Thou prayest five times a day, and readest thy Quran and holy books.

Nanak saith, when the grave calleth, man shall cease to drink and eat.

ASHTAPADI

The following was composed in a devotional paroxysm. Some suppose that it was uttered at Makka in reply to Qazis who had asked the Guru to tell them of the God he adored:--

Persuade thy heart to sing God's name with every breath thou drawest.[2]

How great is He to whom one playeth and singeth, and where doth He dwell?

All Thy eulogists continue to praise Thee with affection.

Father, God is inaccessible and endless.

Pure is the Name; pure is the place of the true Cherisher.

How great Thy sovereignty is cannot be known; no one knoweth how to describe it.

If a hundred poets were to be found, they could not describe a particle of it, though they sang their utmost.[3]

Nobody hath found Thy worth; every one as he hath heard describeth Thy glory.

Priests, prophets, saints, faithful men, martyrs,

Shaikhs, Strivers, Qazis, Mullas, Darweshes who have arrived at God's gate,

[1. True here apparently means abiding, eternal.

2. Also translated---As far as it can fix its attention.

3. Literally--even though they cried over it.]

{p. 267}

Obtain further blessings if they continue to recite God's praises.

He consulteth no one when He createth; He consulteth no one when He destroyeth; He consulteth no one when He giveth or taketh.

He knoweth His own might; He acteth and causeth others to act.

He beholdeth all men with favour, and bestoweth on those who please Him.

Neither His place nor His name is known, nor how great His name is among other names.

How great is that place where my Sovereign dwelleth!

None can reach it; of whom shall I inquire the way?

High or low caste influenceth not God when He maketh any one great.

Greatness is in the hands of the Great One; He giveth to whom He pleaseth.

He regenerateth man by His order without any delay.

Everybody crieth 'Give me much, much ', in the hope of getting it.

How great shall the Giver be called who giveth countless gifts!

Nanak saith, O God, Thy storehouses are full in every age, and never is there a deficiency.

It is said that a Qazi and a pandit asked the Guru how man could find God and be blended with Him. The following was the reply:--

All are wives of the Spouse and adorn themselves for Him.

In trumpery red dresses have they come for His inspection.[1]

Love is not obtained by hypocrisy; counterfeit gilding degradeth.

In this way God the Spouse shall enjoy the wife.

The good wife is pleasing to Thee, O Lord; of Thy favour Thou decoratest her.

[1. Literally-to be counted by Him.]

{p. 268}