 Section 12 of the Sikh Religion Volume 4. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Pardip Alwalia Atwar. The Sikh Religion Volume 4 by Max Arthur McAuliffe. Life of Guru Hargobind Chapter 12. To the Massans was entrusted the construction of the city of Sri Hargobindpur. The surrounding walls were to have five gates, streets and marketplaces were to be laid out, and houses constructed for those who throng to offer homage to the Guru. Ghera's son having been killed, all his relations fled, and the Guru remained in peaceable possession. He projected the construction of a Sikh temple, but it occurred to him that his Mohammedan troops and labourers would also require a temple for their worship. He therefore constructed, with thoughtful impartiality, both a temple and a mosque. He purchased horses for his men to replace those that had been killed in action. His soldiers now considered where they should find a horse worthy of being ridden by the Guru himself. Inquiries were made even in distant countries, but no horse could be found to take the place of the Guru's famous steed, killed by an arrow from Karanchan's bowl. While the minds of the Sikhs were thus exercised, a rich contractor called Subhaga came from the west of the Punjab with an offering of five horses. The Guru selected the best among them for his own use. He gave the second to his son Gurdita, the third to Bhai Bhidhi Chand, the fourth he sent to Pendakan, and the fifth he kept in his stable to be subsequently disposed of as made deemed expedient or necessary. One day, as the Guru sat in the midst of his Sikhs, he said, according to the rules of our religion, the repetition of the Guru's hymns with due understanding and with a pure heart is God's real worship. The Sikhs represented that they all read the Guru's hymns daily. The Guru replied, He who can repeat the Jubshi and understand the divine knowledge contained therein shall have his desires fulfilled and obtain deliverance thereafter. A Sikh named Gopal undertook the task. The Guru, having caused his feet to be bathed, seated him on a lofty throne in front of him. Gopal then began to repeat the Jubshi. When he had nearly finished, the Guru began to wonder what presence he should make him. The self of the world would be insignificant for a man of perfect piety. The Guru seriously intended to offer him the Guru's ship and sent for five pisser and a coconut to perform the ceremony of his appointment. When Gopal came to the line, God dwelleth in Sajkhand. In the 37th Puri of the great Sikh morning religious service, the Guru moved his feet to stand up and do obeisance of the reader as Guru. At that moment Gopal's thoughts turned away from God and he said to himself, Will the Guru reward me with his spare horse or not? The Guru read his thoughts, disclosed them to him, and informed him that but for his mental wanderings he should receive the Guru's ship. The Guru gave him the fifth horse as his reward, but he'd lost the Guru's ship, which would be superior to the wealth of the world. So difficult is it to pray with attention. The party of six who had come with Subhaga received the Guru's permission to visit the shrines and places sacred to the Gurus. They proceeded to Goindwal and bathed in his Bavali. Thence they visited Kadur and Tantaran. From there they proceeded to the Guru's forest to see Bhai Buddha. They found Gurdas with him. Subhaga and his party told him who they were and related all the incidents connected with the Guru's occupation of land on the margin of the Bias and a subsequent battle with the Mohammedans. Subhaga and his party were departing for Amritsar, Bhai Buddha and Bhai Gurdas accompanied them. Subhaga and his friends, after visiting Amritsar and beholding God's temple, returned to their own country. Bhai Buddha, Bhai Gurdas and three other six named Jawa, Ajita and Jodha who joined them in Amritsar all proceeded to see the Guru as Sri Hargobindpur. When Bhai Buddha had inspected the Guru's city he said that as he was now old it was necessary for him to retire from active service of religion and return to his village Ramdas. He requested the Guru's permission to do so and at the same time prayed him to appoint a successor who had managed the villages granted to Bibi Bhani by the Emperor Akbar. His heart was sad departing from the Guru and he begged him to show himself to him whenever he invoked him. Bhai Gurdas remained with the Guru in Sri Hargobindpur. A man named Khaja had accompanied the Guru as groom from Kashmir and was very attentive and faithful in the discharge of his duties. The Guru, once seeing him while running by his horse's side perspiring profusely, invited him to ask a favour. Khaja only requested that he might ever have the privilege to behold him. The Guru gave him the true name and made him happy. His understanding then became enlightened. The veil of falsehood dropped from his eyes and he saw God first in the world and then in himself but informed no one of his spiritual happiness. One Jani Asaid or reputed descendant of the Prophet Muhammad chanced to turn his attention to religion and became a fakir. He resided among fakirs in the hope of meeting some religious men who would give him spiritual consolation. In his wanderings he met some very eloquent men but none of heroic devotion. Having heard of Khaja's spiritual attainments he went to him for information. O Khaja, how has thou escaped from the snares of the evil one? When I try to fix my mind on God I am beset with lust, wrath, avarice, worldly love and pride. How shall I free myself from these deadly sins? Khaja replied, The true Guru hath banished my evil thoughts and made me happy. Go thou and stand at his door. The Guru hath said, If thou efface thyself and serve the Guru thou shalt obtain some honour. As the gold of the mine when twelve times annealed becomeeth fine gold, so the mind becomeeth pure by chastening and suffering. When the Guru knoweth thy heart's devotion he would at once make thee happy. If a poor man standeth at a rich man's door and remain there, he may, even though he received buffets at first, obtain advantage at last. Jani, on hearing this, went and stood at the Guru's door. The Guru sent for him, asked why he stood there and what he wanted. Jani replied, Knowing the things of this world to be perishable I have abandoned them. Grant me a sight of the ruler of the world and save me from the fire of hell. The Guru rejoined. Tell me what else thou requireest. God is very remote. Jani refused to accept his answer, quoting Guru Arjun. He who is infatuated with worldly love deemeth God distant. But sayeth none that he is ever present. If thou, O Guru, continue Jani, show me God, then he will not be distant. The Guru, upon this, directed his six to build a wall between Jani and himself. The object of this, apparently, was to test the sincerity of Jani's devotion. Jani, however, held his ground and kept his attention fixed on the Guru. He yielded not to hunger, thirst, or sleep, but remained at the Guru's door. Whenever he saw a sick passing he implored him to take his message to the Guru. The Guru, worried by his importunities, at last said, If he be in a great hurry to see me, let him leap into the river. Jani, hearing this, actually went to leap into the river. The Guru censored sick to dissuade him. He then offered him wealth and supernatural powers. But these boons were refused. Jani would only accept divine knowledge. The Guru then put his hand on his forehead and made him happy. Another man, called Lanthand, was attracted to the Guru by the religious proficiency that was sustained by Kwaja and Jani and remained in his service after they had departed. A deputation from Kashmir waited on the Guru and requested him to send there as preacher Baikarya, who was described as a very liberal, humble and disinterested man. Baikarya, on his way, encamped at some distance from the city of Gujarat where he met Shah Daula. Baikarya was well received in Kashmir. He used to sing the Guru's hymns in the lives of the Gurus. After some time, Guru Har Gobind recalled him whatever offerings he had received while in Kashmir he spent in the Guru's name and at his departure gave a feast in the honour of his spiritual master. The Guru was pleased with the manner in which he had spent the offerings he had received in Kashmir. In due time, Baikarya returned to his native village. One day, as the Guru was sitting in open court, a proud Brahman called Nityanand, a native of Batala, entered leaning on his staff. His object was to discuss religious matters with the Guru. The Guru respectfully received him. Nityanand produced the Purans and began to read them. When he had finished, a Hindu invited him to read the Garhura Puran, a Sanskrit composition recited via dying Hindus. According to it, the soul reaches its abode in the next world, a year after the dissolution of the body. A Sikh called Sender said, By the Guru's favour, I can traverse that road in twelve hours. Bhai Lal has said, I can do it in six hours. Bhai Manj said, I can do it in three hours. Bhai Nihala has said, What need have we to go there at all? The Brahman then said to the Guru, Listen to what thy Sikhs are saying. The Guru replied, What my Sikhs say is correct. One year's journey stated in thy text is only for sinners, but for those who act without any worldly object, who possess divine knowledge and who are saints of God, there is no necessity to traverse the journey at all. The companions of a king have no need to go to a subordinate of his, nor are good men sent to prison. In the same way, good men suffer not on the way to their last abode and have no concern with thy damraj. Wherefore, as Guru Ramdath has said, they who have meditated on God, the best being, the root of joy, are ever in extreme happiness. They have ceased to regard damraj. All their concern for death is at an end. Guru Arjan hath also said, The road on which the evil passions plundered, the traveller is far from the saints. It was the perfect Guru who pointed out to me the right road. Thy name, O Lord, is the way of salvation. The road of death is distant. The port where that greedy tax-gatherer watcheth is far from the saint. While very many are tortured by death, the saints abide with the Supreme God. The recording angels write all men's accounts. They will take no notice of the saints. Sayeth Nannak, for him who hath found the perfect true Guru, unblown trumpets play. As a man on horseback can traverse a road in one hour which taketh a man on foot three hours, and he who hath a better conveyance can traverse it still more quickly. So the good suffer not like the bad, and their road is different. The coming and going of the soul is the result of spiritual ignorance. As Guru Arjan hath said, My trans-migration is at an end. My heated cauldron hath become cold. The Guru hath given me the cooling name. And again the saint who hath taken God's name as their support suffer not trans-migration. It is all God's place Sayeth Nannak. God is altogether incomprehensible. On hearing this the Brahman obtained peace and became satisfied that the Guru's words were the essence and conclusion of all wisdom. He confessed, In the first place I had pride of caste. Second, I