The Sikh Religion, Volume 1
Hymns Of Guru Nanak

Definitions:--

How is Sat Sangat, the Society of the holy, known?

The name of the one God is mentioned there.

How are Duhagins--women separated from their husbands--known?

They are those who forgetful of their Spouse wander unhonoured.

They who are pleased with God's will,

Remove superstition from their minds.

Nanak, the true Guru, is known by his association with every one.

SRI RAG KI WAR

Some virtues which contribute to perfection--

Faith and resignation are the characteristics of the holy; patience is the viaticum of angels.

The perfect shall obtain a sight of God; the fool shall find no place with Him.

Caste is vain and contributes not to goodness or holiness:--

Castes are folly, names are folly

All creatures have one shelter, that of God.

If a man call himself good,

The truth shall be known, O Nanak, when his account is accepted.

Man, no matter what his caste or social position may be, is exalted by devotion:--

What difference is there between a swan and a crane, if God look kindly on the latter?

Nanak, if it please Him, He can change a raven into a swan,

[1. This is understood to mark time--three beats to a bar.]

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MAJH KI WAR

God as the Guru --

The Guru is the Giver, the Guru is the house of snow,[1] the Guru is the lamp of the three worlds.

Nanak, the Guru possesseth the immortal wealth; by putting faith in Him happiness is obtained.

The ten stages of man:--

In man's first stage he loveth the milk of his mother's breast;

In his second he recognizeth his father and mother

In his third his brother, his brother's wife, and his own sister;

In the fourth a love of play ariseth in him

In the fifth he runneth after food and drink

In the sixth he inquireth not a woman's caste in his lust

In the seventh he collecteth things for a house to live in

In the eighth his body is wasted by wrath;

In the ninth he groweth grey and his breathing is difficult;

In the tenth he is burnt and becometh ashes.

His companions accompany him to his pyre with loud lamentations.

The soul flieth away, showing the road of departure to others.

He Came, he died, and departed--leaving only a name.

After his death his relations offer food on leaves, and call the crows.[2]

Nanak, the perverse love mental darkness.

Without a guru the world is lost.

Other divisions of human life:--

At ten a child, at twenty a rake, at thirty man calleth himself handsome;

[1. That is, he cools the fire of desires. Some suppose that hiwai ghar is for the Sanskrit himkar, the moon.

2. Portions (bali) of such offerings are set aside for cows, portions for dogs, and portions for crows.]

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