When troubles come and ye have no one to turn to
When enemies are on your tracks and your kinsmen flee away
When all hopes have fled, all hopes are shattered
Let thy thoughts turn to Him, who is thy Maker,
And no ill will harm thee.
The Master is the strength of the feeble
He doth not come and go, He is forever where He is
The truth the Guru's words will reveal to thee.
When thou art weak and frail
Without raiment to wear without food to eat
When no one casts a dime in thy apron
Nor any one gives thee comfort
With no one to help thee, nor dost thou succeed in anything thou doest,
Let thy thoughts turn to Him who is thy Maker
And thy affairs will ever remain stable.
When worry upon worry besets thy mind
When thy body is riddled with disease
When thou being obsessed with thy wife and thy kinsmen
Art sometimes happy in hope, other times in despair
When in agitation thou wandereth in the four corners
Without a moment's rest, without a moment's sleep
Let thy thoughts turn to Him, who is thy Maker
And the body and mind will become whole.
When lust, anger and attachment have thee in thrall
When like one full of greed thou art ever in want
When thou hast committed the four sins
(Thou has drunk of the grape, committed theft, fornicated and murdered)
And in the company of devils, become a demon
When neither books of wisdom nor song nor verse
Fall upon thy ears
Let thy thoughts turn to Him who is thy Maker,
And within the twinkling of an eye wilt thou be saved.
Books of wisdom thou might know by heart and recite
Prayer and austerities of the yogis and all the pilgrimages perform
Twice perform the six good acts (learn and impart learning to others
Sacrifice and make others given sacrifice, give alms and accept charity)
Bathe in holy water and worship
If thou lovest not the Lord with all thy being,
It is all in vain and for thee there is but hell.
Empires, kingdoms and baronies may be thine
And all that give power and pleasure,
Thine to orchards green and glorious full of fruit trees
And power without any limit
Sports and pastimes to keep the mind amused.
If thy thoughts turn not to Him who made thee
Without doubt for thee will be the life of a serpent.
Much there be of wealth,
Good living and gentle ways
Much love for mother, father, sons, brothers and friends
Armies of footmen and archers, and many to give thee salutation
Many to say "long may thou live".
If thy thoughts turn not Him who made thee
Though shalt be dragged down to hell.
Thy body be free of fever and without scar
Thy mind fee of care and sorrow
Without ever the thought of death
Night and day thou enjoyest life
And takest all as thine own
Without any hesitation or reserve
If thy thoughts turn not to Him who made thee,
For thee will the servitude of hell's demons.
Those on whom the Creator bestoweth mercy
He placeth amongst the company of holy men
The more he is with his companions
The more he loveth the Lord
He is the Lord of good and devil
There is none besides
O Nanak, by His Grace shalt thou find Him
Who is the True Guru and whose Name is truth.
(Guru Arjun, Sri Rag)