had pride of learning which attacked me like fever. But I thanked the Guru whose words are cooling and who hath cooled with them and remained. The Brahman being thus humbled remained with the Guru, became a Sikh and began to preach the Sikh religion. Bhai Buddha remained in his village of Ramdas intent on his devotions. The true name ever came spontaneously to his tongue. One night he saw Guru Arjan in a vision and begged him to place him at his feet. Guru Arjan replied, Guru Nanak hath made death subservient to thee. Thou hast seen six spiritual kings and mayest when it pleases thee go to such Khan and there obtain imperishable dignity. After this Bhai Buddha awoke and telling his son Banna of the vision said his end had come for why Guru had called him. Bhai Buddha then sent for a bank of friend of his and said to him go to the Guru and remind him of a promise he once made to come to me whenever necessary. The Guru, taking Bhai Buddha and the other six, went to Bhai Buddha and took a last farewell of him. Bhai Buddha had strength enough left to wash the Guru's feet. He then drank some of the water there from and sprinkled the remainder over his house. It is said that as the ocean is pleased on seeing the full moon, so was Bhai Buddha pleased on beholding the Guru. The Guru said to him Bhai Buddha, Thou hast lived long. Thou hast ever been with the Gurus. Give me some instruction. Bhai Buddha replied Great King, Thou art a son. I am a firefly before thee. Thou hast come to save me and to hear my dying words. Guru Nanak had no wildly concerns or designs. He travelled over many lands and established in them the worship of the true name. Guru Angad by the force of his piety and devotion pleased him and obtained the Guruship. He gave it to Guru Amardas, he to Guru Ramdas and he to Guru Arjun who with open hands showered upon men happiness in his life and salvation in the next. Guru Arjun possessed a treasury of the name which was never exhausted. His fame had spread over the world. Thou, his son art spiritual and temporal Lord and protector of the Holy. Thou divine, Thou also perform us the human part. I have been a servant of the Guru's house for six generations. Sucker me in the next world and allow me not to suffer when I enter death's door, which I fondly hope is the portal of salvation. My son Banna here is thy servant. Take his arm and keep him at thy feet. The Guru replied Thou sawest Guru Nanak and hast ever abided by his instruction. Guru Arjun had said they with whom God is pleased loved the saint society. They who touch Guru Nanak have saved all their families. They to whom God have been merciful have obtained all happiness. They who touch Guru Nanak have not been born again. They whose fetters the merciful have cut off are attached to his worship. They who have touched Guru Nanak are ever emancipated in this world and the next. Thou, O Bhai Buddha shalt assuredly obtain immortal bliss. Of this thy humility is an assurance. Guru then put his hand on Bhai Buddha's head and blessed him. Next morning Bhai Buddha arose before day and repeated the Jupji. Then fixing the image of the true Guru in his heart and uttering why Guru, why Guru he departed for Sachkhand. The Guru and his Sikhs sang congratulations on the manner of Bhai Buddha's death after his long, holy and eventful life and lorded him for the assistance he had given in the propagation and consolidation of the Sikh faith. The Guru himself ignited his funeral vile. At the request of Bhai Banna the Guru, leaving his troops in Ram Dass proceeded with a few favourite Sikhs to Kadarpur on the right bank of the Ravi. They all did homage at the place where Guru Angad had received Guru'ship. The Guru, after three days to journey, recross the river and proceeded to Derababa Nanak. Bhai Banna inquired where the shrine of Guru Nanak was. The Guru replied, it was not Guru Nanak's desire to set up shrines whether great or small. On this account the river absorbed his remains. Dhanchan Guru Nanak's grandson with all his male relations came forth from Derababa Nanak to receive the Guru and escort him to their temple. The Guru made an offering to the temple of 1000 rupees and to Dhanchan's sons Amunachand he presented clothes and golden bracelets. Dharamchand conceded that the Guru's offerings to his sons began to hithink of himself as a person of great importance. Bhai Banna on observing this remonstrated with him and asked him to listen to the following stanza of Bhai Gurdas Shri Chand had been continent from childhood and built the Guru's shrine. Luckmidas his son and Dharamchand his grandson had a high opinion of themselves. Guru Angar seated his servants on the throne yet Dhatu kicked him off it. Mohan became a fanatic Amori caused a top story where Guru Arunadas had resided to be revered. Prithya became deceitful and urged false complaints and accusations against the Guru. Mahadev became proud the Guru's son made men perverse and led them astray. After the sandal perfumeth not the bamboo. Dharamchand became humble on hearing this. The Guru and his levi next morning expressed the desire to visit Shri Chand, son of Guru Nanak. He went to a solitary place where Shri Chand was engaged in austerities. The Guru saluted and offered him presents. Shri Chand complimented him on his bravery and war. Thou has killed Muslims and given peace to the poor. The Guru replied it was all the result of thy favour. The Guru then set out with Bhai Banna Turamdas his father Bhai Buddha's village. Bhai Banna entertained the Guru there for a month which they passed in spiritual converse. The Guru's followers now reminded him that the Diwali fair would take place in a few days in Amritsar and pressed him to return there after a long absence. He took Bhai Banna with him. On arriving there he sent his family from Goindwal and for Pendakan from Kadabur. Pendakan on arriving expressed regret that the Guru had not sent for him to take part in the battle of the Bias. A daughter who was born to Pendakan after the arrival of his family in Amritsar was deemed a very unwelcome visitor. The Guru on hearing Pendakan's complaint on the subject laughed and said that his god had sent her so would he cherish her. Bhai Jetta asked the Guru why he laughed. The Guru replied this child is strife incarnate. On her account there should be a great battle in which many Muslims shall perish. This is God's will. End of Chapter 12 Recording by Padi Baluwalia Ottawa Section 13 of the Sikh Religion Volume 4 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Padi Baluwalia Ottawa The Sikh Religion Volume 4 by Max Arthur McAuliffe The Life of Guru Hargubind Chapter 13 Nati, Good Ditta's wife in due time became pregnant where at his mother Damodarri greatly rejoiced. The Guru ordered Good Ditta to go with his wife, spend the Besarki Fergadapur and take his place as expounder of the faith. While there a son was born to him. When the Guru in Amritsar heard of the glad event he said that Good Ditta's son should prove a second Pratia. The Guru at the same time called Good Ditta and his family. On their arrival in Amritsar the Guru put a shirt on the child and named him Dirmal. The Guru went one day hunting and heard a woman singing the following rustic verses Thou with the black beard and white turban, my name is Sulakhani and I live in Chhubbar. I present a petition to the true Guru. May I who am now without fruit bear fruit. Chhubbar is a village about four miles from Amritsar on the road to Tartaran and is near the Sanghana or monument raised to those who fell in the Guru's battle with the imperial forces. The lady was the wife of a Jutt agriculturalist. She had come to implore the Guru to intercede for her that she might have a son. The Guru prayed for her as she was subsequently blessed with a family of seven children. Abadha celebrated this occurrence as follows. As the Guru was touring a woman came to him and said, a son had not been written on thy forehead. On hearing this she was disappointed. Then the Guru wrote on a forehead the figure one. At the time of writing his hand shook and one became seven. There were seven sons born the universe knoweth it. By the Guru's favour a stake is changed into a thorn. As the Guru on another occasion went hunting, some 30 miles later he came on Sri Chan's retreat. Sri Chan asked him to allow him to adopt one of his sons. The Guru with great reluctance gave his elder son Gudditta who appears to have accompanied him on the chase. Sri Chan in token of adoption and succession to him put on Gudditta's head a Persian hat and on his neck a string of lotus seeds. Baba Atal the Guru's son by Nanaki while playing with the children of the city used to instruct them by this conversation. Whatever he said even jestingly had a profound meaning. He was so beloved by all that no one refused his requests. The Guru used to take him in his lap, fondle him and say display not thy power or if thou do use it with discretion. Squander it not in vain. Baba Atal would reply great king, thy treasury never faileth. They lived in Amritsar a Sikh named Gurmukh who had an only son called Mohan eight years of age. He and Baba Atal used to play a baton ball together. Once they played until nightfall. The victory remained with Baba Atal and it was agreed between the two boys that Mohan should pay his forfeit in the morning. Both boys went home. At night Mohan arose for purposes of nature and walking in the dark was bitten by a cobra. On hearing his screams his father and mother arose and found him painting. A physician was called but the poison had done its work and the boys succumbed. Next morning Baba Atal proceeded to Mohan's house. He heard weeping on the way and on being told that Mohan was dead he said, no he is not dead he is alive. Come I will fetch him. Saying this he went to the apartment touching it with his bat he said Mohan arise thou oughtest not to sleep so late arise and pay me what I have won. Upon this it is said Mohan though dead for four hours and a half arose as if from sleep. A crowd of bystanders congratulated the Guru's son and said he had done a deed beyond the power of other mortal. The Guru while sitting in his court heard the rejoicings. People were saying as is the father so is the son, a treasury of miraculous power but the Guru was not at all pleased he said it had ever been Baba Atal's custom to dissipate his power. Now whenever a son may die the parents will bring him to our door. Whose son shall we reanimate and whose shall we allow to die? God showeth no favour to man who must enjoy or suffer the result of his acts and the religion of saints and holy men prescribed with obedience to God's will. While the Guru was thus speaking Baba Atal returned from Mohan's house. The Guru angrily addressed him thou must be working miracles while I teach men to obey God's will. Baba Atal replied great king may I shall live for ages I depart to such kind saying this he left the assembly it did not occur to anyone to seek him or beg the Guru to pardon him. It was thought that the boy had simply gone to his mother's apartment he had however actually gone to bathe in the Guru's tank of nectar after his ablutions he four times circumambulated the golden temple then went and sat