Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/278

182 before day. The Guru then, by the aid of his Sikhs, consigned Mardana’s body to the river Ravi, caused the Sohila to be read for his eternal repose, and concluded the obsequies by distributing karah parshad (sacred food). The Guru counselled Mardana’s son Shahzada and his relations not to weep. There ought to be no lamentation for a man who was returning to his heavenly home, and therefore no mourning for Mardana.

The Guru bade Shahzada remain with him in the same capacity as his father, and he would be held in equal honour. Accordingly Shahzada, the Guru’s faithful friend and minstrel, accompanied him to the time of his death.

In the Granth Sahib are found three sloks of the Guru, dedicated to Mardana, against the use of wine. The following, which may conveniently be given here, will suffice as a specimen:— The barmaid is misery, wine is lust; man is the drinker.

The cup filled with worldly love is wrath, and it is served by pride. The company is false and covetous, and is ruined by excess of drink. Instead of such wine make good conduct thy yeast, truth thy molasses, God s name thy wine;

Make merits thy cakes, good conduct thy clarified butter, and modesty thy meat to eat.

Such things, O Nanak, are obtained by the Guru s favour; by partaking of them sins depart.

There lived in a town called Khadur a Sikh named Jodha who used to repeat God s name while