346

1I am the merchant of the Lord; I deal in spiritual wisdom.

2I have loaded the Wealth of the Lord's Name; the world has loaded poison. ||2||

3O you who know this world and the world beyond: write whatever nonsense you please about me.

4The club of the Messenger of Death shall not strike me, since I have cast off all entanglements. ||3||

5Love of this world is like the pale, temporary color of the safflower.

6The color of my Lord's Love, however, is permanent, like the dye of the madder plant. So says Ravi Daas, the tanner. ||4||1||

7Gauree Poorbee, Ravi Daas Jee:

8One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

9The frog in the deep well knows nothing of its own country or other lands;

10just so, my mind, infatuated with corruption, understands nothing about this world or the next. ||1||

11O Lord of all worlds: reveal to me, even for an instant, the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan. ||1||Pause||

12My intellect is polluted; I cannot understand Your state, O Lord.

13Take pity on me, dispel my doubts, and teach me true wisdom. ||2||

14Even the great Yogis cannot describe Your Glorious Virtues; they are beyond words.

15I am dedicated to Your loving devotional worship, says Ravi Daas the tanner. ||3||1||

16Gauree Bairaagan:

17One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

18In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, was Truth; in the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, charitable feasts; in the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, there was worship.

19In those three ages, people held to these three ways. But in the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is your only Support. ||1||

20How can I swim across?

21No one has explained to me,

22so that I might understand how I can escape reincarnation. ||1||Pause||

23So many forms of religion have been described; the whole world is practicing them.

24What actions will bring emancipation, and total perfection? ||2||

25One may distinguish between good and evil actions, and listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas,

26but doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in the heart, so who can eradicate egotistical pride? ||3||

27Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep within, his heart is tarnished by all sorts of vices.

28So how can he become pure? His method of purification is like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust right after his bath! ||4||

29With the rising of the sun, the night is brought to its end; the whole world knows this.

30It is believed that with the touch of the Philosopher's Stone, copper is immediately transformed into gold. ||5||

31When one meets the Supreme Philosopher's Stone, the Guru, if such pre-ordained destiny is written on one's forehead,

32then the soul blends with the Supreme Soul, and the stubborn doors are opened wide. ||6||

33Through the way of devotion, the intellect is imbued with Truth; doubts, entanglements and vices are cut away.

34The mind is restrained, and one attains joy, contemplating the One Lord, who is both with and without qualities. ||7||

35I have tried many methods, but by turning it away, the noose of doubt is not turned away.

36Love and devotion have not welled up within me, and so Ravi Daas is sad and depressed. ||8||1||