on the margins of the kalsa bending his head forward he supported his chin with his bat and repeated the jupji with his eyes directed towards the temple. As he finished his morning devotions his light blended with the light of God on the tenth day of the dark half of Asr Sambat 1685 when he was in his ninth year the Guru seeing his wives children and six lamenting their beloved Baba Atal said this world is perishable everything is a sport of death it maketh the weepers laugh and the laughers weep this is the other vicissitudes of life be consoled Baba Atal hath obtained immortal dignity and his fame shall forever abide when the Guru sent for a load of sandalwood to cremate him in the forest the Sikh suggested that the body should be taken near some inhabited place and not cremated in that unfrequented spot the Guru replied the city shall increase in population and this shall be the centre of it in the Guru's city this place shall be Asean Purna in Banaras where all comers are gratuitously filled with corn Baba Atal at the time of cremation received the name of Qutwal or police officer of the city by which was meant that he would ever guard his inhabitants the Guru said in commemoration of him who, by God's will hath resigned his body in his ninth year a nine-storage shrine shall be erected and shall be seen from afar the virtues and miracles of Baba Atal have been abundantly celebrated by the Sikhs in song and story a great crowd of relations and friends came from Qoindwal, Qadur Daruli, Qatarpur and other places to offer their condolences to the Guru on the death of his son he repeated for them the following him of Guru Arjun as a husband having sown his field atop where the ripe or unripe so, O mortal, know that what is born shall die God sains alone is permanent night shall assuredly follow day and when the night is past mourn shall dawn the ill-fated sleep in the love of my mom but by the Guru's favour a few are wakeful saith Nannak, ever sing God's praises so shall thy face be bright and thy heart be pure Sindhas, husband of the Guru's sister-in-law said to the Guru ordinary people suffer greatly on the loss of a son what is the suffering of holy men in such cases? the Guru requested him to draw lines on the ground he then requested him to erase them he did so the Guru then said thou hast had no pleasure in making these lines and no pain in erasing them Sindhas replied none, whatever then said the Guru that is all the holy men suffereth on the loss of a son a Sikh called Premchand resident of Kedavur proposed his daughter as a wife for Surasmal the Guru's third son one day a conversation arose in the presence of the Guru as to the difficulties of Sikhism Bhai Gurdwara submitted the fact but said that at the same time men should have faith in their religion he then recited the 25th Puri of his 35th war if a mother become unchaste how can her son disgrace her if a cow swallow a gem one would not tear open her belly and kill her even if a husband visit terrible women his wife should preserve her chastity even if a ruler make current a leather coin his subjects are powerless and ought to accept it if Brahmans drink wine shall people burn them even if the Guru become a play actor his Sikhs should not lose their faith the Guru was not pleased with the last verse and thought he would do something to teach Gurdwara's humility at the time he wanted two charges and was informed that Kabbal alone produced horses worthy to bear him he decided to send Bhai Gurdwara's leather and gave him money to make the purchases the horses were to be bought subject to the Guru's approval Gurdwara found two charges priced at 50,000 rupees each and sent them to the Guru the Guru approved and wrote to him to pay their price and return forthwith to Amritsar when the owner went to Gurdwara's for settlement Gurdwara seated him outside his tent and went within to count the money on opening the saddle bags he found that they contained not money but brick bats when he did not come forth from his tent within a reasonable time the horse merchant went in to ascertain the cause of his delay he found that Gurdwara had escaped by an opening in the back of his tent and left the saddle bags which the merchant now appeared filled with money the Sikhs who had come with Gurdwara's paid the merchant returned with the balance to Amritsar and informed the Guru of Gurdwara's sudden disappearance Gurdwara was afraid to return to the Guru in refuge in Banaras which he reached by circuitous route after great hardship and suffering some Sikhs residing there received him with great respect on account of his former connection with the Guru and his literary gifts the Raja of the city heard from the Sikhs of the arrival of a very distinguished member of their body and went to do him honour the Raja used often to send for Gurdwara's and listened to his expositions on the hymns of the Gurus once several pundits and sannyasis said Banaras is a city of shoe and he dealeth salvation there to his worshippers wherefore abandoned the teachings of the Guru and abdore Shiv what hast thou to gain from the Guru Gurdwara's replied as a virtuous woman leaveeth not her husband to go to another man so will I not abandon the Guru to worship a Hindu god a calf which leaveeth his mother and goeth to a strange cow only receiveeth kicks if a swan abandoned Mansarwar it will not elsewhere receive pearls as food if a man leave an emperor and go to serve his subjects he will feel his altered position so the Gurus Sikhs cannot leave god or preserve their honour by worshipping the gods and goddesses of his creation the pundits represented the great god in Sanskrit literature the names of Shiv, Gobind, Ram etc why did Guru Nanak introduce the custom of uttering huaiguru and what is the meaning of the words Gurdwara's replied that huaiguru was the greatest of all names hua means congratulations and guru means great both words combined therefore mean congratulations to the great god they also mean that god is marvellous that is beyond human comprehension the pundits discussed within the relative merits of Sanskrit and the vulgar tongue they said that Sanskrit which was a written language was the language of the gods and Hindi which was a spoken language the language of men Gurdwara's replied the Guru used the spoken language in order to communicate his ideas to men Sanskrit was merely the language of priests the current spoken language had preceded it and will succeed it Sanskrit only holdeth an intermediate position it was the current language Krishna used in his exhortations to Arjuna whenever anyone readeth or preacheth a Sanskrit discourse he must explain it in the language of the people speech can only be uttered by being with the body God hath no body therefore he speaketh no language nor was Sanskrit composed by him it is now found only in books and is therefore a dead language it is a tree which beareth no fruit while the current language on the contrary is a tree with fruit bearing branches the Guru seeing that human life was limited compiled the Granth Sahib in easy language Sanskrit is so difficult that a whole life must be spent in acquiring it wherefore we use the spoken language which children and women can read and it is on this account that Guru hath made the spoken language the vehicle for divine instruction all persons of whatever caste may read it not like your Sanskrit a knowledge of which you deny to women and men of low caste it is said that on this the pundits and sannyasis of Benares admitted the force of his argument and acknowledged themselves vanquished after a sojourn of two months in Benares he felt an inclination to return to the Guru and brave his ire Gurdas wrote to the Guru as a tethered calf crying for its dam as a labourer who desired to go home but is forced to work for another pasted his time in anxiety as a wife detained by her parents and separated from her spout pineath for him so a sick desired happiness at the Guru's feet but is kept in misery in a foreign land in obedience to his order the Guru sent by Jetta and some Sikhs to fetch Gurdas but not in a manner in which he anticipated the Guru sent by Jetta a letter to the governor of Benares to say that Gurdas had deserted him without his permission and requested that he might be sent under arrest for punishment the governor was astonished on receiving the Guru's letter and said he knew no thief called Gurdas or Guru's servant the Guru's messengers might arrest himself and take him to serve the Guru on this Gurdas who had just finished reading the jupjee related to the governor and his staff the whole story of his journey to Kabul and his flight from there where at there was further curiosity and astonishment Gurdas' hands were then tied behind his back but at the same time he was dismissed with great respect by the governor and his people who fully believed in his innocence when the arresting party had proceeded about four miles on their homeward journey by Jetta unbound Gurdas so that he might travel more comfortably by Gurdas had not requested this favour when they arrived near Amritsar by Jetta again bound his prisoner as before for presentation to the Guru the Guru ironically told Gurdas that he was an excellency and made several other interesting observations on his conduct by Gurdas replied if a mother poisoned her son who is affectionate enough to save him if a sentry break into a house who is to guard it if a guy take a traveller into the wilderness to whom shall he complain if a fence devour the field there will be no one to look after it if the Guru become a play actor and causes seeks to doubt what can the poor seeks do the Guru pardoned him and suggested that he might complete the compositions in which he had been engaged prior to his arrest END OF CHAPTER XIII Recording by Padi Baluwalia Ottawa Chapter XIV The marriage of the Guru's son Suraj Mahal was duly celebrated with Kam Kaur daughter of Prem Chand One Lal Chand and his wife Bishan Kaur thought that they would like to betroth their daughter Gujjari Tuteg Bahadur the Guru's youngest son on the occasion when Lal Chand's agent arrived with marriage presence and heard the name of the intended bridegroom so Ani Rai Teg Bahadur's eldest brother was asked if he would be married He whose mind had been absorbed in spiritual thoughts inquired what marriage meant The agent explained the meaning and intention of the ceremony Ani Rai replied married life is the foundation of misery sensual pleasures are like the rice, spiritual pleasures like Ambrosia Ani Rai could not be induced to alter his opinions or his condition Teg Bahadur who had really been intended by Lal Chand for his son-in-law was then consulted as to whether he would marry and he replied that he would implicitly obey his father He was accordingly in public Darbar formally betrothed to Gujari Lal Chand's daughter Wali Khan the surviving son of the Surabhadar of Jalandhar was waiting for an opportunity to avenge his father that opportunity had now arrived The Emperor Shah Jahan was on his way from Dili to Lahore Wali Khan presented him a horse with a gold embroidered saddle The Emperor remarked to him that his father and elder brother had not come to wait on him Wali Khan