Oh Guru that gives joy and destroys the problems; I bow to you with my hands folded. Your feet destroy the root of attachment and cover the fanaticism as the stars are covered by the sun. Your feet are cooling like the moon from the burning rays of the sun. They destroy all of the obstacles. They gave your servants prosperity. My mind is like a bee on your lotus feet. I am a sacrifice unto you.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
The master of the universe, the Satguru, was growing in a beautiful way like flowers blooming in Basant, spring. Like leaves and trees look radiant, it looks like the army of spring is ready, it is like the separated are met again; the small leaves have shed, the red flowers are blooming; it looks like warriors are wearing red clothes and getting ready for battle; the cuckoos see the mangoes growing and sing songs of joy; it is like a wife that is mad, is now happy seeing the first signs of her husband; the bees hummed over the nectar in the flowers; it is like someone singing with a Veena in front of the King of Basant; it was like beautiful birds singing sweet songs; like Bhatts doing Keertan; like the cool wind giving a sweet fragrance; it was like an upset wife not being able to hold on to her anger; it was like the white, dark, red and yellow Kusuma flower was newly blossomed; the leaves were sprouting on the trees, looking like Kalgis; like the radiance of the forest growing, that is how Guru Nanak Dev ji's state was, as he walked through everything.
Guru ji was tending the cows in the month of Vaisakh. The Compassionate One would see green grass and take his cows there. It was afternoon and the sun was very hot. Guru ji was tired and felt a little lazy. The cows sat down and rested. Guru ji saw a tree that had a great shade. Guru ji rested under the tree and wanted to sleep. The wind was fragrant. Guru ji, the one with the sweet speech, made a bed of leaves and laid down on it. He took a sheet and put it on top of the leaves. As sleep took over his body, Guru ji closed his eyes. He was the destroyer of worries. He slept for 2 hours. The shadow of the tree moved as the sun moved to the west. The sun began to shine on Guru ji's face. Perspiration came onto his face like droplets of water on a lotus flower; like Amrit falling from the moon. Shaishnaag saw this and wanted to block the sun from shining on to the Parmeshwar's face. Shaishnaag took on a very milk-white body and came to Guru ji. He came as a white cobra. He saw the house of joy and bowed to him with love. He did 3 Parkarmas of Guru ji and did his Darshan. He positioned his head above Guru ji and spread his hood to block the sun. He was white and pure like the water of the Ganga. He stood proudly high and was radiant. It looked like he had made his seat on the ocean, as he does with Vishnu. He gave shade to Guru ji's whole body. Shaishnaag did not move. He stood there for a long time. He was in bliss to be in the company of the Parmeshwar.
The Hakim of Talwandi, Rai Bhullaar was travelling from somewhere with his army. He came to the place, which was a fortunate time for him. His good Karma came to fruition. His soldiers and officers were on their horses. Rai Bhullar saw the cobra but thought it was a white sheet that was hanging. He wondered why the person was laying down away from the shade and blocking the sun with a white sheet. As Rai Bhullaar came closer, he saw the tongue of the snake flickering and realised that it was a snake and not a white sheet. He noticed the big size of the snake and the wide hood he had. He saw the snake standing tall. He thought the child had died, due the bite of the snake. He thought to himself: "If the child is alive, it must be an Avatar whom the white snake is serving." He sent a servant closer to see better. As the servant came closer, Shaishnaag went back to the realm of the Pataals, going into the ground. Rai Bhullaar took his horse closer. He was shocked. The noise from the horse steps woke up the gem of the Bedis. His eyes, like the petals of a lotus, opened slowly. His eyelashes were like black bees on a lotus flower. Rai Bhullaar, on top of his horse, came closer. Guru ji, the destroyer of sin, saw the Rai and bowed his head. Rai Bhullaar got off his horse right away. In a state of amazement, Rai Bhullaar hugged Guru Nanak Dev ji with great enthusiasm. He kissed his forehead and respected him. He was really happy. He became humble in front of Guru ji, recognizing him as an Avtar of the Prabhoo. He was filled with love. From that day on, his faith and devotion towards Guru ji began to grow. He did not waiver from his faith. He saw Guru ji as the same as Parmeshwar. He stood in front of Guru ji with devotion. Rai Bhullaar was filled with emotion and could not speak, knowing that Prabhoo was standing in front of him. He then mounted his horse and went to his home.
