Nanak, they who give their lives shall be saved, and shall obtain honour in God’s court.[1]
The Guru arrived at a Saravagi or Jain temple, which was much frequented. Narbhi, the Jain priest, went with his disciple to visit him. The Jains attach an exaggerated value to life in every form. The Jain priest heard that the Guru had not the same tender scruples on the subject, and began to catechize him. ‘Eatest thou old or new corn?’ (that is, dost thou eat corn with worms in it or not?) ‘Drinkest thou cold water; shakest thou the trees of the forest to eat their fruit? Who is thy guru, and what power hath he to pardon thee since thou violatest all rules and destroyest life?’ The Guru in reply uttered the following pauri:—
When the True Guru is merciful, faith is perfected.
When the True Guru is merciful, man shall never grieve.
When the True Guru is merciful, man shall know no sorrow.
When the True Guru is merciful, man shall enjoy divine pleasure.
When the True Guru is merciful, what fear hath man of Death?
When the True Guru is merciful he ever bestoweth happiness.
When the True Guru is merciful, man obtaineth the nine treasures.[2]
When the Guru is merciful, man is absorbed in the
True One.[3]
After this the Guru launched out into a satire on the Jains:—
They have their hair plucked out, they drink dirty water, they beg and eat others’ leavings;