replied that they had been killed by the priest of the Sikhs who had forcibly taken land in the village of Ruhala thrown its owner Bhagwan Das Garar into the river Bias and caused an insurrection in the country Wali Khan then entered into all the details of the destruction of the army sent against the Guru The Emperor was astonished and inquired if there was anyone who would lead another expedition against him Wazir Khan the Guru's friend was ready with his ingenious pleading may it please that Majesty whosoever the Orderist is ready to proceed against the Guru but it would not be improper to reflect before action had the Surabhadar assigned orders when he marched against the Guru No, he made war on his own responsibility Ask Wali Khan where the Guru is now Is he entrenched as a rebel in Ruhala Is he appropriating its land revenue No, he is now living peaceably in Amritsar He belonged if not to any Hindu or Mohammedan faction The Garar used to persecute his own people and oppress the poor The Guru out of his own resources built them houses even built a mosque for Mohammedan on the land which he found unoccupied on the margin of the bias The Garar was an ally of the Hindus and he suffered for it he came to fight and insult the Guru the Sikhs could not tolerate his language while quarreling with them he fell into the river and was taken away by the current His son Ratan in collusion with Khan Chandu's son went to the sabbadar to request him to aid them and as I hear from the best authority tempted him with a very large bribe it is on that account the sabbadar made war on the Guru without the majesty's authority The Guru is a wonderful man he has no appliances of war and no troops Thou art asked to believe that some petty shopkeepers killed 10,000 men of Thine imperial army If Thou order me I will go alone and destroy the fort the Guru is said to have constructed and also the mosque occupied by a priest and a few feeble beggars This sabbadar's son ought to be punished a long time after laps since his father made war and he hath only informed me of it today The emperor was astonished and inquired why the Guru had constructed a mosque Wazir Khan's answer was prompt Sire, Gurus, and peers are all men's property they feel neither love nor hate The Guru sit on Guru and knocks thrown His is the abode of miracles He looketh on Hindus and Mohammedans with an equal eye The emperor replied Wazir Khan I am pleased with Thou faithful representation of the case The emperor then confiscated Wally Khan's jaw gear and refused to grant him his father's post After this the Guru was left in peace for some time everyone hesitated to make further complaints against him Baba Gurdita the Guru's son founded the city of Kheratpur under the following circumstances on the peak of the black ridge of the Kalar mountain there once lived Bagan Shah a Mohammedan priest famed as a worker he kept two goats which it is said a tame tiger used daily to take the grays Guru Nanak and Mardana once visited the place Bhudan Shah asked the Guru who he was and for what purpose he had come Mardana took it upon himself to reply this is the divine Guru Nanak who had been born to instruct the world because all people are engaged in filling their bellies and gratifying their evil passions and forgetfulness of God I am Mardana by profession a minstrel I sing and proclaim God's praises Bhudan Shah was pleased to receive such visitors and pass some time in conversing with the Guru on religious subjects he then told him that he might depart as the tiger was returning home with the goats and might possibly alarm him the Guru replied that all noxious animals were in that tiger's power and he had no apprehension from them the tiger with his charred returned in the evening and it is said first bowed at Guru Nanak's feet and then at his own masters Bhudan Shah observing the tiger's first obeisance to Guru Nanak concluded that he must be a man possessing supernatural power and treated him accordingly he consulted him as to how pride could be erased from the heart and the senses become disgusted with pleasure Guru Nanak replied when a man obtaineth fresh milk he will not taste sour milk without spiritual pleasure man resorted to the gratification of his senses when he forsake of temporal pleasure he obtaineth divine pleasure when all false pleasures are forsaken the true pleasure is obtained and when permanent pleasure is obtained all pleasures please know more when man's attention is fixed on God there ensueth a state of profound exaltation man's thoughts cease to wander the senses stray not and celestial light dawneth on the mind Bhudan Shah asked Guru Nanak how celestial light was manifested the Guru explained the process to him upon which he fell into a trance he froze from it he milked his goats and laid a pail of milk before the Guru the Guru drank half of it himself and returned the other half to Bhudan Shah telling him to keep it in memory of him Bhudan Shah pressed him to remain with him otherwise how long was he to preserve the milk the Guru replied wait until my sick Gurt Dita cometh thy life shall last till then he will found a city and abide here and seeing this the Guru departed Guru Nanak was ever present to Bhudan Shah's thoughts he looked at the milk every morning and found it preserved its freshness after some time he learned that Guru Nanak had forsaken his body he then heard of the succession of the Gurus Angad, Amar Das Ram Das, Arjan and Har Gobind and seeing that the milk remained as before would often say Guru send thy sick to drink the milk and fulfill thy promise Har Gobind privately narrated all the circumstances to his eldest son Gurt Dita and sent him to Bhudan Shah whose devotion he commended Gurt Dita took his wife and son Durma with him Bhudan Shah met him on the bank of the Sat Laj and asked him who he was once he had come and if he knew Guru Har Gobind he replied, oh priest thou hast the milk that was entrusted to thee bring it to me the Guru is my father and have sent me to taste it Bhudan Shah gave him the milk he tasted it and it is said found it sweet as if it had been just said Bhudan Shah then addressed Gurt Dita, this hilly land is all thine fulfill my desires and abide with me Gurt Dita then laid the foundation of the city of Kirat poor at the base of the mountain it was named Kirat poor as God's praises Kirat were ever to be son there at the suggestion of Bhanna the Guru visited his own native village Wadali about four miles from Amritsar on the road to Lahore he there pointed out the house in which he had been born then he proceeded to the well with the foundation wheels constructed by Guru Arjan there a villager represented to him that a wild boar was devastating the country and killing even cultivators a hunting party was organized the forest was beaten and the boar rushed forth the Guru told Pindakon to attack the animal he rushed forward but failed to strike the boar then charged through horse and rider in his feet burrowing the ground with his shining tusks the animal again advanced to attack Pindakon as he lay helpless the Guru had once went through Pindakon's assistance and drawing his sword confronted the boar the boar made a charge which the Guru avoided by leaping aside then raising his sword and exerting all his strength he struck the brute with such force across the back that he cut him in twain after this the Guru returned to Amritsar next morning by Bhana prayed the Guru to relate to him the history of Amritsar and he graciously did so on another occasion by Bhana asked the Guru to show him the forest land which the Emperor Akbar had granted to Bibi Bani and within which by Buddha had dwelt the Guru taking Guru Das and by Bhana with him pointed out the locality there they found that a solid brick building had been erected on by Buddha's seat it is situated some five miles south of Amritsar near the Bari Doab canal an annual fair is held there on the 21st of the month of Asu in the month of Badaan during the rainy season the Guru at Bhana's suggestion proceeded with his six to turn to run they all bathed there at the time when there was no moon visible it was the anniversary according to lunar reckoning of the excavation of the tank by Guru Arjan at the request of his six the Guru then proceeded to Chola to see the temple which had been erected to commemorate Guru Arjan's visit during their visit by Guru Das at the Guru's request related the history of Chola having left Chola the Guru and his six went to visit the ruins of Benpur a village in which Guru Nanak had been inhospitable received by his tribesmen the Guru there related his history the Guru and his party then proceeded to the ruins of Kanpur which Guru Arjan had once visited Biddy Chan narrated his history to Bhai Bhana then they all proceeded to go and dwell on their arrival there they met Sundar Das the great grandson of Guru Amar Das and author of the Saad one morning after the Guru had performed his devotions he went to Guru Das whose end was now approaching Guru Das begged pardon for any sins he might have committed he then warmly embraced the Guru and Sundar Das as a preparation for his death he resided the Asa Ki war said there is no time now for delay as I am dying repeat Wah Guru Wah Guru erect no shrine for me but throw my remains from the pyre into the bias the Guru replied I think Bhai Guru Das for having assisted in laying out the road of the sick faith among the Guru's six thy name shall be immortal Bhai Guru Das having heard this meditated on God Guru a sheet over himself and closed his eyes in eternal sleep on Friday the fifth day of the light half of Badan Sam Bhat 1686 AD 1629 after performing Guru Das's last rites the Guru returned to Amar Das by way of Khaadur Bhai Banna took leave of the Guru in Amar Das and returned to his village of Ram Das Bibi Viro and her husband Sadhu also prepared for their departure the Guru blessed her and said that she should have five brave sons she and her husband then proceeded to their residence in Mala a married couple called Jaohan and Ram Ki of the village of Dab Herana situated some 10 miles from Amritsar were anxious that the Guru should pay them a visit he accordingly went shooting in their neighborhood and congratulated themselves on their good fortune that they should at last behold the Guru he remained with them for a night during his visit he revealed his hazard disposition oh saint Jaohan why do the Muslims cause me such annoyance they are pursuing me and will not desist wherever I go they attack me Jaohan replied oh great king thou canst work miracles in my opinion thou art doing deeds for yourself what power have the wretched Turks to contend with thee thou art merely performing human play and not thy supernatural role Maya hath come to thee and thou attachest her to thy feet they who long for her bear the enmity and are ready to die or be slain themselves in a contest with thee if thou rid thyself of her thou shalt have peace the Guru replied since Maya become attached to me I cannot detach myself from her I must now alter the constitution of Sikhism and defend my followers with force of arms Jaohan had no further advice to offer but on the contrary was willing to receive it the Guru