I take the sanctuary of the feet of Guru Nanak Dev ji. His toe nails shine like diamonds. He is the root of all. His feet take one away from the cycle of birth and death. I bow to his feet. May he bless me.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vach.
Near Sultanpur there was a village named Mailseeha. There lived a person there, who worshipped the Kali Mata, named Bhageerath. As Bhai Bhageerath ji learned Gurmat from Guru Nanak Dev ji, I will tell you the Katha with love.
Bhai Bhageerath did the Seva of Kali with faith and devotion. His Pooja was pure. He did it with cleanliness. He worshipped her with love. He did Simran of Bhawani: "the mother of the world, Jagdamba, you are the mine of the 3 Gunas; you have the 8 arms that hold shiny Shasters. Your teeth are shiny. Your eyes are red. You have a garland of skulls around your neck. Oh Kali, you breath fire that is fierce. You mount the lion. You protect the saints. You kill the demons, the Daynts. You killed Mudh, Kaitubh and Mahikhasur. You destroyed Dhoomraach, Chand and Mund. You drank the blood of Rakatbheej. You destroyed the powerful Sunbh and Nasunbh. You bless fearlessness to all 3 Loks. You are worshiped by all. You destroy their sorrow. You are the reason for the universe. You are the Virgin. You are Uma (Parvati), Rama (Lakshmi) and Baani (Sarasvati). Jai Devi! Jai Chandi Kapaali! Jai Jai Ambay, the one with the long arms. Jai Durga, the killer of the corrupt, Gauri. Brahma and Shiva and Vishnu do your Simran. You are the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer. You are without fault. You kill the sinners. You kill the armies and give them pain. You wield the sword and destroy Agyaan, ignorance. You give joy and kill the demons. You give radiance to the sun. I bow to you. I bow to you who destroys pain. You are infinite. You are wise and the blesser. You give joy to all. You are Sarasvati. You are the Maya of Vishnu. You are the Jog Maya that was used to create the universe. The Ishwar reflects into you. I bow to you. You are the form of all the Shasters. You are omniscient. You are the giver of boons. Your arms are strong. I bow to you, the most powerful. You are radiant." In this way, Bhageerath would sing the praises of Kalika every morning. He worshipped Kali Mata.
To destroy the darkness of Agyaan, Bhageerath ji wanted his Agyaan to go away, he did Simran, day and night to Kalika for this. One day, he bathed and went to the Mandir. He kept bowing to the Kali Mata. He spent the whole day doing Seva. He had love in his heart. He stayed in the Mandir and didn't want to go home. It was midnight and then he got sleepy. He fell asleep and dreamt of Chandika. Chandika said to him: "my servant, you are great! Your wish will be fulfilled. Your Agyaan will be destroyed. You will see your real form and receive the Aatam Gyaan. You will achieve the great Gyaan and become Mukat. Till your Karma remains for your body, go and serve the feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. He runs a shop in Sultanpur. He hides his powers. He is the Sri Kartaar Avatar himself. He came to save the people of Kaliyuga. Parmeshwar came himself. He took on a body and came to the world. Go and do his Darshan, who is the destroyer of pain. Earn the success of your life from his Seva. Have faith in your heart." After seeing this dream, Bhai Bhageerath ji's eyes opened. He began thinking of his dream. Vairagya came into his heart. He was detached from the world. He had no attachments. He was the Chaudhary of the village. He left his status and his wealth. He went to Sultanpur. People tried to stop him but he didn't. The love came as a tsunami. He couldn't be stopped. He came to Sultanpur.
With love in his heart, Bhai Bhageerath ji went to the shop where Guru ji was. He saw a crowd of beggars there. He was anxious and slipped through the crowd. He fell to Guru ji's feet like a stick. He was anxious. He lost the senses of his body. The Master of the Universe understood why Bhai Bagheerath ji came to him. Guru ji touched Bhai Bagheerath ji's forehead. He lifted him from his arms and had him sit. He said sweet words to him: "by what wish have you come here for? I will give you what you wish for." Bhai Bhageerath ji heard this and said: "you are omniscient. You know why I am here, oh mine of virtues. I will still tell you. I am in your command. I wish to stay in your sanctuary forever. I am from Mailseeha. That is where my home is. I do the Upasana of Kali Devi. The mother of the universe blessed me. She gave me wisdom. She told me to come here. I have come to do the Seva of your feet. I bow to you. You give shelter to all." Guru ji heard the plea and was happy. Guru ji showed Bhageerath the whole Myth of the world. He then gave him his Seva.
