Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/227

Rh With whom contract friendship ? The whole world passeth away.

False is sweetness, false honey, in falsehood shiploads are drowned

Nanak humbly asserteth Except Thee, God, everything is thoroughly false. 1

The Guru went in a north-east direction, and took up his post on the bank of the Ravi. His arrival there caused great excitement, and every one went to see him. He was universally held to be a man of God. All who visited him went away pleased. Every verse that he composed was at once published abroad. He used to compose verses like the following, which faqirs sang to the accompaniment of reeds :

Falsehood is at an end ; Nanak, truth at last prevaileth. 2

There was only the one Name mentioned in the Guru s dwelling, and he became the object of great popular admiration.

A millionaire official who dwelt in a neighbouring village began to depreciate the Guru. He said, Who is this person whose name is repeated by every one, as if he were a god, though he is only a mortal like ourselves ? The Hindus are being perverted, and even the Musalmans are losing their faith. Come, let us imprison him. When the speaker mounted on horseback, the animal shied and threw him. Next day he again mounted, but, as he proceeded on his way, became blind and had to alight. Those who witnessed his calamity were afraid to make any remark save that Nanak was a great saint. They, however, suggested to the millionaire that he should do homage to the Guru. Upon this he began to praise the Guru ; and those who were with him bowed towards the Guru. The millionaire again

1 Asa ki War.

2 Ramkali ki War I.