Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/358

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THE SIKH RELIGION

could be found. The following was the Guru's reply:—

The virtues of the virtuous woman are blazoned abroad; she who is not virtuous regretteth it.

O woman, if thou desire thy Spouse, practise truth. He cannot be obtained by falsehood.

No boat or raft will take thee to the distant Beloved.

My Lord is perfect; His throne is secure.

He whom the perfect Guru maketh holy, shall obtain the True and unrivalled One.

God's palace is beautiful; it is adorned with bright gems, rubies,

Pearls, and diamonds; it is surrounded by a golden fortress, and is an abode of pleasure.

How shall I scale the fortress without a ladder? By meditating on God through the Guru I shall behold Him.

The Guru giving me God's name is my ladder, my boat, and my raft;

The Guru is the lake, the sea, and the boat; the Guru is the sacred stream.

If it please God, I shall go to bathe in the true tank[1] and become pure.

He is called the most perfect; He reposeth on a perfect throne.

His seat is perfectly beautiful; He fulfilleth the hopes of the hopeless.

Nanak, if man obtain the Perfect One how can his virtues decrease?

A man can only find favour with God by devotion:—

Accursed is her life who is separated from her Spouse; she is ruined by mammon.

Like a wall impregnated with kallar she crumbleth down day and night.

She obtaineth no rest without the Word; without her Beloved her grief departeth not.

O woman, what are thine adornments without thy Spouse?
  1. The Guru is meant.