Nanak appears to have continued to attend school for some time. One day he was observed to remain silent, and not apply himself to his books. The schoolmaster asked him why he was not reading. Nanak inquired, 'Art thou sufficiently learned to teach me?' The schoolmaster replied that he had read everything. He knew the Veds and Shastars,[1] and he had learned to cast up accounts, post ledgers and daybooks, and strike balances. Upon this Nanak said, 'To your accomplishments I prefer the study of divine knowledge'. He then composed the following hymn:--

Burn worldly love, grind its ashes and make it into ink;[2] turn superior intellect into paper.

Make divine love thy pen, and thy heart the writer; ask thy guru and write his instruction.

Write God's name, write His praises, write that He hath neither end nor limit.

O master, learn to write this account,

So that, whenever it is called for, a true mark may be found thereon.

There[3] greatness is obtained, everlasting joys, and everlasting delights.

They in whose hearts is the true have the marks of it on their brows.

[1. Sanskrit works on the six philosophical systems of the Hindus. They are--the Nyâya founded by Gautama, the Vaisheshika by Kanâda, the Sânkhya by Kapila, the Yoga by Patanjali, the Mimânsa by Jaimini, the Vedânt by Vyâs. The six systems have been learnedly expounded by Max Müller in his Indian Philosophy.

2. At that time in India ink was made from burnt almond-rind and gum.

3 Corresponding to {Greek e?kei^} in Greek, the next world.]

{p. 9}

By God's mercy men obtain it and not by idle words.

One man cometh, another goeth; we give them great names.[1]

Some men God created to beg, and some to preside over great courts.

When they have departed, they shall know that without the Name[2] they are of no account.

I greatly fear Thine anger; O God, my body pineth and wasteth away.

They who have been called kings and lords are beheld as ashes.

Nanak,[3] when man departeth all false affections are sundered.[4]

Upon this the schoolmaster became astonished, did Nanak homage as a perfect saint, and told him to do what he pleased.

Nanak, having thus shown his scholastic proficiency, left school and took to private study and meditation. He remained for long periods in the same attitude, whether sleeping or waking, and associated continually with religious men.

The scholastic ignorance of the founders of great

[1. Literally--we call them commanders. This refers to the custom of parents giving their sons high-sounding names.