exhorted him to honestly perform his worldly affairs in the station in which God had placed him and never to forget his devotions Gurdita and his wife Nati continued to reside in Kiratpur there was a son born to them on Sunday the 13th day of the life half of Mag Sambat 1687 AD 1630 Gurdita sent a messenger to inform the Guru and invite him to Kiratpur on the joyful occasion but the Guru had more pressing matters to attend to at the time he opened the grant that Saheb gave Gurdita's child the name Har Rai and returned a message to the effect that he would soon proceed to Kiratpur after a few months the Guru received a letter from Sain Das inviting him to attend the Baisakhi Bear at Daroli the Guru reflected on his own position the Emperor Beareth me malice in his heart the honor of my temple shall be preserved if I go to Malwa and make its force my fort if the Emperor send an army visit to pursue me it will die at first without my taking the trouble to destroy it thus reflecting the Guru consulted his wife Dhama Dari she replied my Lord I am a slave obedient to thy will if thou depart I will go with thee if thou leave me behind here will I remain before leaving Amritsar the Guru went to the temple and prayed to grant him victory the Sikhs inquired who would take care of the temple in their absence the Guru replied the Sikhs will take care of it we shall not return again he complained to the people of Amritsar that they would be likely to suffer greatly were he to remain with them he would now remove the theater of war to the forest but would ever abide with them in the spirit to his father-in-law Hari Chan the city would be ruined in his absence the Guru represented the city shall increase in population day by day he who meditated evil to it shall die in misery himself here at the Guru's feet shall be the spring of happiness in both worlds here shall the feast of the name be ever served to my followers and here shall my Sikhs be ever happy the foundation of the city shall have been firmly laid and never shall give way he then proceeded on his journey taking with him a mounted army of 1,000 brave and devoted men a band with banners flying preceded the party and then came the grant of Sahib born on the heads of two carriers Sikhs were employed to wave fans over the sacred volume to add to its dignity and hinder any thoughtless insect from alighting on it in the role by way of Tarim Taran was recieved with great affection by Sain Das the Guru said to him the cable of thy love has so bound me that I have no hope of ever escaping from it Sain Das replied in all ages this hath been God's way his name is Baghat Watsal the saints are due to him he knoweth the love of his slaves whether one be a pundit a yogi or a king one cannot please God without love if a man have love even though he be poor and ignorant yet is he dear to the Lord an event occurred at the time of the Guru's first visit to Daroli which must be here narrated in the village of Uwad Agar in the present district of Therazpur was a Sikh called Alkal a carpenter by trade he had been converted to Sikhism by Guru Ram Das and used often to visit Guru Arjan and Guru Har Gobind he had an accomplished daughter for whom he desired to procure a husband he found a suitable match for her in the person of Sardu, son of Sada a resident of the village of Taklani Akal's family priest had made all inquiries and performed all the necessary ceremonies but had failed to inquire if the intended bridegroom was a Sikh or not the priest replied to Akal's inquiries that the boy was a Hindu held in high honor by his brother and he deemed that sufficient without further investigation Akal was not satisfied but said that God would put everything right he heard some time afterwards that the bridegroom's parents were followers of Saki Sarwar yet he accepted the alliance fearing that he could not find Sardu suitable for his daughter at the same time he felt severe twinges of conscience on the subject accordingly at the time of his daughter's departure after the wedding he gave her this admonition my beloved daughter in all worldly matters obey and wait upon thy mother-in-law and thy husband but never bow thy head to any but the Guru the girl herself was much distressed at having to marry a youth of another religion she was obliged to accept her position the marriage procession started from Wadukgar to Clani in the early morning the intervening route not being safe the procession passed by Doroli where the bride heard the Sikh singing sacred hymns being informed that the Guru was encamped in the village and fearing that she might not again have an opportunity of seeing him she ordered her bears to let her alight and go to do him homage the Guru unseen her asked who she was a Sikh who knew her whole history answered for her the girl then addressed the Guru thou art a searcher of hearts and noticed that I am a daughter of a Sikh while my parents-in-law are followers of Sakhi Sarwar evil is my fate that I am in the power of others if thou convert my husband to the Sikh religion I shall be perfectly happy my daughter had no anxiety God will act for the best as thy father and mother were Sikhs so shall thy husband and children also be Sikhs and thy wishes be fulfilled on hearing this the girl was consoled and felt satisfied that her evil destiny was now altered meantime Sada missed his daughter-in-law on discovering that she had gone to visit the Guru he became very angry and sent the bridegroom for her saying what have we to do with the Guru we are worshipers of Sakhi Sarwar if we bow to the Guru our priest will be very angry with us go quickly and bring back thy wife Sada thus found his way to the Guru's presence the Guru was then holding court and hymns were being sung he shone among his six like the moon among the stars Sada became at once filled with devotion and said to our lives in vain being of the Hindu faith we reverence and worship a Mohammedan we make an offering of our cake to Sakhi Sarwar and then eat his leavings upon this the Guru said by Sada repeat the name and a mendai life cease to worship Sakhi Sarwar Sada after some further parley begged the Guru to make him a Sikh and pardon his past sins the Guru seeing him fit for the favor initiated him with the usual ceremonies and said that he should have a son who also would be true to the Sikh faith when the marriage procession reached home the bridegroom's relations took him to the family shrine of Sakhi Sarwar and asked him to worship he had once remembered the words of Guru Nanak I will not fall into idolatry I will worship none but God I will not go to graves or places of cremation saying this he kicked down the miniature likeness of a grave which had been erected for Sakhi Sarwar's worship and said I will repeat the true name of our Guru and a mendai life Sada thought his son had lost his reason and began to remond straight with him my son it is through Sakhi Sarwar's favor we have obtained wealth and now has found a bride and yet thus furnished his household shrine Sada far from being satisfied with what he had done continued his work of destruction he seized a mattock and removed the last vestige of Sakhi Sarwar's worship the father renewed the masonry work but as fast as he did so the son demolished it faith in Sakhi Sarwar began to be shaken people said that he had become powerless to defend himself much less to defend others by the Guru's favor Sada's wealth and happiness continued to increase a child a treasury of beauty was born to him in Sambap 1672 and his devotion acquired new fervor the Guru named the child Rup Chand on account of his beauty and said he should become a great saint when the boy had attained the age of 15 years he and his father Sada went one day during the hot weather to the forest to cut wood they took with them a leather bottle filled with water to quench their thirst they hung the bottle on a tree and afterwards on going to drink from it found the water had become cool they remembered the Guru and thought to themselves that this would be pleasant water for him to drink although the heat was terrific as if it rained sparks of fire they refrained from drinking and began to meditate on the Guru oh true Guru first drink this pure cool water and then we will satisfy our thirst now for those to the sires of thy servants ever present thou hearst their supplications drink this water we may die but we will never drink till thou hast tasted it the village at Taklani where Sada and Rup Chand lived was some 30 miles distant yet it is said the Guru heard their prayer as he lay in an apartment perfumed with sandal and fragrant grass and cool by water sprinkled over a sandy floor the Guru at once stood up then leaving all his comforts prepared to start in the appalling heat for Taklani to see his six Sandoo and Rup Chand he found them fainting from the heat and called on them to arise they arose as happy as the Chhatrik when he hears thunder presaging rain or as the lotus when it beholds the sun the Guru told them that he was thirsty and asked for cold water on drinking from the leather bottle excellent like nectar and that he had never before drunk such delicious beverage the Guru told them that the Sikh religion should ever remain in their family but as the people of Taklani were annoyed at their having embraced it and as the village would be destroyed on account of the several enormities of its inhabitants Sadoo and Rup Chand ought to leave the place and found a village for themselves the Guru was particularly pleased to see Rup Chand and made him a present of clothes and arms Rup Chand placed them reverently on his head and said he would honor them through respect he refused to wear the sword which had been worn by the Guru upon this the Guru seated him on the couch and said he should have a congregation of his own in which he should use his tongue instead of a sword spread Guru and Anak's doctrines and make the Sikhs firm in their faith keep that kitchen said the Guru ever open for the traveler and the stranger what thou sayest shall be fulfilled wealth and future natural power shall hang upon thy tongue people will reverence thee and great shall be thy glory the Guru on the 13th day of the light half of the month of Bhaisak Samba 1688 laid the foundation of a village on an open plain six miles distance from Taklani and called it Bhai Rupa in honor of his Sikh protege Bhai Rupa is now a considerable town in the Nabha state the Guru also ordered a house to be constructed for himself and promised on its completion to reside in it for some time the Guru after a very brief visit to Bhai Rup Chand and his father returned to Daroli where he was joined by Gurdita and his wife and sons Durmal and Har Rai Damadari's last hour had now arrived she asked the Guru's pardon for his sins or for any idle words she might have spoken during her married life she said she had no fear of death and only felt one sorrow that of leaving her husband the Guru replied had no anxiety bodies meet subject to destiny but it is the meeting of souls that is important a further consulter gave her parting spiritual instruction and said her salvation was assured she then sent for all the members of her family and took leave of each in