SKETCH OF THE SIKHS. gOS^^ 



Compan}/' Na'nac in his travels, of which the above mentioned author, as 

 well as others, has given the most circumstantial accounts. He was ac- 

 companied (agreeable to them) by a celebrated musician, of the name of 

 Merdana, and a person named Ba'la Sand'hu'; and it is on the tradition 

 of the latter of these disciples, that most of the miracles and wonders of 

 his journies are related. In Bengal, the travellers had to encounter al! 

 kinds of sorcerers and magicians. Poor Merdana, who had some of 

 the propensities of Sang ho, and preferred warm houses and good meals 

 to desarts and starvation, was constantly in trouble, and more than 

 once had his form changed into that of a sheep, and of several other 

 animals. Na'nac however, always restored his humble friend to the 

 human shape, and as constantly read him ledtures on his imprudence. It 

 is stated, in one of those accounts, that a Rdjd of S'ivandh'hu endea- 

 voured to tempt Na'nac, by offering him all the luxuries of the worlds 

 to depart from his austere habits, but in vain. His presents of rich meats, 

 splendid cloaths and fair ladies, only afforded the Sikh teacher so many 

 opportunities of decrying the vanities of this world, and preaching to the 

 Rdjd the blessings of eternal life; and he at last succeeded in making him 

 a convert, and resided at Sivandh'hii two years and five months; during 

 which period he composed the Prd^i Sancali* for the instruction of his 

 followers. After Na'nac had visited all the cities of hdia, and explained 

 to all ranks, the great doftrines of the unity and omnipresence of God, 

 he went to Mecca and Medina, where his actions, his miracles, and his 

 long disputations with the most celebrated Muhammedan saints and do6lors, 

 arfe most circumstantially recorded by his biographers. He is stated, on 

 this occasion, to have defended his own principles, without offending those 



'* It is believed, that this work of Nanac has been incorporated in the first part of the 

 '■^di-GranCh. 



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