hearing of my father's death. That is the way to prepare for the deceased a passage to Sach Khand.'
Only one body of men among his followers were dissatisfied at his accession. The masands, who used to collect offerings and tithes from the Sikhs, had become very corrupt and dishonest, and they now trembled for their misdeeds. They represented to the Guru's mother, 'It is the reign of the Mughals. We have nobody of mature age to guide and protect us. The Guru is yet a boy. Chandu is still an enemy. The Guru girdeth on his arms, but for faqirs to lord it over men is a course that involveth peril. The preceding five Gurus never handled arms. If Jahangir hear of our Guru's doings he will be angry ; and where shall we hide ourselves ?' The Guru's mother replied,' Have no anxiety. Guru Nanak's hand is on my son's head. The Guru ever liveth. Bhai Budha's words, that Har Gobind shall be a temporal as well as spiritual ruler and shall wield two swords, are about to be fulfilled.' Notwithstanding, however, the courageous face she showed the masands, she remonstrated with the young Guru. 'My son, we have no treasure, no state revenue, no landed property, no army. If thou walk in the way of thy father and grandfather, thou shalt be happy.' The Guru replied in the words of Guru Arjan :—
The Lord who is the Searcher of all hearts Is my guardian.[1]
'Have no anxiety whatever for me, everything shall be according to the will of God.'
The Guru then issued an encyclical letter to the masands to the effect that he would be pleased with those who brought offerings of arms and horses instead of money. On Monday, the fifth day of the light half of Har, Sambat 1663, he laid the foundation of the Takht Akal Bunga. When it was built
- ↑ Bhairo.
