Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/346

THE RAHIRAS^[1]

SODAR^[2]

Guru Nanak, Rag Asa

What is that gate, what is that mansion where Thou, O God, sittest and watchest over all things?
How many various and countless instruments of Thine are played! How many Thy musicians,
How many Thy musical measures with their consorts, and how many singers sing Thee!
Wind, water, fire sing Thee; Dharmraj singeth at Thy gate;
The recording angels, who know how to write, and on whose record Dharmraj judgeth, sing Thee;
Ishar, Brahma, and Devi, ever beautiful as adorned by Thee, sing Thee;
Indar seated on his throne and the gods at Thy gate sing Thee;
Sidhs in meditation sing Thee; holy men in contemplation sing Thee;
The continent, the true, and the patient sing Thee; unyielding heroes sing Thee.
The Pandits and the supreme Rikhis, reading their Veds, sing Thee in every age.

The lovely celestial maids who beguile the heart in the upper, middle, and nether regions sing Thee.

1. The Rahirās is a collection of hymns by Guru Nānak, Guru Amar Dās, Guru Rām Dās, and Guru Arjan. It is recited by the Sikhs as divine service at sunset.
2. The following hymn is so called because in the original it thus begins.