[1. A famous place of Hindu pilgrimage, near Allâhâbâd. The third river is the Saraswati, which is supposed to meet the Ganges and Jamna underground. The Saraswati, though no longer seen, was at one time an actual river. From a legend in the Mahâbhârat it would appear that it took its rise with other great rivers in the Himalayas, that it thence flowed through Râjpûtâna, where it occasionally disappeared in the sands of that country, and that it finally debouched north of Dwâraka into the Arabian Sea.

2. Sixty-eight is the number of sacred places of pilgrimage in the estimation of the Hindus.

3. Ras really means relishes.

4. The following is the Hindi time-table:

60 visiâs = 1 chasia

60 chasiâs = 1 pal

60 pals = 1 ghari

2 gharis = 1 muhûrat

4 muhûrats = 1 pahar

8 pahars = 1 day and night.

]

{p. 145}

When the dear Lord is obtained, everything is arranged the Creator knoweth everything.

I am dear to Him who decorated me; I have met Him and am happy.

The couch of my home is beautiful when my Beloved enjoyeth me; the holy have good fortune written on their foreheads.

Nanak, the Beloved enjoyeth me day and night; having obtained God as my Spouse, I am a permanent bride.

At that time there was a man in very straitened domestic circumstances who had a daughter to marry. He appealed to Guru Nanak to assist in procuring her a wedding outfit. The Guru told him to give him a list of the things he required, and he would send for them. The man did so. The Guru called a servant of his, named Bhagirath, and ordered him to go to Lahore and fetch what was required. He warned him at the same time not to spend a night in that city.[1] Bhagirath, on arriving in Lahore went to a shopkeeper, and asked him to supply the articles at once. The shopkeeper bade him remain for a day and everything should be ready. Bhagirath said it was impossible. The shopkeeper told him that everything should be ready on that day, but the bride's bracelets could not be made and coloured before nightfall. Bhagirath explained the order that had been given him. The shopkeeper inquired what sort of master he had who had issued such an order. Bhagirath replied that his master was the Guru. The shopkeeper inquired who the gurus of this generation were. Bhagirath could only reply that his master was a great Being. The shopkeeper rejoined, 'Wretch, where canst thou find a great being this age?' After further colloquy and praise of the Guru by Bhagirath, the shop decided that he would go with him to his

[1. Which he characterized as a city of poison and wrath--Lahaur shahr zahir qahir. By this the Guru meant the intemperance and licentiousness of that city.]

{p. 146}