that one insect had bitten him, and so he had killed
them all. The Guru replied, * It is in that very way
the people of Saiyidpur were killed/ Upon this
Mardana fell at his feet, and the remnant of the
inhabitants of Saiyidpur became his disciples.
After this the Guru returned to the Emperor s camp with the object of obtaining another interview with him. He visited the prison and sang hymns for the prisoners whose treatment he deplored. Under the influence of such feelings he composed the following :
Babar ruled over Khurasan and hath terrified Hindustan.
The Creator taketh no blame to Himself ; it was Death disguised as a Mughal who made war on us.
When there was such slaughter and lamentation, didst not Thou, O God, feel pain ?
Creator, Thou belongest to all.
If a tyrant slay a tyrant, one is not angry ;
But if a ravening lion fall on a herd, its master l should show his manliness.
The dogs of Lodi 2 have spoiled the priceless inheritance ; when they are dead no one will regard them.
God, Thou Thyself joinest and Thou Thyself separatest lo ! this is Thy greatness.
If any one give himself a great name and enjoy himself to his heart s content,
In God s view he is as a worm which nibbleth corn ;
But he who while alive is dead, may gain something, O Nanak, by repeating the Name. 3
When Babar had heard this hymn, he ordered the Guru to be sent for. When the Guru appeared, the Emperor asked him to sing the hymn again, and
1 The master of Hindustan at the time was Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. He only met Babar s force at Panipat, where he was defeated.
2 The Pathan dynasty of the Lodis who ruled in India prior to the advent of the Mughal Babar.
3 Asa.
