Were I able to put the firmament into one scale and weigh it with a tank;[1]

Were I to become so large that I could be nowhere contained; and were I to lead every one by the nose;[2]

Had I such power in myself that I could perform such things or cause others to perform them, it would be all in vain.

As great as the Lord is, so great are His gifts; He bestoweth according to His pleasure.

Nanak, he on whom God looketh with favour obtaineth the glory of the True Name.'[3]

In Batala the Guru vanquished in argument all priests who attended the fair, and obliged the followers of the six schools of philosophy to bow before him. The Jogis finally complimented him on his success and said: 'Hail, O Nanak, great are thy deeds! Thou hast arisen a great being, and lit a light in this last age of the world.' It was the time the Jogis took their daily wine, and the goblet was accordingly passed around. On its reaching the Guru he asked what it was. They said it was the Sidhs' cup. He inquired what it contained. They said molasses and the flower of the dhava[4] plant, of which Indian spirits are made. The Guru then uttered the following hymn:--

Make divine knowledge thy molasses, meditation thy dhava flowers, good actions thy fermenting bark[5] to put into them.

Make the love of God thy furnace, devotion the sealing of the still; in this way shall nectar be distilled.

[1. In Hindi apothecaries' weight a tank is equal to four mâshas, a

mâsha is eight rattis, and a ratti is the weight of eight grains of rice.

2. As a camel is led.

3. Mâjh ki Wâr.

4. The Bassia latifolia.

5 This is generally the bark of the kîkar, or Acacia Arabica.]

{p. 159}

Father, by quaffing the divine juice the mind becometh intoxicated and easily absorbed in God's love.

I have arranged to fix my attention on God day and night, and heard the unbeaten sound.

God is true, His cup is pure; He giveth it to drink to him on whom He casteth a favouring glance.

Why should he who dealeth in nectar feel love for paltry wine?

The Guru's word is a nectar-speech; by drinking it man becometh acceptable.

When man performeth service at God's gate[1] to obtain a sight of Him, what careth he for salvation or paradise?

He who is dyed with God's praises never loveth the world, and loseth not his life in the game.

Saith Nanak, hear, Jogi Bharthari, I am intoxicated with the nectareous stream.[2]

The Jogis inquired if he lived by begging. The Guru replied, 'Why should he who is absorbed in the Formless go to beg alms?' They then asked if he were art Udasi or hermit. The Guru replied:--

He who taketh the sword of knowledge and wrestleth with his heart;

Who knoweth the secrets of the ten organs of action and perception[3] and of the five evil passions;