Indian Antiquary Vol 59

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 42

THE INDIAN ANTIQUÁRY
(FEBRUABY, 1930
Shivas salin yalih myul karak;
Sidhi taeh, Rishi Mali, teli namaz. If thou listeneth to truth, thou oughtest to subdue the tive (senses, i.e.,
passion, etc.); If thou lowereth only thy fleshly body, the fleshly body will not save
thee;
If thou maketh union with Siva,
Then only, 0 Rishi Mali, will prayer avail thee. A Persian poet has rendered the above in the following couplet:
Sar-tú bazamin chi mi-nihi bahr-i namaz ? An-rá bazamin binih ki dar sar dari. Why art thou bowing down thy head on the earth for the sake of praying?
Bow down to earth that which is in thy head (i.e., thy pride and arrogance). In regard to natural disabilities, Nand Rishi once remarked
Dandah rust kydh karih danis ?
Hanis kydh karih mukhtahár? Run kyah karih khunih kamane ?
Un kyah zâne padmane? Of what use is a walnut to a toothless person?
Of what use is a pearl necklace to a dog? Of what use is a bow to an elbowless person?
Of what estimation is a pretty woman to a blind man? "Come good, come evil, there is an end," was the subject on which Nand Rishi once spoke to his favourite disciple, Nasar Baba, as follows:
Vetha wawas tan nani, suh tih doha, Nasaro.
Tun wugarah tah seni pani, suh tih doha, Nasaro. Nishi rani tah wurani khani, suh tih doha, Nasaro.
Wurah batah tah ga lah gani, suh tih doha, Nasaro. When the body was bered to the wind of the Jehlam, that day has
passed, 0 Nasar. When we had thin curry and unsalted vegetables only to eat, that
day too has gone, O Nasar. When the wife was near and warm clothing covered the bed, that day
too has gone by, O Nasar. When boiled rice and sliced fish were provided for us, that day also
has passed, O Nasar. Nand Iishi breathed his last at Rupawan village on 26th Ramazên (Shab-i-Qadr), i.e., 26th Poh, 842 Hijra (1438 A.D.) at the age of 63 years, 1 month and 20 days. His body was carried to Tsrâr, and was buried on the mound called Nafla Teng. His funeral was at. tended by thousands of people, among whom was the then king of Kashmir, Zainu'l-Abidin. Baba Daud Khaki, who was a highly learned man during the time of Ya'qub Chak (1584 A.D.), wrote an epitaph in loving memory of Nand Rishi in Persian verse, which may be translated into English as follows
Shaikh Nuru'd-din Rishi, the preceptor of all rishis, Was a good hermit and had much communion with God. In addition to loading a retired and solitary life, he was also one of
those in this world who keep fasts ; He had given up eating flesh, honey, milk and onions for many years ; He was a man of revelation und miracles and had a fine command of speech, And he had no known spiritual guide, as a good-natured narrator
has stated.