Nanak, the pious who continue absorbed in God shall be perennial and never wither.

SARANG KI WAR

The following is a refutation of the general Indian ideas on the subject of impurity:--

There is no impurity in songs,[2] there is no impurity in knowledge;[3]

There is no impurity in the moon's or sun's different phases;

[1. Basant, the Indian spring, is generally considered to begin between the 12th and 14th of March.

2. As supposed by the Musalmans.

3. The Brâhmans assert that the Veds should not be communicated to women and Sûdars. During the period of Brâhmanical ascendency in India the Sûdars were forbidden under pain of death to read the Veds--they might only repeat God's name. Among the Sûdars are included all women.]

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There is no impurity in corn, there is no impurity in ablution;[1]

There is no impurity in rain which falleth everywhere

There is no impurity in earth, there is no impurity in water;

There is no impurity contained in air.

There are no virtues, Nanak, in the man who is without a guru.

It is he who turneth away from God whose mouth is impure.

The Guru mentions things which confer purity on men of different classes:--

Nanak, the following handfuls[2] of water are pure if any one know how to fill them-

Divine knowledge for the Pandit, continence for the Jogi,

Contentment for the Brahman, alms out of what he hath himself earned for the family man,[3]

Justice for the king, meditation on the True One for the learned.

Although water when drunk will quench thirst, the heart cannot be washed with it.

Water is the generator of the world, and shall finally destroy everything.

The futility of idolatry:--

Thou in thy house keepest an idol with its attendant gods:[4]

Thou washest it and worshippest it;

Thou offerest it kungu, sandal, and flowers

Thou fallest at its feet and propitiatest it to the utmost

Yet it is by continually begging of men thou clothest and supportest thyself.

[1. As supposed by the Jains, who avoid water.

2. Chuli, as much water as can be taken in one hand. Water is taken in handfuls by Hindus and drunk as grace before and sometimes after meals accompanied by sacred texts. Hindus also use water in the same way when taking solemn oaths.

3. As contradistinguished from the almsgiving of thieves out of their plunder.

4. Such as Lakhshmi, Garur, Ganesh, &c.]

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For such foolish acts shalt thou receive the punishment of the foolish.

The idol giveth thee not when hungry, nor preserveth thee from death.

It is like a foolish quarrel among the blind.

God has no partner, wherefore supplication should be made to Him direct:--

If Thou have any partner, O God, I will speak of Thee in his presence.