The Sikh Religion, Volume 1
Hymns Of Guru Nanak

But Thou hast no partner, therefore will I praise Thee to Thy face. Thy name giveth sight to the blind.

One of the Guru's reflections on this degenerate age:--

In the Kal age men have faces like dogs, and eat carrion.

They bark as they utter falsehood, and have no regard for honesty.

They who have no honour while alive, shall have an evil reputation after death.

What is destined taketh place, Nanak; what the Creator doeth cometh to pass.

They who deceive men by selling them charms and amulets shall not find salvation:--

Accursed the lives of those who write God's name to sell it.

They whose crop is spoiled require no place for a harvest-heap.

They who are devoid of truth and modesty will receive, no assistance hereafter.

The ways of wisdom:--

Call not by the name of wisdom the wisdom which is spent in wrangling.

By wisdom the Lord is worshipped; by wisdom honour: is obtained.

It is by wisdom what is read is understood, it is by wisdom alms are properly bestowed.

Nanak saith, these are the ways of wisdom, all else are ways of wickedness.

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The virtues and practices which are most potent to secure deliverance:--

They who make truth their fasting, contentment their place of pilgrimage, divine knowledge and meditation their ablutions,

Mercy their idol, and forgiveness their rosary, are foremost in God's favour.

Nanak, few there are who make the right way their loincloths, meditation on God their cooking squares,

Good deeds their frontal marks, and God's love their food.

Better to live by honest labour than by begging:--

Men without divine knowledge sing hymns.

The hungry Mulla maketh a home of his mosque.[1]

One man who earneth nothing slitteth his ears;[2]

Another becometh a beggar and loseth his caste.

Touch not at all the feet of those

Who call themselves gurus and pirs, and go begging.

They who cat the fruit of their. labour and bestow something,

O Nanak, recognize the right way.

RAG MALAR

Some moral commandments:--

Cease to covet another's wife and another's goods; shun the deadly sins of pride,

Evil inclinations, slander, Pind lust and wrath the executioners.

The inaccessible and illimitable God dwelleth in man's heart.

He shall obtain nectar in his own heart, whose conduct is according to the Guru's precious instruction;

And who considereth woe and weal and the blame and praise of the world as the same.

[1. He spends all his time in his mosque, so as to receive the more alms.

2 The Jogi.]

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Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are obtained from God's name; the love of God is obtained by association with the saints.

Day and night profit is obtained from God's name given by the beneficent Guru.