Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/117

Rh After this Nanak lay down, remained in one position for four days, and declined all physical exertion.

Nanak appears to have become unfitted for all secular occupation. His idleness became notorious, and a serious source of anxiety to his parents. His mother sought to lead him with mild admonitions to secular duty, but fortunately failed. His father then addressed himself to the task. He represented that he required assistance in the cultivation of his land, and Nanak was now of an age to turn his attention to agriculture. Nanak replied:—

Make thy body the field, good works the seed, irrigate with God's name;

Make thy heart the cultivator; God will germinate in thy heart, and thou shalt thus obtain the dignity of nirvan.

His father and Rai Bular represented that that was not the way to become a husbandman, whose business ought to be manual labour, and whose object was to gain a livelihood. Upon this Nanak composed the following:—

Become a husbandman, make good works thy soil, and the word of God thy seed; ever irrigate with the water of truth.

Faith shall germinate, and thus even a fool shall know the distinction between heaven and hell.

Think not that thou shalt find the Lord by mere words.

In the pride of wealth and the splendour of beauty life hath been wasted.

The sin of the body is a puddle, the mind is a toad therein, which valueth not at all the lotus.

The bumble-bee is the teacher, who preacheth incessantly; but can the guru cause a man to understand who will not understand?