Indian Antiquary Vol 51

SR No.: 032543
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 374
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 344

84
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(FEBRUARY, 1929
ways and to become a true Fokir. But Ranjha laughed him to scorn saying: "We Jats are cunning strategists and we use all means to compass our hearts desire. I will invoke the name of my Pir, my Guru and of God and pitch my flag in Rangpur where I will cut off the nose oßthe Kheras and spite the Sials. Do not think I can ever give up Hir. Gurus who try to keep their disciples from women are as foolish as driven cattle. I will open my heart frankly to you. What can a Jat do with a beggar's bowl or horn, whose heart is set only on ploughing? What is the good of teaching him to tell his beads when all he can do is to tell the tale of his cattle? I will be frank with you. I must search for my beloved. She belongs to me. And I am pursuing nobody else's property. The snake of Love has coiled itself round my heart and is sucking my life blood from me. My bones and my flesh melt when I am separated from Hir. Love fell on us when we were both young. Hîr had her hair in long plaits and I had & 'small beard. We passed the Spring and Summer of our love together.
Then evil days came ard Hir's parents preferred to marry her elsewhere ; and they betrothed her to the Kheras. When the storm wird of calamity fell upon me I became a Fakir and embraced the labours of austerity. You are the only true Guru in the world, and it is only through your kindness that a poor traveller can gulde his boat ashore. Give me Hir. That is all I ask. My heart begs for Hir and for Hir alone.”
At lost the Guru understood that Ranjha had been wounded sore by the arrow of love ard that he would never give up the search for his beloved. So he prayed and poured ashes over his body and plunged his soul into the deep waters of meditation. He closed his eyes in the Darbar of God and uttered this prayer.
"Oh God, the Lord of earth and sky, Ranjha the Jat has given up kith and kin and all that he possesses and has become a Fakir for the love of the eyes of Hir, who has slain him with the arrow of Love. Grant, Oh Lord, that he may get his heart's desire."
The Five Pirs also prayed in the Court of God that Ranjha might, receive that which his heart desired. Then there came a reply from the Darbar of God. “Hir has been bestowed on Ranjha and his boat has been taken ashore." So Balnath opened his eyes and said to Ranjha : "My son, your prayer has been granted. The True God has bestowed Hir upon you. The pearl and the ruby have been strung together. Go and invade the Kheras &nd utterly subdue them.”
CHAPTER 21. (Ranjha leaves Tilla for Rangpur disguised as a Jogi.) So Ranjha made haste to leave Tilla and he collected strange herbs and potent roots from the woods and put them in his wallet, that he might appear as one skilled in medicine. And be determined to learn spells and enchantments and sorceries so that he might capture his beloved. He was determined that if necessary he would wear bangles like Mian Lal Hosain Shahbeg and kiss the feet of a dog like Majnun had done. So Ranjha set out from Tilla having bidden farewell to Balnath. The destroyer of the Kheras started like the stormcloud that moves to the place where it has fallen once before.
As he passed from village to village the people said to themselves : "This boy does not look like's Jogi. His wooden carrings and beggar's clothes do not suit him. His build is not that of a Jogi. His bones and feet are hard. Surely some proud woman has made him turn Fakir."
And Ranjha replied: "I am the perfect Nath descended from seven generations of Naths. I have never handled a plough. My name is Dukh Bhajan Nath and I am the grandson of Dhanantar Vaid.1 My Guru is Hira Nath and I am going to worship at his shrine.
1 Dhanantar Vaid was a celebrated Hindu Physician. Dukh Bhajan Nath is a play upon worde meaning the Nath weighed down by sorrow. Hira Nath refers to his worship of Hir.