,

And fit it into the scabbard. of merit.

If any one be bled with that, O Shaikh,

The blood of avarice will be seen to issue forth.

If man be slaughtered with it, he shall go to meet God,

O Nanak, and be absorbed in the sight of Him.'[3]

On hearing this the Shaikh raised his head in amazement and said, 'Well done. Thou hast seen God, and art dear to Him. God hath been very kind to me in that I have met thee. It would be rude to ask any further questions of those who are so beloved by Him.' The Guru then volunteered the following:--

There is friendship between beauty and love, alliance between hunger and dainty viands;

Companionship between greed and wealth, between a sleepy man and a bed and coverlet.

[1. Tewar, three pieces forming an Indian woman's dress.

2. Farîd's Sloks.

3. Râmkali ki Wâr.]

{p. 105]

The anger which barketh is despised; it is vain to worry with worldly occupations.

To be silent, O Nanak, is good; without the Name the mouth is defiled.[1]

The Shaikh asked the Guru to let him hear a strain in praise of the one God. 'My idea is', said the Shaikh, 'that adoration cannot be performed without two beings, that is, God and the Prophet; Let me see whom thou makest man's intercessor.' The Guru called upon Mardana to play the rebeck and recite the first slok and pauri[2] of the Asa ki War.

I am a sacrifice, Nanak, to my Guru a hundred times a day,