turn she departed this life on Wednesday the 12th day of the light half of Sawan Sambat 1688 AD 1631 the Guru ordered that instead of mourning for her death his Sikhs should read the Jopchi and Sahila for her eternal repose Rama was so sad at the loss of her sister that she too pined away and died her husband Sain Das perished from the shock of his wife's untimely death Damodari's parents that is the Guru's parents in law did not long survive Sain Das and Rama when the funeral ceremonies of his relations were completed the Guru again began to consider his position he trusted that Wazir Khan would prevent the dispatch of two powerful an army against him from his family and the Grand Sahib to Kartarpur while he himself remained into rolling on seeing Sain Das's unintended and desolate mansion once the abode of life and joy the Guru repeated the following him of Guru Arjan accursed the love of mother and father accursed the love of brothers and relations accursed the love of wife and the pleasure of sons accursed the love of home but the guild of saints is true and not happiness abided with them perishable is the body its strength baileth in old age the love of wealth increases though only a pilgrim in the world man indulges in endless hopes while terrible Dharm Raj countered his breathing man falls into the pit of mammon God's mercy is the real support of his body obtained with so much difficulty they whose desires are evil attach themselves to a mirage an enchanted city or the shadow of a tree thus perishable is the love of family no knock remember God's name one day the Guru addressed his six brethren dear to me than life you are one thousand brave men shall we remain here or proceed to spread our religion a sick light oh my lord show thyself where the devout and grateful think of thee and await thee the Guru beat the drum of departure where at the people of Doroli were very much grieved and feared that they should have no one to protect them in his absence the Guru recommended them to occupy their time in remembering God in showing hospitality to travelers and visitors and in repeating the true name thus should all their desires and their troubles and sorrows depart saying this the Guru and his party proceeded to his friends Sardu and Rakhchon's village they had constructed a splendid house for his reception the Guru blessed them and exhorted them as earnest and devout exponents of his religion to practice charity and humility in which case their homes should last forever and they should be reverenced as holy men the Guru abode with them during the months of Badan and Asu Rupa was a village called Kangar in the present state of Navha owned by Raijad he was third in descent from Mahar Mitha who had been a contemporary of the Emperor Akbar Mahar Mitha had a young daughter of sixteen years of age whose beauty attracted the Emperor's notice he vowed that if he did not obtain her with her parents' consent he would take her by force Mahar Mitha finding himself powerless to oppose a powerful monarch sent him a message that if he came bailed as an ordinary bridegroom he might return with a coveted bride Akbar consented went to Mahar Mitha and duly married his daughter Mahar Mitha had a son called Jane Beg who begot Amar Shah who begot Raijad he had for a wife a sick lady at her request he went with very costly presents and a retinue of five hundred men to pay his respects to the Guru his wife subsequently visited the Guru alone and prayed him to make her husband a sick the Guru replied, thy progeny shall increase and all become six, thy great grandson shall receive and serve the tenth Guru who will grant him salvation End of Chapter 14 Section 15 of Sick Religion Volume 4 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Sick Religion Volume 4 by Max Arthur McCalleth Life of Guru Har Gobind Chapter 15 Me thinks it befits persons of literary pursuits to relax their minds after protracted serious reading and thus render them fresher for subsequent application Lucian's voracious history it is said that Bidi Chand before he entered the service of the fifth Guru had been a famous highwayman and robber and several of his exploits in that capacity are recording once he stole some very valuable buffaloes from Salta and Poor the owners awoke and hotly pursued him as far as the village of Chola where he was received by a man called Adali Adali put the stolen buffaloes into a slimy pool so that when they emerged from it they were not recognized by the owners Bidi Chand glad of his escape begged Adali to make him a disciple Adali said he had no spiritual power himself and recommended him to go to Guru Arjan who would grant him peace of mind he also advised him to restore the stolen buffaloes to their owners and implore God's pardon accordingly Adali took Bidi Chand to the Guru and informed him that he desired to become a Sikh Guru Arjan made him a Sikh and instructed him to renounce thieving, serve the saints and meditate on God Bidi Chand represented, I have contracted this habit of thieving the world is in the power of habit which it is difficult to overcome Guru Arjan replied do good to others for swear falsehood read and ponder on the Guru's hymns and associate with saints so shall all by evil inclinations depart upon this Bidi Chand abandoned his village and attached himself to Guru Arjan Adali his guide and friend that went home pleased at having placed Bidi Chand in the way of redemption one day Bidi Chand said to Guru Arjan I began from my childhood to commit theft how shall I be saved hereafter Guru Arjan told him to repeat the following hymn the formless one destroyer of sorrow bringeth back what hath gone and freeeth the captive I know not good works I know not religion I am greedy and avaricious I am called a worshiper of God preserve thine own honor O God, thou art the honor of the unhonored thou makeest something out of those who are nothing I am a sacrifice unto thy power as when a boy following his natural inclinations committed hundreds of thousands of faults his father advised of him chided him in several ways but at last embraced of him so pardon my past offenses O God and put me in thy way for the future God the search of hearts knoweth everything then to whom shall man go to redress grievances God is not pleased with the utterance of words if it please him other shelters all have I tried thy shelter alone remain with me be merciful and compassionate my Lord God and hear thou my supplication cause me to meet the perfect true guru and put an end to my mental anxieties God hath put his name as medicine into my mouth and the slave Nanak abided in happiness guru Arjan continued thy past sins shall be pardoned if thou seek God's protection and cease to commit sin for the future serve saints and worshippers who repeat the name sweep their floors draw them water scrub their vessels fan them and shampoo them and thou shalt gain all possible advantages theft is a baneful habit it is the cause of entanglements in this world thy service to the saints will only be profitable if thou renounce all desire to appropriate others' property two masons Bhakt Mal and Tara Chand had been deputed to Kabul to collect funds for the guru they returned with a company of six who also brought offerings for their spiritual master they were besides bringing two horses of surprising beauty and fleetness for the guru but the animals were forcibly seized by the emperor's officials and duly presented to him Guru Har Gobind who was then in Bhairupa received the six with great ceremony having laid their offerings before him they proceeded to inform him of the seizure of the excellent that they had intended for him he bade them be of good cheer and not take the matter too much to heart some of the six invited the masons to give an account of their travels what countries they had traversed whether they saw Amrit saw on the way and by what route they had returned they replied that in their anxiety to see the guru they had first gone to Lahore and had remained there some days to see the Mohammedan festival of the Bakar Id during which an ox is slain in commemoration of the intended sacrifice of Ishmael by Abraham they intended on their return journey to visit Amrit saw and bade in its sacred tank the six hearing them mention Lahore asked them to give their impressions of it and tell about the emperor Shah Jahan who was there at the time they said that Shah Jahan publicly attended the mosque on the occasion and the people of many villages came and assisted in the service the emperor appeared in great state on a beautiful tall elephant adorned with gold and silver trappings and bearing a glittering canopy who's ball fringe was set with precious stones the masons said that they could not count the imperial army which on that occasion descended on the parade ground like clouds then came led with embroidered silken ropes the horses taken forcibly from us their bearing reins were fastened to saddles studded with gems which glittered in a manner to captivate the beholder the horses were in superb condition and pranced as they were led along the emperor loved them so much that he would not allow them to go out of his sight they appeared beautiful as if made by Kupa's own hands if the god of the firmament saw them even he would be enamored of their beauty we heard people say that the horses would cross a river without wetting their riders one of them was called Dil Bag and the other Ghul Bag they were so swift that it was difficult whether they put their legs on the ground or flew in the air during our whole lives we have never seen such horses and as they had been brought for the Ghul he ought certainly to possess them so that he might in case of necessity have excellent chargers to bear him in a conflict with the enemy what death the emperor want such horses for he cannot ride or fight like the Ghul the Ghul is a man of great stature and when mounted on such horses would appear doubly beautiful as he presented himself to his six and would gladden their hearts as they beheld him the party from Kabul returned home except Bakht Maul and Tara Chand who remained with the Guru by Rupa their conversation was ever of Dil Bag and Ghul Bag Biddy Chand notwithstanding his resolutions of amendment began to consider how he could restore the belauded steeds a horse destined for the Guru had once been taken away by the emperor's father and was duly recovered this afforded Biddy Chand what he deemed a suitable pretext for his intended action the emperor was now at war with the Guru had inflicted great losses on the six and caused the death of many of his bravest warriors to allow him to retain possession of the horses brought all the way from Kabul for the Guru it was impossible to secure them by purchase and being very dear to the emperor they were well guarded even were war to be declared against him possession of the horses could not be obtained as they were kept in an impregnable fortress some of the soldiers lately enlisted by the Guru said we find on full consideration that no one but Biddy Chand can accomplish the enterprise of recovering the horses he is so clever that he can do what all the world think impossible as there are no horses like Dilbagh and