Upon this the Guru stood up, and there then shone such light as if a thousand suns had arisen. Babar saluted, and asked the Guru to be gracious unto him. The Guru replied, 'If thou, O Emperor, desire kindness, set all thy captives free.' He agreed, on one condition-that the Guru should promise that his empire should continue from generation to generation. The Guru replied, 'Thine empire shall remain for a time.' The Emperor on this ordered that all his prisoners should be clothed with robes of honour, a matter which gave great pleasure and satisfaction to the Guru. The Emperor asked the Guru for instruction suitable to his position, The Guru said, 'Deliver just judgements, reverence holy men, forswear wine and gambling. The monarch who indulgeth in these vices shall, if he survive, bewail his misdeeds. Be merciful to the vanquished, and worship God in spirit and in truth.'

At the final parting, the Emperor pressed the Guru to embrace Islam, which recognized only one God, as the Guru himself had been preaching, so he would not have far to go on his spiritual journey and his progress to salvation. Moreover, on embracing Islam he would have the advantage of the mediation of God's holy and last prophet Muhammad. The Guru replied:--

There are hundreds of thousands of Muhammads, but only one God.

The Unseen is true and without anxiety.

Many Muhammads stand in His court.

So numberless they cannot be reckoned.

Prophets have been sent and come into the world.

Whenever He pleaseth He hath them arrested and brought before Him.

The slave Nanak hath ascertained

That God alone is pure and all else impure.

The Emperor, instead of being incensed at this outspoken language, invited the Guru to ask him

{p. 122}

a favour. The Guru replied to the accompaniment of Mardana's rebeck:--

It is the one God Who hath commissioned me.

Every one partaketh of His Gifts.

He who looketh for human support

Loseth both this world and, the next.

There is but one Giver, the whole world are beggars.

They who forsake Him and attach themselves to others lose all their honour.

Kings and Emperors are all made by Him.

There is none equal to Him.

Saith Nanak, Hear, Emperor Babar,

He who beggeth of thee is a fool.

Next: Life Of Guru Nanak: Chapter X

Sikhism

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