1851.] Translation of the Vichitra Ndtak. 487 



Translation of the Vichitra Niilak or Beautiful Epitome ; — a fragment 



of the Sikh Granth entitled " the Book of the Tenth Pontiff." — 



By Captain George Siddons, 1st Cavalry. 

 (Continued from page 320.) 

 Chapter VI. 



It behoves me now, to give some information regarding myself, 

 who visited earth, after performing austere devotions on the mountain 

 of Brahm Kiind, surrounded by the picturesque seven peaks. 



On these seven pleasant peaks, the holy Pandavs worshipped. And 

 there I also lived in the discipline of true religion, praying to the 

 Supreme Being, and to the power which comes from God.* 



My devotions were so strict, that I became absorbed in God and 

 in his spirit ; they were to me as it were my father and my mother ; 

 I loved them with all my heart. 



The invisible one, was well pleased with my devotion, so much so, 

 that at length, he willed for me to appear on earth, for the benefit of 

 mankind. 



I had no wish to be born, for I had given my heart's best affections 

 with all humility to God, but God Almighty deigned to instruct me, 

 and I preach to mankind the doctrines which he taught me. 



God thus spoke unto me : — 



When first I made the world, I peopled it with angels, and gave to 

 them power and might ; but they madly rebelled against me, and refus- 

 ed to obey my commands. 



Whereupon I became sorely offended, and created a superior order 

 of beings, with godlike attributes. These sought the worship of their 

 inferiors, and styled themselves gods. 



And when mankind was spread over the face of the globe, Mahadev 

 called himself the Eternal one. Vishnu called himself God. Brahm 

 also claimed Supremacy, and no one acknowledged the true and only 

 God. 



I then sent eight special messengers into the world, to give evidence 

 concerning me, but these exhorted the people to believe in their 

 divinity, and to worship them as gods. 



* " Maha Kal, Kal ka Aradi" Kalis here the spirit ofMaha Ka!, emanating 

 from him, as light does from the sun. 

 3 R 



