Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 517

MARCA, 1923)
HIR AND RANJHA
89
You will no longer mourn for the dead. You will have to abstain from seeing a wounan. You will have to become "Maät" by taking kand, mal, post, opium and other stimulants. You will have to think the world is a mere vision. You will have to go on pilgrimages to Jagannath, Gálavari, Ganges and Jumna. You Jats cannot acquire Jog."
Rinjha replios: "I have givon up women and all household affairs. Do not, Guru pierce me over and over again! You should not broak the hoart of one who falls helpless on your threshbold."
Balnath is still scoptical," It is the work of virtuous mou to subduo passions by riding on the horse of Patience, holding the reins of Romombrance. You will not be able to undergo Jog, what is the good of asking for it! Child listen, God luts made his abode in this body of dust, He is in everything, as a thread runs through the beads. He is the breath of lifo in the living. He is, is it were, the Spirit of Bhang and Opium. His is in the life of the world as colour is in inchndi. He is in everything as veins are in the body."
Ranjha replies ; "I have now reached the degree called Chit Akas after passing Bhola Kas and Jadu Kas." These appear to be degrees of proficiency in Jôgi philosophy.
Balnath answers : " Jog means to bo dead whilo alive. One has to sing the song of non-entity, using one's meagre body as a guitar."
The other Chelas are jealous when they see Balnath showiny favoue to Ranjha. Ranjha pacifies them, "I consider all of yon like Balnath and have thus become your brother. Why are you so suspicious!"
The Chelas replied: "We have been serving him for twelve years and he does not give us Jog, even though we contemplate God day and night. He is sometimes like fire and sometimes like water, we cannot discover his secret." They are angry with Balnath and threaten to desert him. Balnath rebukes the Chelay, and they instantly cease their joalousy and backbiting.
Balnath then initiates Ranjha. "He read the enchantment of his Guru and took the name of God." Then he caught hold of the Razor of separation and totally shaved him in an instant. He rubbed ashes on his body; shaved his head and beard and inade him wear ear-rings. He gave him his beggar's bowl, rosary (kipti, samrnce), horn and trumpet (nur and sangi) in his hand and made him learn the word "Alakh " Ho then preaches to Ranjha : "One's heart is far from other pooples' women-folk. An old woman should be treated as a mother and a young woman as a sister."
Ranjha here disclosos his hand. He replies to Balnath : "I do not agree with what you way."
Whereupon Balnath proceeds to locturo him, “You should beat the donkey of your Satan passion with the stick of belief. You should become a herinit and forget women."
Ranjha is quite frank in his reply : . "Had I been able to be silent before Love, should 'I have undergone so great a trouble? The girl has captivated my mind and that is why I am reciting the word Fakir. I had no other object in becoming a Fakir."
Balnath is now sorry he made Ranjha & Fakir. Ho says, "I havo committed a folly, but I cannot recall what I have done. I have made him wear ear-rings and now he has become a Thag'. He has got the treasures of lakir without having spent a singlo pice."
Balnath exhorts Ranjha to become a true Fakir, but Ranjha refuses to give up Hir. "I must search for my beloved." He then explains to Balnath how he and Hîr fell in love with each other when they were quite young. "Hir's hair was tied up in girlish plaits and I had down on my upper lip. Good days turned their back, bad days arrived and they betrothed her to the Kheras. Give me Hir. That is my only request. My heart begå for Hîr and Hîr alone".