Sri Guru ji's feet are like the peg of the Chaki. My mind is like a grain in between the two grinding stones, coming close to the peg. When the Chaki spins, the other grains are ground expect for the ones that are close to the Peg. The stones of attachment and other vices grind but I am saved by the Guru, seeing me as poor.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
Listen Guru Angad Dev ji to the Katha of the Satguru which gives spiritual wealth (compassion, contentment, Truth, Dharam and patience) joy. Guru Nanak Dev ji sat radiantly in the jungle, day and night. Doing his Darshan destroyed pain and poverty. He came into the word to illuminate the path of Bhagti. He came to destroy the sinful wisdom and sinful ways along with hypocrisy and overindulgence. He came to grow the radiance of the Naam of Parmeshwar. He came to give the righteous path of Prema Bhagti to humans. He came with this wish into the world: the saints would do Simran of the Naam of Parmeshwar. Guru ji came to save the humble and poor. He saw the minds of the egotistical as dangerous and detrimental. He came to save the poor and weak as the form of Bhagavan. By his compassion, the pain and problems are destroyed of Kaliyuga.
For some time, Guru ji stayed in this form of a small Safa tied to his head, Chadra and Kaphni. Somebody saw his form and sent news to Talwandi. The family heard about this and became anxious. It was like the lotus flowers destroyed by the snow of winter. Pitha Kalu ji called Baba Mardana ji and spoke to him with sorrow: "go to Sultanpur right now. Don't waste time. Go there now. I have heard some bad news. Nanak has taken on a bad form. He quit his work from the Modikhana. He has become a Fakir after leaving the honour of the Bedis." Baba Mardana ji heard this and got ready. He obeyed and set off towards Sultanpur. Mata Tripta ji and Pitha Kalu ji thought of many things and were upset. Pitha ji thought to himself: "he must have been in a loss. He may have become depressed because of this. He was generous and gave a lot of donations. He must have given too much. I am sure this is what happened. I advised him many times not to lose so much money. He didn't listen to anything I said. I was afraid of this, day and night. What I feared, has now happened." Pitha ji was upset and shook his head in grief. He thought of many things and spent the whole day in that state. He didn't eat anything the whole day. The neighbors came and tried to console him.
When Rai Bhullaar ji heard of this, he tried to console Pitha Kalu ji: "don't worry about your son, Nanak ji. He does what he pleases. Nanak ji is the cause of all effects. He is independent. Know this in your mind: he is not under anyone's influence. He does what he pleases. Whatever he does is good. He is the ocean of joy. He is really powerful. Parmeshwar came as human." Rai Bhullaar ji gave him hope and remembered Guru ji's nature. He wished to see Guru ji, deeply. It was like the Chatrik looking for the Swanti drop or the Chakor wishing to see the moon. The members of the Bedi clan heard this and were surprised. They said: "what was the reason for this? He had a good business and a lot of money. The Navaab listened to him and helped him." This is what was happening in Talwandi.
Baba Mardana ji went to Sultanpur. Listen to what happened: he came to Bebe Nanaki ji's home to ask how they were doing. He gave his blessings and then sat down. His face was pale. Bebe Nanaki ji served him and respected him in many ways. Bebe Nanaki ji then said: "tell me about the well-being of Talwandi. How are my parents? Is the Rai well? Tell me about your coming here too, oh patient one." Baba Mardana ji heard this and said: "everyone is well in Talwandi. I'll tell you why I am here: your father heard from someone that Sri Nanak ji quit his work and took on the form of Fakirs. He sent me to get the news. I came to see the Flag of the Bedis. Where is the Lotus-bodied one? I need to meet him and ask him what is happening. Otherwise you can tell me everything. I will tell your parents of the well-being. I had no other reason of coming. I am here for the task of finding news of the Gem of the Bedis." Bebe Nanaki ji heard this and said: "as you have seen with your own eyes that there is nobody else here but us, I will tell you the news from here. How can I tell you? You can see that nobody else is here besides us two and Baba Sri Chand ji. If you wish to know more, go and meet my brother. You can ask him how he is. He will tell you everything. You can then go to Talwandi afterwards and tell my parents. There is a jungle outside of Sultanpur. The Compassionate One is sitting there." Baba Mardana ji got up to leave. Bebe Nanaki ji spoke as he left: "eat food before you go. Food is ready." Baba Mardana ji ate food with joy. He was satiated and then left with Bebe ji's permission.
