Kings and queens sing and utter nonsense;[3]

They wear earrings worth hundreds of thousands, and necklaces worth hundreds of thousands.[4]

The body on which they are worn, O Nanak, shall become ashes.

Divine knowledge is not sought in mere words; to speak concerning it were as hard as iron;

By God's grace man obtaineth it; skill and orders are useless therefor.

PAURI IV

If the Kind One look with kindness, then is the true Guru obtained.

The soul hath wandered through many births, and now the true Guru hath communicated the Word.

There is no benefactor so great as the true Guru; hear this, all ye people.

By meeting the true Guru who hath removed pride from his heart, and who preacheth the Truest of the true,

The True One is obtained.

SLOK V

Let all the gharis be your milkmaids, and the pahars your Krishans and Gopals[5]:

Let wind, water, and fire be your jewels; and the moon and sun your avatars;

[1. Also translated--How many expound the Veds!

2. Also translated--draw a crowd around them. This hymn purports to give a brief description of the miracle-plays of Ram and Krishan.

3. Literally--speak of the upper and lower regions.

4. Lâkh takiân. Takâ is really a double pice, or about a halfpenny of English money, but in the plural it means money in general.

5. Gopâls are herdsmen among whom Krishan used to sport.]

{p. 224}

The whole earth your stage properties and vessels, which are all entanglements.

Nanak, they who are devoid of divine knowledge are robbed; the minister of death hath devoured them.

Guru Nanak

The disciples play, the gurus dance,

Shake their feet, and roll their heads.

Dust flieth and falleth on their hair;[1]

The audience beholding laugh and go home.

For the sake of food the performers beat time,

And dash themselves on the ground.

The milkmaids sing, Krishans sing,

Sitas and royal Rams sing.

Fearless is the Formless One, whose name is true,

And whose creation is the whole world.

The worshippers on whom God bestoweth kindness worship Him;

Pleasant[2] is the night for those who long for Him in their hearts.

By the Guru's instruction to his disciples this knowledge is obtained,

That the Kind One saveth those on whom He looketh with favour.

Oil-presses, spinning-wheels, hand-mills, potters' wheels,

Plates, whirlwinds, many and endless,

Tops, churning-staves, threshing-frames turn round

Birds tumble and take no breath.

Men put animals on stakes and whirl them.

O Nanak, the tumblers are innumerable and endless.

In the same way those bound in entanglements are swung round;

Every one danceth according to his own acts--

They who dance and laugh shall weep on their departure;