T' he Guru Ji accompanied by Mardana Ji, departed from there. They came across a vast desolated stretch of land. No man could be seen. Here, Mardana Ji became hungry and said: O Guru Ji, your love of the Lord is all right, but I was happy as a singer. At least, one could eat well. We have got lost in this forest. Some lion or wolf will come and kill us. Only the Lord can take us out.
Guru Ji said: O Mardana Ji, nothing will come near you, but you muster courage.
Mardana Ji: How can I muster courage in this jungle?
Guru Ji: O Mardana Ji, where Name is there, it is not a jungle. It is a town. You get up and sing a divine song. Without your singing, it seems desolate. You get up and play the rebeck.
Mardana Ji: My throat is parched with hunger. I cannot play the rebeck.
Guru Ji: Let us go back to the town.
Mardana Ji: I cannot even walk back. My throat is choked with hunger. I am going to die.
Guru Ji: I won't let you die until it is Lord's will. You get up.
Mardana Ji: I cannot get up. I am going to die. Don't trouble me.
Guru Ji: Mardana Ji, go and eat the fruit of this tree. Eat to your fill but don't carry it in your bag.
Mardana Ji: That's fine.
Then, Mardana Ji ate the fruit of the tree. He enjoyed the deliciousness. He said to his mind: I wish to eat all this fruit. Let me carry some. I shall eat later. He carried some in his bag.
While going, again he became hungry and ate the fruit. He fell down.
Guru Ji said: O Mardana Ji, What has happened?
Mardana Ji: Your Holiness, you had said, 'Don't carry them in your bag'. I thought I must carry some, I may not find them again. So, I carried them in my bag and ate. I have fallen down.
Guru Ji: O Mardana Ji, you made a mistake in eating them. They were poisonous fruits. By the power of the word, they had become sweet.
Then, Guru Ji put his sacred feet on Mardana Ji's forehead. Then, Mardana Ji became all right and he got up.
Then, Mardana Ji said: You are in love with the Lord and you remain immersed in His love. I am a humble singer and you are a great prophet. You can live without food and you can live outside the towns. How can I continue to stay with you? You give me leave to go home.
Guru Ji: I am so much pleased with you. Why do you want to leave me?
Mardana Ji: Your pleasure is all right but you give me leave. I want to go home.
Guru Ji: Can you not stay with me?
Mardana Ji: I can stay if you appease my hunger. Whatever support you have for your hunger that should be my support also. If you bless me like that, then, I can stay with you. Also, you do not mind my shortcomings, then, I can stay with you. If you do not agree, then, you may give me leave.
Guru Ji: O Mardana Ji, you are blessed in this world and for the next world too.
Then, Mardana Ji fell at Guru Ji's sacred feet
Guru Ji blessed him with the incessant remembrance of the Lord. His mind got elevation and he got ecstasy.
Then, Mardana Ji stayed on with Guru Ji.
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