Baba Mardana ji was upset seeing the situation. He walked towards the direction of the jungle, where Guru ji was. He walked and thought of many things. He thought: "if he is in the jungle, he must be a Fakir then. He was earning a lot of money as the Modi. I don't think this was a wise thing to do." He finally saw Guru Nanak Dev ji and was sad. He thought to himself: "the one who wore gold jewellery with pearls and gems with radiance; wore Pashmina clothes and other beautiful clothes; he looked really handsome; today he is wearing the Bhagwa clothes of Fakirs." Baba Mardana ji sat down with anxiety. He thought to himself: "there used to be a crowd around him in the Modikhana. Everyone praised him. He is alone right now." He began to shed tears. He stood in front of Guru ji and gave him blessings of well wishes. He then sat by Guru ji and said: "what form have you taken on? You used to be the Modi and gave a lot of donations. You earned a lot of money there. Why are you sitting here now? You used to eat and spend openly. You had unlimited food and clothes when I saw you last. Your work gave you prosperity. You had a lot of money and items in your home. Did you suffer a loss in your earnings? Did the King take your work away? Did he not pay you? Why did you leave your work? Why are you dressed like a Fakir?" Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji heard this and said words of Vairagya: "Mardana, when you came to my wedding, you asked me for a wish which would last forever. I gave you the string and skill of playing the Rabab. You took that gift with joy. I gave you that skill for this time. Oh wise one, there is no other reason for me to be in the jungle. Stay with me, day and night. Don't mention about coming or going. Make your life a success. See the world as a myth; see it as you watch a dream. Just as a person sleeping sees a dream, it looks real; you make many things in your dreamworld; you become a king in a dream but when you awake, you remember that the dream was not true; the dream goes away; see the items of the world in the same way. They are all false. With Gyaan, these material items are considered like a dream." Listening to the words of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the wise and fortunate Baba Mardana ji came into Vairagya. His mind became detached from the world. The name of Guru Nanak Dev ji destroys the Agyaan; why wouldn't Gyaan come from his words? Baba Mardana ji laughed and said: "where do you wish to go? I am under your command. I will do your task. I am without deceit. Why wouldn't I do what you say? Your Darshan has pulled my mind towards you. Only one desire remains in my mind now. All others have been destroyed. The desires of the world, I am now calm towards them. Joy and peace have come into my heart. Tell me where we should go. Where do want to go?" Guru ji heard this and spoke with bliss: "I don't have any thought of going yet. We will go where Kartaar takes us. We will go together in that direction with joy. Attachment and greed; take them out of your heart." Baba Mardana ji said: "Prabhoo, I am faced with a difficulty of going with you. Your parents sent me here. They heard about you from somebody in Talwandi. They sent me to you to get your news. They sent me to see how you are. I came without delay. They are waiting for me. They are worried about you. You wish to keep me with you; this is difficult for me to do. I can't go to Talwandi because of your command but your parents must be worried." Sri Guru ji said: "listen Mardana, you can do what your mind thinks is good. It will be difficult staying with me. You will have to endure difficulty with me. People are burning with desires, day and night, you will have to extinguish this and obey me. Only then can you stay with me with content. If you can't do this, you can go. Food and clothes will be scarce staying with me. This will be hard and painful. If you wish to experience joy, then go back to my father. You can live with the family and sit there. You can get all the pleasures and peace you want there. Hunger and nakedness will be with me all the time. There won't be any beds. We will sleep in the jungle. If you want to stay with me, you will have to accept all this." Baba Mardana ji said: "Prabhoo, my desires have been extinguished. I have no wish to go anywhere else. I don't see anyone equal to you. After seeing the sun, the firefly is not pretty anymore. I am determined to stay with you." Guru ji heard this and said sweet words: "go get a Rabab from the city. Get a beautiful one and play it." Baba Mardana ji said: "Prabhoo ji, I have never sung before nor have I played the Rabab before. I have never played an instrument before. I can stay with you and learn in a few days. I will then play the Rabab with the correct Sur." Guru ji then said: "when you came last time, I already gave you the gift of singing and playing the instrument. What did you do with that gift?" Baba Mardana ji said: "listen Compassionate One, what you gave me, I have never used that skill." Guru ji said: "don't distrust me. Go get a Rabab and play it." Baba Mardana ji got up and went to find a Rabab in Sultanpur.