Bhai Bhageerath ji did Guru ji's Darshan everyday. He washed Guru ji's feet and wiped them with joy. Just as Guru ji commanded him, he did it with joy. Some time passed and Bhai Bhageerath ji had deep faith in his heart.
Baba Mardana ji came to Sultanpur to meet Guru Nanak Dev ji. He bowed to Guru ji and said: "may you be glorious." The fortunate Mardana ji sat down and gave Guru ji the news of Talwandi. Whatever Guru ji asked, Bhai Mardana ji responded and told him how everyone was doing. Bhai Mardana ji then said his reason for coming: "listen Sire, you had said to me during your wedding that I should never ask for anything from anyone else except the Bedis. I never have asked from anyone else. I remember your words. My household has been running well. My daughter is to be married. The expense will be big. I don't have money to do the marriage. I have come to you for this reason." The Giver of Joy listened. Bhai Bagheerath ji was nearby. Guru ji said to Bhai Bhageerath ji: "you are wise. Fulfill his task. Write down what Mardana needs for the wedding. Go to Lahore and get the items. Those items won't be found here. Lahore is big. Get the best things from there. Stay in Lahore for only one night. Come back quickly." Bhai Bhageerath ji bowed and wrote the items of need for the marriage from Bhai Mardana ji. He took some money that was required, bowed to Guru ji's feet and headed to Lahore.
Bhai Bhageerath ji soon reached Lahore. There was a big shop there with a rich merchant. His name was Munsukh Shah. He was rich and a big businessman. Bhai Bhageerath ji spoke to him by showing him the money. Bhai Bhageerath ji gave him the list of items needed. He said: "please give me these items. I am only here for one night. Please do this quickly." Bhai Munsukh ji heard this and accepted their request. He respected him and had him sit with him. He said: "it's evening now. Come and stay at my home. In the morning, I will get you what you need." He read the list and said: "I have everything but the ivory choora will take some time." Bhai Bhageerath ji said: "listen Shahukaar. This is not possible. I won't be able to stay another night in Lahore. My life would be a failure then." The Shahukaar Munsukh ji said: "what does that mean? Remove my doubt. If a king had sent a person, he doesn't say that his life would be a failure?" Bhai Bagheerath ji said: "listen Shahukaar, my Guru is complete. His words are never false. His command is as such: he didn't want me to stay a second night here." Bhai Munsukh ji heard this and said: "who is so strong in the fierce Kaliyuga? There can't be such a person. What you say about your Guru, there can't be such a person in Kaliyuga." Bhai Bhageerath ji said: "oh wise one, don't doubt this. The one whom I praise, don't doubt him. If you have faith in him, the bonds of the world will be broken. He can break those bonds. The Kartaar has come as an Avatar in Kaliyuga. If your Karma comes to fruition, only those wise people can understand his greatness. He lives like a normal person. He works like others in his life. He has the Brahmgyaan in his heart. It is deep and not quantifiable. He knows every heart. He is omniscient. He is the Master of the 14 Loks. He commands all life." Bhai Munsukh ji heard this and wanted to meet such a saint. He said: "if he shows me some power then I will become his devoted Sikh. I have met many fake saints. I wasn't in peace after meeting them. Love didn't come into my heart. Without seeing their power, I can't trust anyone." Bhai Bhageerath ji said: "listen Shahukaar, remove your doubts. Don’t argue. Have faith in your heart and do his Darshan once. Touch his feet with a request. When you hear his words, you will be in peace. You will receive the wisdom of your Aatma. You will know the truth of yourself. If you want to see his powers, this is not a big thing for him. Drops of water near the ocean are never scarce. Have a deep faith and come with me. The Satguru is omnipotent and complete. He will fulfill your wish." Munsukh Shah heard this and wanted to go and see Guru Nanak Dev ji. They both had discussions for a while. They ate food and rested.