Gulbagh so there is no one like Biddy Chand to secure possession of them if Biddy Chand by his great cleverness succeed in bringing the horses it will be a miracle famous throughout the world Ram Chhandar on losing his queen Sita selected the very wise and clever Hanuman and dispatched him to Salam in search of his queen Hanuman examined the whole island discovered Sita killed the great demons of Rawam's army set fire to his city and crossed the ocean on his victorious homeward march there is now a similar exploit to be performed Hanuman's fame still liveth in the world Biddy Chand will accomplish it and his fame shall be resplendent Biddy Chand on hearing himself thus praised and encouraged said what are Gulbagh and Dilbagh I would even bring the Guru the horses of the son's chariot Biddy Chand then with class pans uttered a prayer O Guru Arjan I am now bent on acting in opposition to thine injunctions pardon me for venturing to restore to the six horses wantonly taken from them by unrighteous Muslims assist me in the perilous path I am about to tread he received the congratulations of his companions and as soon as preparations for his journey were completed departed for Lahore on reaching the city gate he again considered how he was to perform the task I cannot break the fort wall which is very strong the horses are well guarded and no stranger may approach them there are several sentries at the gates if I can only enter the stable keeper's service then I may have access to the horses but he will not take me without an introduction wherefore I must try some means of obtaining access to him in some other way the manner in which without the Guru's knowledge Bidhi Chand recovered the horses brought for him from Kabul cannot afford edification to the strictly pious we here however give a narrative current among the six partly to relieve the strain on the reader who has so far followed this serious narrative and partly to show with what ingenuity, address Indians of former ages could succeed in transferring property Bidhi Chand went to the house of a carpenter named Jawan who had previously known him Jawan welcomed him as bringing a blessing on his house Bidhi Chand in reply to Jawan's inquiries frankly told him the nature of his errand and asked his advice and all information regarding and their keepers Jawan was astonished and said thou has come on a difficult errand the emperor resided in the Saman Burj a Taganal tower and the horses are kept near him they are guarded by hundreds of men who serve their master with great fidelity there are many sentries ever under arms at the gates the Daroga or stable keepers name is Sondakan he had many subordinates to say nothing of taking away the horses the stable is inaccessible how can't thou ever reach it but if fortune favor thee thou shalt accomplish a feat which is otherwise impossible God can render what is difficult easy can make the weak strong and the strong weak who but thee can reach the stables and obtain possession of the horses Bidhi Chand requested his host to make him a kurpa or iron instrument for grubbing up grass and pray that success might attend his efforts Bidhi Chand then went to rest and slept soundly while his friend Jawan sat up all night making the kurpa next morning Bidhi Chand took it with a net to hold grass and proceeded to the bank of the river Ravi there he began to cut beautiful soft grass to take to the coveted horses he already deemed them the guru so he labored with a will he collected the grass with great care and put it in his net he then took it to the marketplace horse owners unseen its emerald brightness hastened to negotiate for it Bidhi Chand said that he would not sell it for less than a rupee but no one would give him so much for a bundle of grass he then moved on till he arrived at the gate of the fort it was in the evening and the time for the stable keeper to go forth and breathe the fresh air on the margin of the Ravi Bidhi Chand on learning that Sandakan the well-dressed man he saw before him was the stable keeper congratulated himself for having been so fortunate as to meet on the very day after his arrival the man whose acquaintance he had so desired to make the stable keeper's notice he said that he had never seen such grass in all his life it was fit for Dilbag and Gulbag and he ordered his men to adjust the price and buy it for the horses on observing Bidhi Chand he said that he appeared to be an honest man Bidhi was ready with his reply thou art an appreciator of merit thou art very wise I greatly desire that Dilbag and Gulbag should thrive and to this end I have made great efforts now that this beautiful grass hath reached its proper place my wishes are fulfilled as long as the horses of the true king a title of the guru not understood by the stable keeper eat my grass I will gladly sell it for whatever thou art pleased to give his sweet words and civility induced Sanda Khan to take him with the grass on his head to where the horses were tethered with silken ropes when Bidhi Chand laid down his bundle in front of them they ate ravenously as if they had been fasting for a whole day before leaving the court he carefully surveyed the premises and came to the conclusion that it would be very difficult to remove the horses changing the rupee he had received distributed the money as alms saying that he would never eat anything purchased with Mohammedan's money lest after taking away the price he should be deemed ungrateful after thus feeding the horses for six or seven days they used to they welcomed to him whenever he approached he would then pat them on their backs to make them pleased with him the stable keeper one day inquired his name whether he would consent to be a permanent servant Bidhi Chand replied the wise call me Kasera I bring the grass daily wherefore make me thy servant and thou shalt see me serve thee daily more and more but I will not work for hire as these are the true kings horses I will serve them for love if ever I obtain my wishes my service to the horses shall not go unrewarded Bidhi Chand was accordingly appointed grass cutter to the emperor's favorite steeds at a wage of one rupee per day the stable keeper on appointing him warned him to do good work and nothing should be deducted from his stipulated pay a practice so usual in former times Bidhi Chand replied what shall I say thou shalt see the service I will perform good men say little and what they do say they fulfill in the end when Bidhi Chand was not cutting or fetching grass he was always occupied in washing and brushing the horses and attending to their comfort Bidhi Chand requested the stable keeper to give orders to the porters at all the fort gates to allow him free ingress and egress at all times the stable keeper took him around and gave all the necessary orders Bidhi Chand continued his incessant labor and did the work of the permanent stable servants where at they were much pleased after some days Sanda Khan ordered that the bridling and the unbridling of the horses should be entrusted to Kasera they had become attached to him on account of his great attention to them day and night Sanda Khan then told Bidhi Chand his principal duty would be to groom the horses he needed only go occasionally for grass was not above any service whether it were to go for grass or remain and groom the horses he spoke civilly to everyone and won all hearts without paying any money whenever for the future Bidhi Chand went for grass he brought a large stone concealed in it at midnight he used to fling the stone into the river which then flowed under the fort when the stone felt into the water it made a great noise and awakened everybody in the neighborhood Bidhi Chand's object was that people might suppose it was a fish or the falling of a wall or of a stone off the parapet and that the occupants of the fort would gradually become habituated to the noise and take no notice of it when he leaped one of the horses over the battlement into the river if he once succeeded in getting the horse outside the fort walls he knew he should succeed in taking him to buy Rupa the guru's residence at the time the emperor once went to see the horses and was very pleased to observe their excellent condition he admired Bidhi Chand's said he appeared a smart servant and ordered the stablekeeper to treat him well that he might remain in his service he then made him a suitable money present Bidhi Chand who lived on Jawan's earnings entrusted the money to the stablekeeper told him to retain it and also his monthly salary until such time as he required funds for his expenses the stablekeeper was deceived by this apparent generosity he thought that Bidhi Chand who was really greedy to obtain the horses had no greed in his heart and he continued to repose the utmost confidence in him he deemed him the best of all his servants and made the others subordinate to him Bidhi Chand thus became their superior officer he used to treat them affectionately so that they might be on his side in the hour of need Bidhi Chand congratulated himself on his progress thus far the next object of his ambition was to obtain a saddle for one of the horses to assist him in his escape he accordingly set to work to secure the friendship of the man who kept the keys of the emperor's storehouse and his costly saddles were kept in this also he succeeded by flattering and soft speeches all the time he managed to conceal his extraordinary cleverness and to pass for an ignorant villager of mean understanding as his fellow servants listened to his simple talk they began to love him and he gratified them in every way in his power one day he said in their presence one of the very fine horses does his majesty keep them to look at so that his heart may rejoice or do they always remain standing like this in the stable have they any saddles and if so what are their saddles like will you show them to me somebody said to him in reply thou simpleton their saddles are very costly set with pearls and well cut diamonds and inlaid with glittering gems which shine like the stars in heaven the saddles are each worth a lock and a quarter of rupees the like of thee can never have seen such saddles who would show them to ignorant villagers and who could possess them but emperors with unbounded wealth bidi chand humbly represented prey consider me as one of yourselves I am a servant of the horses of the true king I live among you day and night if my desire to see the saddles are gratified then everything I do is in vain I have never seen a saddle of such value where did you have saddles made worth a lock and a quarter of rupees each I am astonished at hearing such a thing I therefore a great desire to see them and I beg you to gratify me another servant replied the saddles are kept under lock and key and continually guarded he in whose custody the keys are will show them to thee speak to him he is here now the custodian of the keys said he would be very pleased to show the saddles if he received the stable keeper's permission but otherwise he would be afraid to do so the stable keeper happened to arrive at the time and asked the servants what plot they were concocting they replied thou hast employed a very simple minded fellow