Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/226

130 his father s soul had entered a wolf was, that while he was in human birth he had coveted meat which a Sikh was cooking, and had died in that desire.

The Guru, on seeing several flags over Duni Chand's door, asked what they were. It was explained that each flag denoted a lakh of rupees which Duni Chand had acquired. On this the Guru gave him a needle, and told him to keep it until he asked for it in the next world. Duni Chand took the needle to his wife, and told her to put it by for the purpose indicated. She believed him crazed, and asked how a needle could go to the next world. She accordingly charged him to return it to the Guru. Duni Chand took the needle with his wife s message to the Guru, who said, If such a small and light thing as a needle cannot go to the next world, how can thy wealth reach there ? Upon this Duni Chand fell at his feet, and prayed him to tell him by what means his wealth should reach the next world. The Guru replied, Give some of thy wealth in God s name, feed the poor, and thy wealth shall accompany thee. Upon this Duni Chand distributed seven lakhs of treasure, for he understood that disobedience to the Guru s order would militate against his salvation. He then became a disciple of the Guru, and began to repeat the Name. Guru Nanak uttered the following on the occasion :

False are kings, false their subjects, false the whole world ;

False are mansions, false palaces, false those who dwell therein ;

False is gold, false silver, false he who weareth them ;

False the body, false raiment, false peerless beauty ;

False husbands, false wives ; they pine away and become dust. 1

Man who is false loveth what is false, and forgetteth the Creator.

1 Instead of chhar, dust, the Granth Sahib has khwdr, despised.