Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/193

Rh How shall my thirst abate when there is a screen between the Tank and me? Nanak is Thy dealer; Thou O Lord, art his capital. Illusion leaveth my mind when I praise and pray to Thee.

His mother placed before Nanak the new clothes and sweets she had brought for him, and asked him to eat. He said he required no food. His mother inquired where he had eaten. He again called on Mardana to play an accompaniment to the following hymn:—

To obey God's word is all sweet flavour; to hear it is salt flavour; To utter it with the mouth is acid flavour, and to sing it is spices. The love of the one God is thirty-six dishes for those on whom He looketh with favour. O mother, other viands afford ruinous happiness; By eating them the body is pained, and sin entereth the mind.

His mother asked him to take off the faqir's jacket he wore, and put on the new becoming clothes she had brought him. His reply was the following:—

To be imbued with God is as red, truth and charity as white clothing; To cut away the blackness of sin is blue, to meditate on God's feet is the real raiment; Contentment is the waistband: Thy name, O Lord, is wealth and youth. Mother, other dress affordeth ruinous happiness; By putting it on, the body is pained and sin entereth the mind.

By this time his father Kalu had heard of Nanak's arrival, and went on horseback to meet him. Nanak