1835.] Hindu Schismatics in Western India. 79 



akhaz and wine ; who drinks water after straining it, and looks before he walks, 

 is the true Rarosanehi who hath attained his purpose. 



3. — Ra'ma is the sea of happiness and destroyer of misery — abandon him not, 

 O Ra'mcharan, but be constant in his worship. 



Song in the Pdnjabi language. 



The faqir who is enamoured of the beauty of the All-Merciful is drowsy through- 

 out the eight prahars*, because he is fully intoxicated with his love. He (or his 

 spirit) has come from an inaccessible region, and entered the corporeal frame, and 

 after having witnessed all the troubles of the world will return to that region. 

 As long as He (or the soul) occupies the serai (i. e. mansion of the body), he 

 gives its proper rent (i. e. discharges the duties of humanity) and abandoning 

 his desires, resigns himself to the will of his deity. He wanders about at ease, 

 forms no attachments, seeks only his beloved (God), and bestows a portion (of 

 bread or any other thing) upon all who need it. He points out the path to 

 heaven, rescues others from perdition, conforms to the duties of this world with 

 his faith, and is influenced by no private motive. Ra'mcharan says, that few 

 individuals have followed the example of such a faqir, who gives no thought to 

 the world, but is content with his present condition. 



2nd Song in the Panjltbi language. 



The faqir whose heart is firm (in God) is above all amirsf; for he is a true 

 pirj. Knowing that the body is a hell, he places not his affections on the world, 

 and keeps aloof from it by frequently meditating on the Alif of Allah. Re- 

 straining his heart from going astray, he has laid it at the feet of the Almighty, 

 and remembers him at dawn, in the morning, at noon-time, and evening. He 

 absolves himself in the water of faith, and tells the beads of fatwa§. His cave 

 is in the sky (i. e. abstraction of mind), where he sits in contemplation. Ra'm- 

 charan says, that people do not understand the secret motive of such a faqir, 

 which is to obtain the indescribable Being|| in his body, whom he always serves. 



4. — The darvesh is always happy who is free from desire. Either remain at 

 one place, or roam about in the four quarters (of the earth) : roam about in the 

 four quarters, and labour for the salvation of your soul. Be awake or asleep, 

 but entertain no selfish motive. Let your hair grow as long as was that of 

 SahaJca and others, or shave your head bare : for he who is free from desire is 

 always happy. Practise benevolence, and make your heart as pure and soft as 

 wax, and look down upon your feet. Be patient, speak the truth, and danca 

 without a mistake (i. e. discharge your duties properly). Having once placed 

 the hand of your spiritual guide upon your head, never be so shameless as to 

 undress yourself (i. e. refrain from all intercourse with women). He has subdued 

 his mind and heart, and taken his seat in perseverance. Ra'mcharan says, this 

 is the height of devotion, as a person who attains it has cooled (subdued) his Pir 

 (senses), and never covets the society of women. He is not given to intoxica- 

 tion, love, or adultery, but is always engaged in contemplation, and from leading 

 a solitary life, his mind is free from all atfection. 



* An eighth part of the twenty-four hours. 

 f A chief or grandee. 

 X A saint, or spiritual father. 

 § Divine knowledge. 



|| The human soul is believed to be a portion of the Supreme spirit, and con- 

 sequently worshipped as such. 