In the morning, both got up and bathed. They packed the items for the wedding. Bhai Munsukh Shah said: "there is a set of Choora in my home that is red and made of ivory. It has gems in it. I didn't want to sell that but if Guru ji shows me a power, I will give this to him. If you wish to buy some other Choora, you will have to wait another night. It will be late for you." Bhai Bhageerath ji heard this and said: "you can do what you have proposed." The wise men packed the stuff and headed towards Sultanpur. Bhai Mardana ji was with them.
Bhai Munsukh ji said on the way: "if he says my name when I get there, if the House of Joy says my name, then I will believe. I will see him as the truth and know that my pains will be destroyed." They spoke to each other in this way. They soon reached Sultanpur.
Where the Compassionate One was, Bhai Bhageerath ji and Bhai Munsukh ji came there. Guru Nanak Dev ji saw the two of them coming. He spoke words to rid them of their doubts: "come Bhageerath, the Benevolent. Your mind is like sandalwood. You make others smell like you. Munsukh's name was weak before but now he wants to make his name true. He want's Sukh (joy) for his Mun (mind). He came here for this reason. Bhageerath, your mind is saintly; like the Bhringi insect (who makes other insects into one of them)." When Munsukh heard his name, he was shocked. He ran and grabbed Guru ji's feet. It was like a thirsty person getting water. He placed the items for the wedding in front of Guru ji. Bhai Bhageerath ji said: "you know everything Guru ji. You are the giver of joy. I don't need to say anything. You know that Bhai Munsukh has the Choora. You are the one that purifies the sinners. Munsukh wishes to be your Sikh." Sri Guru ji respected Bhai Munsukh ji. He called Bhai Mardana ji and gave him all of the items for the wedding. Bhai Mardana ji was happy to see everything. Guru ji gave him money as well. Bhai Mardana ji was really happy. He headed back to Talwandi. Bhai Mardana ji came to Talwandi and spread the praise of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He said: "there is no one more benevolent and generous than Guru Nanak Dev ji."
Bhai Munsukh ji stayed with Guru ji for 2 days. His faith grew deeper. One day, Guru Nanak Dev ji was sitting with Bhai Munsukh ji. Bhai Munsukh ji bowed and said: "these bonds of attachment in the world are deep and blinding. Please save me, a weak person, from drowning into it. I am in pain, day and night. My desires are not calm. I come to your shelter with my mind, words and body. Please give me wisdom, seeing me as deserving." Guru ji spoke words of Mukti: "the ego and pride you have in your mind: my home, my wealth, my son, my wife, my family, my country, my horses, my elephants, my village, my army, my friends, my body and other items; the Jeev thinks of me and mine; there is always pain there. All of these things are the reason for pain. The desires never stop. The Jeev has tied himself/herself to the bonds of the world. He/she takes the pain of the world. Without the Guru, one does not realize the truth from the false. This gives them pain and makes them take many births. Ego makes you take more births. Ego has blinded the Jeev into thinking that it is the body. It does not see the Parmeshwar as the Aatma. For this reason, let go of your “me” and “mine.” Do the Simran of the Satnam with joy. See and accept the will of the Prabhoo. See it as sweet. Don't see others as your good friend. Whatever Parmatma does, see it as your benefit. Don't blame the Prabhoo for anything. Letting go of the ego, concentrating your mind in Simran and accepting the will; this is the pure path. Practice these 3 things every day. Your mind will be at peace then. You will get all of the joys. There will be no doubt in receiving Mukti. Your false bonds of the world will be destroyed." Bhai Munsukh heard this and his Mun was at peace. He engrained the wisdom in his heart. He stayed in Sultanpur for some days. His Agyaan was gone. He wrote down the words of Guru ji. He would read them and think about them. He learned the Rehit from the Giver of Joy. He did the Upasana of Guru ji's feet. He thought of his feet. He had deep faith that: Guru ji was Kartar Parmeshwar. He knew that he was the Parm Pitta Parmeshwar and the giver of Mukti. He did Guru ji's Pooja everyday by grinding sandalwood. He offered flowers to him and bowed to Guruji's feet. He then went back to Lahore. He meditated on Guru ji's feet all the time. He still did his Pooja. Sometimes, he would come to Sultanpur to do the Darshan of the Flag of the Bedis. He would stay for a month at a time. He carried on his business in Lahore.