Baba Mardana ji saw Pathaans sitting with a Taadi singing and playing a Rabab in front of them. Baba Mardana sat down to listen. When the Pathaans went home, Baba Mardana ji came to the Taadi and said: "a great saint has called for you. Come to him. He has called for you." Baba Mardana ji took the Taadi and went to where the Compassionate One was sitting in Samadhi. His eyes were closed. He was the form to destroy pain. The Taadi took the Rabab and began to play a Raag. Hearing this, the Kamal Nain opened his eyes. The form of Guru ji was so beautiful, the people who don't do his Simran are damned. Guru ji said: "take this Rabab Mardana, and play it. Play the Raag." Baba Mardana ji obeyed and tuned the Rabab. The trees of the jungle began to seep the dew of love as the Rabab was tuned. The different coloured birds became mesmerized with the sound of the Raag. The wind stood still. Whoever heard the sound of the Rabab, they were attracted and memorized by it. The lifeless tress became conscious. The conscious became like they were lifeless. The deer came to listen. Love came into the hearts of the animals. The Taadi was amazed. He forgot about himself. He went into a Samadhi as well. He didn’t speak for a while. He then said: "there is no one more skilled than you. I have seen Taadis from many lands but none are like you. Nobody has this skill like you do." Sri Guru Nanak ji then said: "tell me Mardana, how did you like this skill? You played the Rabab and sang; how did you like it?" Baba Mardana ji, amazed, said: "listen Prabhoo, I only have one mouth. How can I sing your praise? You are the complete Purakh or Khuddah himself. Your words gave me this amazing skill. I have never sung before nor have I ever played the Rabab. I have achieved this skill by your words." He got up and bowed to Guru ji. He said: "your Darshan destroys all the 3 illnesses. You are the home of joy. Whatever you say, I will do. You complete all wishes." The Compassionate One said: "buy a good Rabab." Baba Mardana ji said: "I should get a Tamboora which has a nice sound. It is light and beautiful. I can play that and sing along with it." Guru ji said: "listen Mardana, the Rabab is a melodious instrument which gives peace and joy. Other instruments cause the mind to become excited. Hearing them, vices and desires arise." Baba Mardana ji said: "Prabhoo ji, what is your command, I will do as you say. Please give me money to buy the Rabab. I will look for a Rabab and bring it." Guru ji said: "asking for something is not good. A body always asks for things. Begging destroys virtues. Go to my sister to get money. Get the money you need to get a Rabab."
Baba Mardana ji left and went to Bebe Nanaki ji's home. The Taadi said to Guru ji: "you can have this Rabab." The Compassionate One said: "you said it, and I received it but keep it with you." Guru ji looked towards the Taadi and blessed him by destroying his pain of the unwise mind. The Taadi was in peace. He was no longer in pain. He knew that the unlimited Parmeshwar came as Guru Nanak Dev ji. Baba Mardana ji came to Bebe Nanaki ji's home and said: "your brother asked for something." Bebe ji was happy and said: "if he has asked for something, my life is a success. I am fortunate today. Say it without fear." Baba Mardana ji said: "he didn't let me go home. He is keeping me with him. He wants me to go and buy a Rabab. He told me to get money from you." Bebe Nanaki ji said: "this is great! If you stay with my brother, that is great! What is one Rabab? I will buy you 100. Go to my brother and tell him to show me his face for Darshan." Baba Mardana ji went back to Guru ji.
Baba Mardana ji said: "your sister has called for you. She wishes for your Darshan. She said she would buy 100 Rababs." The Compassionate One said: "my sister is older than me. I will have to obey her. I can't refuse her wish." Guru ji got up and went to Bebe Nanaki ji's home. He walked slowly. His walk was great. Whoever meditates on his form, their wishes would be fulfilled. Baba Mardana ji followed behind. Listen ahead to the Katha of Guru ji.