What religious acts can he perform who hath greed in his heart? He uttereth falsehood and eateth poison.

O Pandit, if thou churn coagulated milk, butter shall be produced;

If thou churn water, thou shalt obtain but water; this is the way of the world.

The unseen God dwelleth in every heart, yet without the Guru man is ruined by wandering.

Maya hath bound this world on all sides with her cable:

Without a guru its knot cannot be untied; man groweth weary in striving.

[1. If a man's acts were totally bad, he could not obtain human birth. Human birth is only obtained when good and bad acts are in equipoise.]

{p. 336}

This world is led astray by superstition; words are of no avail.

By meeting the Guru, my brother, the fear of God entereth the heart. To die in the fear of God is man's true destiny.

In God's court the Name is superior to ablutions, alms, and similar religious acts.

He who, by the Guru's goad, hath driven the Name into his heart to abide there, shall become free from hypocrisy.

Man is a banker's shop, the unrivalled Name is his capital.

The merchant who meditateth on the Guru's instruction secureth the capital.

Nanak, blest are the merchants who on meeting the Guru engage in such traffic.

Deprecation of idolatry:--

My brethren, you worship goddesses and gods; what can you ask them? and what can they give you?

Even if a stone be washed with water, it will again sink in it.

RAG DHANASARI

The Guru reposes his hopes in God and confirms his devotion to Him:--

My soul is in fear; to whom shall I complain?

I have served Him who causeth us to forget our sorrows He is ever and ever the Giver.

My Lord is ever young; He is ever and ever the Giver.

Night and day serve the Lord, and in the end He will deliver thee.

Hark, hark, my friend,[1] thus shalt thou cross over.

O Merciful One, by Thy name shall 1 cross over aim

ever a sacrifice unto Thee.

In the whole world there is only one True Being; there is no second.

He on whom God looketh with favour will serve Him.

How shall I, O Beloved, abide without Thee?

Grant me the favour to remain attached to Thy name.

[1. Literally--woman.]

{p. 337}

There is none other, O my Beloved, to whom 1 may go to address myself.

I serve my Lord, I beg from no other

Nanak is His slave and ever a sacrifice unto Him.

O Lord, I am ever a sacrifice to Thy name, for which I could bear to be cut to pieces.

Life is but brief, and man ought to make the best use of it:--

We men live but for a moment; we know not if we shall live the space of two gharis.

Nanak representeth, serve Him to whom belong our souls and lives.

O fool, consider how many days thy life shall last.