If any fool[2] try to interfere with it

He shall himself know the punishment he shall suffer.

God himself knoweth to whom He may give, and He Himself giveth:

Very few acknowledge this.

He to whom God hath given the boon of praising and lauding Him,

O Nanak, is the King of kings.[3]

XXVI

Priceless are Thine attributes, O God, and priceless Thy dealings;[4]

Priceless Thy dealers, priceless Thy storehouses

Priceless what cometh from Thee, and priceless what is taken away;

Priceless Thy rate and priceless the time for dealing;[5]

Priceless Thy justice and priceless Thy court;

Priceless Thy weights and priceless Thy measures;[6]

Priceless Thy gifts and priceless Thy marks;

Priceless Thy mercy and priceless Thine ordinances.

How beyond all price Thou art cannot be stated.

Ever speaking of Thee men continue to fix their thoughts on Thee.[7]

[1. Band, to be enclosed in a womb.

2. Khâik. This word is also found in the Sri Râg ki Wâr, Slok 2--thâo nâhîn khâika, there is no place for the fool.

3. Also translated--

To those few, O Nânak. the King of kings

Giveth the boon of praising and lauding Him.

4. In the true Name.

5. Also translated--Priceless is Thy love, and priceless they who are absorbed in it.

6. We read pramân for parwân. If the latter be read, the translation will be--Priceless Thy weights and priceless Thine acceptance of mortals. A third translation is--Priceless Thy scale and priceless Thy weights.

7. Also translated--Repeating that Thou art priceless, men continue to fix their attention on Thee.]

{p. 212}

That God is ever true, He is the true Lord, and the true Name.

He who made this world is and shall be; He shall neither depart, nor be made to depart.[1]

He who created things of different colours, descriptions, and species,

Beholdeth His handiwork which attesteth His greatness.

He will do what pleaseth Himself; no order may be issued to Him.

He is King, the King of kings, O Nanak; all remain subject to His will.

XXVIII[2]

Make contentment and modesty thine earrings, self-respect thy wallet, meditation the ashes to smear on thy body;

Make thy body, which is only a morsel for death, thy beggar's coat, and faith thy rule of life and thy staff.[3]

Make association with men thine Ai Panth,[4] and the conquest of thy heart the conquest of the world.

To Thee sing chaste and patient of mankind,

Unyielding heroes of true faith approved.

To Thee sing pandits and the chiefs of saints

The ages four and Veds to them assigned.

To Thee sing maidens who delight the sense,

This world of ours, high heaven, and hell below.

To Thee sing gems from Vishnu's sea that rose,

And eight and sixty spots of pilgrims' haunt.