While sitting in his home, Rai Bhullar thought to himself: "he will destroy my bonds to this world. When he grows up, I will plead with him to save me. I will sing his praises. The status that Jogis look for, I will get that. My good karma has awakened. Khuddah has taken on a body and come to my city. Meeting him was a great reward. The Vedas and Katebas cannot describe his glory." He sent a servant to call Pitha Kalu ji. When Pitha ji came, he respected him and had him sit close to him. He said to him: "don't see your son as your son. He is the Avatar that has come to your home. You are fortunate. I don't see anyone equal to you. Give your son food, clothes and respect. Don't ever disrespect him. Don't speak harshly with him as a father would do. Keep faith and devotion in him as you would towards Parmeshwar." Rai Bhullaar told Mehta Kalu ji the whole event regarding the snake: "the snake came to block the sun from his face. It hid when it saw me." Pitha ji said: "very well. We will see his miracles." After saying this, Mehta Kalu ji left, not having faith or devotion in Guru ji. The attachment of Maya was strong for Mehta Kalu ji. A person behaves as the influencer influences; like a musician playing the strings on their instrument. The wooden doll has no fault. Joy and sorrow are the same for it. It dances as it is made to. Guru Nanak Dev ji controls the Maya. As he wishes, that is what happens.
Pitha ji and Guru ji came home. Pitha ji was happy with the tending to the cows of his son along with the praise that Rai Bhullaar did. Seeing Guru ji's eyes, Pitha ji gave him a lot of love. Every home of Talwandi spoke of the praises of Guru ji. Men and women said to each other: "the king saw the snake give shade to Guru ji. He respected him and hugged him. He called them to his home and praised them. The son of Kalu is powerful. He doesn't show himself. He stays hidden."
The spring was spent in this way. Guru ji tended the cows. The summer came. It was very hot, like a jealous person's heart. Hot winds were waving. Men and women were hot. It was burning like harsh words from a fool; it was like the pain of being born and dying by a person who does not do Bhagti. The sun's rays were very hot. The smaller life forms went towards the water. The water in the ponds dried up and there was only mud. It was like a lover hearing the slander of his love. Dust-filled twisters were spinning like intellect without the Guru. The deer kept running towards mirages. This would make them anxious. The mind felt the same way, running after the mirage of joy behind the worldly pleasures. They would not be satiated nor find peace or stillness. The birds and animals looked for shade under trees. The whole world was filled with pain. When a person would go to Satsangat, they would be at peace. Cold water felt good; like finding the Guru, being fortunate and reading Bani. Guru ji was spending his time through this summer. He would tend the cows under the shades of the trees. The children would play where there was shade. Guru ji would stay in the jungle all day long. He would come home at dark. The dust from the cows moving would be on Guru ji. It looked radiant like Paraag on the lotus.
Mata ji would take her son into her lap and hug him. She would clean his face and look at him. She would speak to him with love: "oh son, don't go to the jungle to tend the cows anymore. Sun shines on your body too much. You have become weak, tending the cows. Stay in the neighbourhood and play with joy and enthusiasm. You stay in the jungle all day long. My eyes long to see you all day. The servants will go to tend the cows. Stay in the home from now on." She had her son sit next to her. Mehta Kalu ji came all of a sudden. Mata ji said to her husband: "we only have one son and you have him tending the cows. He travels through the jungle all day long. His lotus-like face has become weak. Don't send him to tend the cows anymore. His body will become weak." Both parents thought about this. Their love was such for their son. They did not send Guru ji to tend the cows from that day. They kept him home. Guru ji was radiant in the world. He was the ocean of joy. He came to illuminate Bhagti. His body grew in this way.