Abandon delights, ease, evil speaking, mental anxiety, and vexation;

Treasure kindness in thy heart, and renounce the devices of infidelity;

Extinguish the fire of lust in thy heart, and thus become cool.

Saith Nanak, thus practise fasting, and thy faith shall be perfect.'[1]

When the Guru had finished, the Qazi said, 'Well done! I have to-day for the first time seen a real saint of God.' The Qazi then went and told the high priest that the darwesh Nanak had arrived. The high priest went to see him, shook hands with him,

[1. This hymn is not found in the Granth Sâhib.]

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and sat down beside him. He thanked God that Nanak had come.

The high priest asked Nanak if the Hindus who read the Veds, and the Musalmans who read the Quran, should or should not find God. The Guru courageously replied with the following outspoken hymn of Kabir:--

O brethren, the Veds and the Quran are false, and free not the mind from anxiety.

If for a moment thou restrain thy mind, God will appear before thee.

O man, search thy heart daily, that thou mayest not again fall into despair.

This world is a magic show which hath no reality.

Men are pleased when they read falsehood, and quarrel over what they do not understand.

The truth is, the Creator is contained in the creation; He is not of a blue colour in the guise of Vishnu.

Thou shouldst have bathed in the river which floweth in heaven.[1]

Take heed; ever fix thine eyes on Him who is every where present.[2]

God is the purest of the pure; shall I doubt whether there is another equal to Him?[3]

Kabir, he to whom the Merciful hath shown mercy, knoweth Him.

The high priest then asked how God might be obtained by men. The Guru replied that it was by humility and prayer. He added the following hymn in the Persian language:--

I make one supplication before Thee; lend Thine ear, O Creator.

[1. In the brain instead of the Ganges and other sacred streams of the Hindus.

2. Also translated--Embrace perpetual poverty, fix thy mental eyes on God, and thou shalt behold Him everywhere present.

3. Also translated--If there be another like Him, then entertain doubt.]

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O God, Thou art great and merciful; Thou art the faultless Cherisher.

The world is a perishable abode; O my heart, know this as the truth.

Azrail[1] seizeth me by the hair of my head; yet thou knowest it not, O my heart.

There shall be no wife, no son, no father, no brother, no one to take my hand.

There shall be no one to hinder my falling at last when my fate[2] cometh.

I have passed my nights and days in vanity, and my thoughts have been evil.

I have never done a good act-this is my condition;

I am unfortunate, I am also miserly and negligent; I see not, and I fear not.