Hearing the. Name. is equal to bathing at the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage.

By hearing the Name and reading it man obtaineth honour.[5]

[1. Sûrs are spiritual heroes.

2. The bull which the Hindus believe supports the earth. This is not believed in by the Sikhs. See below, pauri xvi.

3. Man shall not die again, but obtain deliverance.

4. Also translated--On hearing the Name one is praised by high and low.

5. Also translated--On hearing the Name man obtaineth honour by the knowledge acquired.]

{p. 201}

By hearing the Name the mind is composed and fixed on God.[1]

Nanak, the saints are ever happy.

By hearing the Name sorrow and sin are no more.

XI

By hearing the Name, the depth of the sea of virtue is sounded.[2]

By hearing the Name men become Shaikhs, Pirs, and Emperors.

By hearing the Name a blind man findeth his way.

By hearing the Name the unfathomable becometh fathomable.

Nanak, the saints are ever happy.

By hearing the Name sorrow and sin are no more.

XII

The condition of him who obeyeth God cannot be described.

Whoever trieth to describe it, shall afterward repent.

There is no paper, or pen, or writer

To describe the condition of him who obeyeth God.

So pure is His Name--

Whoever obeyeth God knoweth the pleasure of it in his own heart.[3]

XIII

By obeying Him wisdom and understanding enter the mind;

By obeying Him man knoweth all worlds

By obeying Him man suffereth not punishment;

By obeying Him man shall not depart with Jam[4]

So pure is God's name--

Whoever obeyeth God knoweth the pleasure of it in his own heart.

[1. Or--by hearing the Name man easily meditateth upon God.

2. Also translated--man acquireth the best virtues.

3. Literally--he knows it in his own mind, that is, he obtains a pleasure which is incommunicable.

4. The god of death, previously called Dharmrâj. This verse means, that in man shall not die again, but be absorbed in God.]

{p. 202}

XIV

By obeying Him man's path is not obstructed;

By obeying Him man departeth with honour and distinction;

By obeying Him man proceedeth in ecstasy[1] on his way;

By obeying Him man formeth an alliance with virtue--

So pure is God's name--

Whoever obeyeth God knoweth the pleasure of it in his own heart.

XV

By obeying Him man attaineth the gate of salvation

By obeying Him man is saved with his family;

By obeying Him the Guru is saved, and saveth his disciples;

By obeying Him, O Nanak, man wandereth not in quest of alms[2]--

So pure is God's name--

Whoever obeyeth God knoweth the pleasure of it in his own heart.

XVI

The elect[3] are acceptable, the elect are distinguished