In saint's dress I meditate to entrap others.

I am a cheat in a country of cheats.[4]

I deem myself very clever, and bear a great load of sin.

O Creator, I remain in the guise of a huntsman.

Ungrateful that I was, I did not appreciate what Thou didst for me.

How can I, who am wicked and dishonest, show my face?

Humble Nanak expresseth his thoughts-

O Creator, I remain in the guise of a huntsman.[5]

As the party proceeded they found the road covered with copper coins. Some Sikhs took them up and departed. Further on were found silver coins. Several Sikhs took up the silver coins and returned home. As the Guru's party proceeded further, they saw gold coins on the road. Several of the remaining Sikhs took up the gold coins and quickly vanished. Only the Jogi, two Sikhs, and the Guru's attendant Lahina now remained.

On proceeding further they found a funeral pyre. Near the corpse were four lighted lamps. A sheet was stretched over it as it lay on the ground and emitted an offensive smell. The Guru said, 'Let

[1. Avarice.

2 Desire and covetousness.

3 The line means that desire and covetousness call in vain to the saint.

4. Also translated--I am a cheat and cheat the country.

5. Sri Râg.]

{p. 185}

whoever wisheth to accompany me eat of this.' The Sikhs quailed at the dreadful proposal, but Lahina remained staunch in his faith in the Guru. Without more ado he clasped his hands and asked the Guru if he should begin to eat the head or the feet of the corpse. The Guru told him to begin at the waist. Lahina lifted the winding-sheet in order to begin to eat, when lo! it is said, a dish of sacred food appeared instead of the corpse! Lahina offered the sacred food to the Guru first, and said he would partake of his leavings. The Guru replied, 'Thou hast obtained this sacred food because thou didst desire to share it with others. The wealth given by God which man useth himself or burieth in the earth, is like carrion; but the wealth which man shareth with others is as sacred food. Thou hast obtained, my secret; thou art in mine image. I will tell thee the real thing, the spell which is the essence of religion, and by which thou shalt have happiness here and hereafter. The following, which is the preamble of the Japji, is the spell meant by the Guru:--

There is but one God whose name is True, the Creator,

devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great, and bountiful. Repeat His name.

The True One was in the beginning; The True One was in the primal age;

The True One is, was, O Nanak; the True One also shall be.