who says things to you set us all a laughing he had the courage to know how a lock and a quarter of rupees could be spent on a saddle bidi chan himself then told the deroga he could not rest until he had seen saddles of such astonishing value the deroga told him that on the great id festival both horses would be saddled and let out and then he would see such a sight as he had never seen before bidi chan to whom time was willing to be avoided then philosophically addressed the deroga what dependence is there on life it may cease within an hour who knoweth whether even the breath we now expire shall return again the moment I heard everyone praise the saddles I conceived a desire to behold their wonderful workmanship a thing worth a lock and a quarter of rupees is a wonder to me and I shall not be happy till I see it I'm always with here and am I not to have my natural desires gratified in such a matter wherefore my master I pray the grant and order that their custodian show me the saddles the deroga overcome by these entreaties ordered that bidi chan should see the saddles bidi chan on seeing them pretended that he thought the diamonds were white stones and the pearls grains of millet such as he'd often chewed in his native village and asked what the stones were of which he had heard so much what he saw appeared to him of no value at this everyone laughed and asked what he could know about precious stones he never heard of such things and had never seen them before bidi chan putting his hand on the diamonds remarked that they were very hard and would prick the emperor's body when he touched them they could not possibly be comfortable things to sit on the deroga to him that what he saw were not things one could take into his hand and eat they were for display on great occasions and only found in the possession of emperors and great monarchs bidi chan replied if a man like me got a thousand rupees it would last him for life he could get a wife for himself and another for his son when he had one out of the money it is only kings who squander money in vain this conversation at the end the deroga ordered bidi chan to lift up the saddles and take them back into the storeroom bidi chan kept his eyes well open and took note of its interior he also observed where the custodian laid the key after locking the door next day the deroga seeing him most attentive to the horses ordered that he alone was to give them masses and other food and take care of them day and night meanwhile bidi chan carefully studied how he could take one or both away he was ever searching for a low and suitable part of the fort's ramparts over which he might leap them into the river he said to himself I must hit on some plan by which the servants may go to sleep and not hear or see me saddling the horses if the grooms remain awake they will most probably catch me in the act all the grooms employed on the horses were fond of music dancing women one day as they were all laughing and talking together one of them turned to bidi chan and said look here brother cassara thou art a new servant and receivest the highest pay of us all thou hast also got a large present from the emperor and not yet given thy fellow servants a dinner this is not well of thee this proposal was the very thing that bidi chan had desired he replied I am at the service of you all why should I not please you I did not think of it you have reminded me you have said well and I have grasped your meaning I am thinking however that it would not be proper for you who are of a different religion to receive food from my hands I will do another thing as you ask me you know well that I am no miser I will spend all I have on you I will tell you what I wish to do myself I will give you wine a hog's head among you and you may enjoy yourselves and get drunk to your heart's content with my own hands I will fill your cups and you shall be delighted when I have satisfied you be happy in the enjoyment of God's gifts there is no reliance on life the pleasure of the day is the only gain the grooms on hearing this were all delighted and shouted bravo bravo cassara the prospect of getting drunk filled them with visions of bliss that they would take no dinner that day that they might the more eagerly partake of biddy chan's hospitality they had dinner every day at home but they had never yet joined in such a symposium as cassara had proposed biddy chan at once saw his opportunity and thus communed with himself this is the eighth day of the dark half of the month a convenient time for my purpose it will be very dark in the beginning of the night I will then jump the horses over the rampart and after that when it is light make my way to bairupa I will now so entertain my friends that they will curse me in the morning biddy chan then addressed his brother grooms let no one take dinner today I jur all of you to assemble here this evening I will go and fetch the wine when you have drunk it you may eat as much as you please after that you make a home to your wives if you do not wish to go home have no anxiety whatever today enjoy for the moment the pleasures of love and wine I will arrange everything for you biddy chan went to his friend juan took 20 rupees from him to buy strong wine and going to a publican asked for his most potent liquor the publican told him he would charge in 50% above ordinary market price for a special distillation which he kept in his private house and which he would not sell to ordinary customers the publican described its virtues if a man drink even a little of it he will so lose his senses that he cannot find even his own door what higher praise can I bestow on it biddy chan told him that he would give him not 50% but 100% above market price if he supplied him with wine possessing four times the ordinary string biddy chan met his guests he told them all the trouble he had taken to procure them excellent wine again pressed them to enjoy themselves and assured them with a covert meaning that whenever he left them they should all remember him having addressed them loving words of that description he handed round the wine but at first in small quantities he then engaged them in pleasant conversation and they were delighted when he agreed with everything they said as intoxication gradually came on some were laughing and others thought they were in the seventh heaven hither too he had taken care not to give them too much lest they should suspect his designs but when at watch of night had elapsed he began to give them wine without measure and they drank with open mouths the sentries also joined in the carousels and said while biddy chan was filling their cups listen brother cassara the sentry duty is thine tonight now has been so liberal of that wine that we cannot possibly remain awake so keep guard thyself biddy chan replied have no fear I shall remain awake the whole night such is the dread of the emperor that no one may approach the whole country is under one powerful monarch who can come to spy out the land much less to steal saying this biddy chan let the wine flow he filled to the brim a special goblet for the custodian of the keys who took it and laughingly said O cassara seeing thy friendship I will drink this cup from thy hands the protection of my storehouse I now entrust to thee thou hast not taken wine so thou wilt remain awake and be fully on the alert biddy chan assured him that he would remain awake and that no stranger however daring should approach the premises the key holder might therefore sleep soundly and comfortably all the company were reassured on hearing biddy chan's cheerful words and began to drink on big and little old and young they soon became unconscious and fell down uttering in incoherent nonsense when they could no longer speak they took off their clothes and rolled naked on the floor biddy chan took each man's arm and inquired how he was and on receiving no answer knew that his friends were disposed of for the night and he himself was free for action it is true he heard the distant sentries calling not interfere with his operations the author of the Gurebilis or life of Guru Har Gobind here makes the following reflection on the use of wine wine is evil on this account that he who drinketh it loses his senses a king who drinketh becomeeth like a beast and easily falleth a prey to his enemy good men hear me on this subject monarchs who have conquered powerful enemies have been blinded by the intoxication of wine their kingdoms have passed out of their possession and they have become poor in an instant men holy clever and great have degraded themselves to the level of brutes by the use of wine it would hold men captive even without feathers biddy chaned finding all his guests lying on the floor and back an alien slumber tied his waistband and adjusted his turban for action he then went to the niche in the wall where he knew the key of the harness was kept and immediately found it having taken out a saddle he went to deal bog and undid his silken head stall caressing the animal he put on his bridle and drew the reins over his neck he then laid on the saddle cloth and the saddle and fasten tight the soft silken girth he attached on either side the golden stirrups and further secured the saddle by carefully passing the copper under dill bogs tail this done he untied horses heel ropes he then mounted taking in his hand a whip with a golden handle which he found attached to the saddle he canted the animal backwards and forwards until he found that he had got into his full stride then applying the whip he faced him at the fort wall over which he was to leap the horse which had never previously been struck even by the stalk of a flower on receiving a cut with the whip roused himself at the unusual summons gathered his strength set and on bitty chan lifting the reins cleared without hesitation the high battlement with a bound and plunged with his rider into the river bitty chan well skilled in horsemanship steadied the animal in the water and guided him safely to shore the residents of the fort who were awake had become accustomed to the report of bodies falling into the water and thought the splash they had heard was due to the falling of one of the battlements as the result of the decision of the river bitty chan drawing in his reins on the bank padded the horse and encouraged him after the fright he had sustained while bitty chan had been originally meditating this enterprise he used to note every wall and rivulet entry in the neighborhood and now carefully examining them took the road and directed his course by rupa the horse bounded along like the wind while bitty chan gaily sang may the guru god be always with me remember remember him whoever protected the moon rose two hours after his departure and then he was able to steer his way by its position in the sky he avoided all towns and villages on reaching hariki at the junction of the river's bias and sautelage he introduced dill bog again into deep water by plunging him into the foment gara this was found to correspond exactly with the description the kabooli six had given dill bog appeared as if he had sprung from a sea of beauty by the combined agencies of exquisiteness and strength end of chapter 15