Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 2.djvu/100

88 livelihood, and were contented with their lot. They rose early to perform their adoration and meditation, and their prayer ever was that a son might be born to them who should be the light of their family, and whose glory should shine like the sun.

The result of their prayer and devotion was that after twelve years of married life, in the early morning of Thursday, the second day of the dark half of the month Kartik, in the Sambat year 1591 ( 1534), a son was born to them, who appeared like a sun of the solar line from which they claimed their descent. He was called Ram Das, but was generally known as Jetha, a name which means first-born. He is described as of fair complexion, handsome figure, pleasing and smiling face, and not disposed to weep or cry in the manner of ordinary children.

As he grew up he frequented the society of holy men, and gave them whatever he received from his parents. The latter desired that he should turn to some occupation for his livelihood, but that was not his own intention. There lived near his parents a poor man who made his living by selling boiled pulse. At his suggestion Jetha's mother boiled some, put it into a basket, and gave it to him to sell, so that he might begin to do something profitable. An ordinary person would have taken the pulse to the bazars and streets for sale, but Jetha went off with his basket to the river Ravi and there sat down. He soon saw a company of holy men coming towards him from the opposite side, and waited until they had bathed and emerged from the river. They were very hungry, and on seeing him with his basket, asked him to supply their necessities. They represented that what was given in the name of the Lord would fructify a thousandfold, and that God would bless his earnings. Jetha gave them the whole contents of his basket and went home. The holy men were very pleased, and prayed that God