Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 230

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( NOVEMBER, 1983
Amongst such saints was the famous Nand Fishi, alias Shaikhu'l-'alam or Shaikh Nuru'ddin of Tsrår, about whom a Persian poet has fitly sung thus -
شیخ نورالدین کے نور از خاک ار آید برون
گونا گون ز روح پاک اور آید برون فیض
"Shaikh Naru'd-din-lustre beams forth from the dust of his grave,
"A variety of grace flows out from his holy soul." A brief outline of the life of this renowned saint has already been given by me in this journal (vide vols. LVIII and LIX). A mumber of his sayings, which I have been able to collect, are reproduced with English translations, below. Pregnant with eternal truth and eminent wisdom as they are, they show that he was not only a great seer in the world beyond but also a sage humanist, whose mission in life was to teach the highest morals in sweet, terse and inspiring language. These wise and vivid sayings represent ancient culture, and display what is best and finest in humanity. Their study stimulates theological and philosophical thought. They contribute to the evolution of human ethics and, moreover, possess a poetic charm dominated by measureless power to moralize and spiritualize. In short, they are an ideal gift of olden times to the modern age, full of perennial interest and value to deep thinkers, as well as to philologists and Oriental scholars, whose aim is to make history relive for us by their researches into things antique.
(1)
Adam akuy ta byun byun war
Ak layi mukhta la ak layi na hấr. Tsandun ti dar, arkhor ti dår,
Arlehor ási na barkhurdar.
Man is the same [but) of different qualities;
One is worth a pearl, another is not worth a shell. Sandal is wood, arkhor is wood, (but]
Arkhor is not of any use. No carpenter in Kashmîr will work with the poisonous arkhor (Rhus Wallichit). The sap of the green wood causes weals and blisters.
(2)
Adana archana karay no mě tas,
Wuni pyom tsetas grēki vizi nún.
I performed no devotion to Him (God) in my younger days;
Now, at the moment of boiling (food), I have remembered [to obtain) salt. I.e., too late.
(3)
Akis ditut narma ta khasay,
Akis jandah palds nay. Akis ditut barni-nyásay,
Akis tsur dy doran Lhdsay.
To one Thou (O God) gavest shawl and linen,
To another not even a rag quilt. To one Thou [O God) gavest [enough for enjoyment] just near his own house
door, To another thieves came running from such a long distance as] Lhasa
and stole all he possessed).