The following words were addressed by Guru Gobind Singh to the Sikhs at Nander on the day of his departure from this planet:

Wherefore always abide in cheerfulness and never give way to mourning. God is ever the same. He is neither young nor old. He is not born, nor does He die. He deals neither in pain nor poverty. Know that the true Guru abides as He. His creatures that are steeped in bodily pride are very unhappy, and night and day subject to love and hate. Ever entangled and involved in the deadly sins, they perish by mutual enmity and at last find their abode in hell. Yet for the love of such creatures, the Guru assumes birth to deliver them. He has instructed them in the true Name and very fortunate are they who have received and treasured His instruction, By it, they are enabled to save themselves and others from the perils of worlds ocean. And, when after drought, rain falls and there is abundance, the Guru seeing human beings suffering and yearning for happiness, comes to bestow it on them and remove their sorrows by his teachings. And as the rain remains where it falls, so the Gurus instruction ever abides with His disciples.

‘The Sikhs who love the true Guru are in turn loved by Him.’

‘O Khalsa! Remember the true Name. The Guru has arrayed you in arms to procure you the sovereignty of the earth. Those who have died in battle have gone to an abode of bliss. I have attached you to the skirt of the Immortal God and entrusted you to Him. Read the Granth Sahib or listen to it, so shall your minds receive consolation and shall undoubtedly obtain an abode in the Guru’s heaven. They who remember the true Name render their lives profitable, and when they depart enter the mansions of eternal happiness.

‘I have entrusted you to the Immortal God. Ever remain under His protection and trust none besides. Wherever there are five Sikhs assembled who abide by the Guru’s teachings, know, that I am in the midst of them. He who serves them shall obtain the reward there of the fulfillment of all his heart’s desires.

‘Read the history of your Gurus from the time of Guru Nanak.’

‘Henceforth, the Guru shall be the Khalsa and Khalsa the Guru. I have infused my mental bodily spirit into the Granth Sahib and the Khalsa’.

He then put on a muslin waist-band, hung his on his bow on his shoulder and took his musket in his hand. He opened the Granth Sahib and placing a coconut before it, solemnly bowed to it as his successor. Then uttering Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahl Guru JI Ki Fateh he circumambulated the sacred volume and said, O Beloved Khalsa ! Let him who desires to behold me, behold the Granth Sahib, and obey the Granth Sahib. It is the visible body of the Guru. And let him, who desires to meet me, diligently search its hymns. And lastly, keep my kitchen ever open and receive offerings for its maintenance.