38 passages · ~18 min read
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The Guru, on one occasion seeing his parents and relations standing around him to consider his condition, composed a …
Since when have I a mother? Since when a father? Whence have we come? From fire and bubbles of water are we sprung; f…
is happy day and night. Kalu then desired that his son should embrace a mercantile life. He instructed him to go to C…
When the faqirs took their departure, Nanak was censured by his servant for his reckless prodigality. He then realize…
Jai Ram, during his yearly visits to Talwandi at the close of the spring harvest, had ample opportunities of cultivat…
The other members of Nanak's family also unanimously approved of his decision. Nanak's wife alone, on seeing him make…
When Nanak asked Rai Bular's permission to depart, the Rai gave him a banquet. The Rai then requested him to give him…
I give thee one order if thou wilt comply with it. When thine own might availeth not, clasp thy hands and worship God.
Jai Ram introduced Nanak as an educated man to the Governor, Daulat Khan, who appointed him storekeeper and gave him …
If Nanak, when weighing out provisions, went as far as the number thirteen—tera—he used to pause and several times re…
The minstrel Mardana subsequently came from Talwandi and became Nanak's private servant. Mardana was of the tribe of …
One day after bathing Nanak disappeared in the forest, and was taken in a vision to God s presence. He was offered a …
Were I to live for millions of years and drink the air for my nourishment; Were I to dwell in a cave where I beheld n…
Hereupon a voice was heard, 'O Nanak, thou hast seen My sovereignty.' Then Nanak said, 'O Sire, what is anything that…
There is but one God whose name is True, the Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, gre…
The True One is, was, O Nanak, and the True One also shall be. When Nanak had finished, a voice was heard again: 'O N…
The Guru then uttered the following hymn:
Thou wise and omniscient, art an ocean; how can I a fish obtain a knowledge of Thy limit? Wherever I look, there art …
Whatever order pleaseth Thee, saith Nanak, that is acceptable. After three days the Guru came forth from the forest. …
It was the general belief at this time that Nanak was possessed with an evil spirit, and a Mulla or Muhammadan priest…
When the field is spoiled where is the harvest heap? Cursed are the lives of those who write God's name and sell it.
The Mulla, paying no attention to Nanak's serious objurgation, continued the ceremony of exorcism and finally address…
Some say poor Nanak is a sprite, some say that he is a demon,
Others again that he is a man. Those who were present then concluded that Nanak was not possessed, but had become ins…
On hearing this Nanak ordered Mardana to play the rebeck and continued the stanza:—
Simpleton Nanak hath become mad upon the Lord. And knoweth none other than God. When one is mad with the fear of God,…
After this, Guru Nanak donned a religious costume and associated constantly with religious men. He remained silent fo…
To be a Musalman is difficult; if one be really so, then one may be called a Musalman. Let one first love the religio…
The Qazi then put further questions to the Guru. The Guru called on Mardana to play the rebeck, and sang to it the fo…
Make kindness thy mosque, sincerity thy prayer-carpet, what is just and lawful thy Quran, Modesty thy circumcision, c…
The Qazi became astonished at being thus lectured. Prayers had become to him a matter of idle lip-repetition of Arabi…
It was now the time for afternoon prayer. The whole company, including Nanak, went to the mosque. Up rose the Qazi an…
He is a Musalman who effaceth himself, Who maketh truth and contentment his holy creed, Who neither toucheth what is …
The whole company of Musalmans at the capital—the descendants of the Prophet, the tribe of shaikhs, the qazi, the muf…
At God's gate there dwell thousands of Muhammads, thousands of Brahmas, of Vishnus, and of Shivs; Thousands upon thou…
It is said that Daulat Khan, the Musalman ruler, on hearing this sublime hymn, fell at Guru Nanak's feet. The people …
My beloved, this body, first steeped in the base of worldliness, hath taken the dye of avarice. My beloved, such robe…
Upon this the faqirs kissed the Guru's feet, the Governor also came, and all the people, both Hindu and Musalman, att…