Thy merits, O Lord, cannot be ascertained; I have seen and tested everything.

Thy merits cannot be expressed by words; if man remain true, he shall obtain honour.

Under the Guru's instruction Thou, O Lord., art praised otherwise Thy worth cannot be described.

The Guru prefers the repetition of God's name to all other forms of devotion:--

My heart is penetrated by God's name; what else shall I reflect upon?

Happiness cometh to him who meditateth on the, Word; perfect happiness to him who is imbued with God.

Preserve me as it pleaseth Thee, O God; Thy name is my support.

O man, just is the will of the Master.

Love Him who made and adorned thy body and mind.

Were my body to be cut into pieces and burnt in the fire

Were I to turn my body and soul into firewood, and burn them night and day;

Were I to perform hundreds of thousands and millions of religious ceremonies, all would not be equal to God's name.

[1. Man is composed, according to Indian ideas, of hair, blood, nerves, skin, bone, seed, flesh, and fat. These correspond to the eight simple or compound metals differently stated by Indian historians. Bhâi Gur Das understands the eight metals to be the four castes of Hindus and the four great sects of Muhammadans.]

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Were a saw to be applied to my head and my body to be cut in twain;[1]

Were my body to be frozen in the Himalayas, even then my mind would not be free from disease--

It would all not be equal to God's name--I have seen and examined everything--

Were I to make offerings of millions of gold, many excellent horses and excellent elephants;

Were I to make large presents of lands and cows, even then pride would remain in my heart.

The Guru hath given me the true gift that my mind is penetrated by God's name.

How many opinions, and how many interpretations of the Veds through obstinacy!

How many entanglements there are for the soul! the gate of deliverance is only obtained through the Guru's instruction.

Everything is inferior to truth; the practice, of truth is superior to all else.

Call every one exalted; let no one appear to thee low.

The one God fashioned the vessels, and it is His light that filleth the three worlds.

By His favour man obtaineth the truth; what He granteth in the beginning none can efface.

The holy meet the holy; by love for the Guru man obtaineth consolation.

He who is absorbed in the True Guru pondereth on the Word of the Ineffable.

He who drinketh the nectar of the Name shall be satisfied, and go to God's court with a dress of honour.

The strain of ecstasy[2] resoundeth night and day in the hearts of those who bear great love to the Word.