Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/266

170 until he arrived at Mount Sumer. He there met many renowned Sidhs. When the Guru had made his obeisance and sat down, they inquired whence he had come and in what state he had left Hindustan. He replied :

The Kal age is a knife, kings are butchers ; justice hath taken wings and fled. In this completely dark night of falsehood the moon of truth is never seen to rise. I have become perplexed in my search : In the darkness I find no way. Devoted to pride, I weep in sorrow : Saith Nanak, how shall deliverance be obtained ? l

On this the Sidhs requested the Guru to join them in praising God. Having done so he put his subse quent conversation with them into the following form :

The Sidhs holding an assembly sat in religious attitude hail to the assembly of the saints !

I offer my prayer to Him who is the true and Infinite One. I will cut off my head and lay it before Him ; I will place before Him my soul and body. Nanak, by meeting a holy man the True One is found, and honour is easily obtained. Is the True and Pure One obtained by wandering ? There is no salvation without the True Word The Sidhs asked : 1 Who art thou ? What is thy name ? What is thy sect and what thine object ?

Speak the truth ; this is what we urge ; we are a sacrifice to saintly men.

Where is thy seat ; where dwellest thou, O youth ?

Whence hast thou come, and whither goest thou ?

Hear, O Nanak, said the Sidhs, What are thy tenets ?

1 Majh ki War.