Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/196

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THE SIKH RELIGION


When He Himself acteth, to whom should we complain? No one else acteth. [1]

Nanak continued to address Kalu : Father dear, it is God who arrangeth marriages. He maketh no mistake, and those whom He hath once joined He joineth for ever.’ By these words the Guru perhaps meant to establish monogamy.[2] The Guru’s mother then interposed, and asked her son to stand up and go with them, and cease his nonsense. He would obtain wealth by attending to his worldly duties. The Guru replied with the following hymn : In the end of the night call upon the name of the Lord, And tents, umbrellas, pavilions, and carriages shall appear ready for your celestial journey. They are ever obtained by those who meditate on Thy name, Lord. Father, I am without good works and false ; I have not meditated on Thy name.

My mind is blind, led astray by superstition. The pleasures I have had have blossomed into pain by primal destiny, O mother. The pleasure was little ; the pain great ; in much pain have I passed my life. What separation is there from those who have separated from God ? and what meeting is there with those who have met Him ?

Praise that Lord who made and beholdeth this play.

By good destiny men meet God and enjoy pleasures even in this life.

By evil destiny they who meet separate, O Nanak, but even so they meet again by God s favour.[3]

  1. Suhi Chhant.
  2. Bhai Gur Das, so understood the Guru s words when he wrote Be chaste with one wife (War, vi, 8). In the Prem Sumarag, a work containing the supplementary teaching of Guru Gobind Singh, is found the injunction: Be satisfied with one wife. That befits a good man.
  3. Maru.