Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach
One should meditate on Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji all the time. One does not become bound to the attachments of the world then. The form of joy, the ocean, Guru ji defeated the hypocrites. He was the supreme. He destroyed the poverty and laziness. I bow to his radiant feet. He is the giver of Mukti and the cloud of Gyaan. Whoever comes to his shelter, their sins are washed away. The reason why he came into the world as an Avatar, he now wished to carry out his mission. He wanted to save the unwise who were going to go to Hell. Many had gone to Hell. He didn't want the others to go to Hell. Guru ji created the great bridge of greatness for them to cross. Whoever crossed the bridge was saved. The Sikhs that worship Guru ji's feet; meditate on his beautiful form; their doubts were all gone and they were no longer afraid of the Jumms.
Guru ji left Sultanpur with Baba Mardana ji. As they were leaving, the Lotus bodied, Supreme wisdom, spoke: "in which way do you wish to travel, Mardana? Tell me and we will head in that direction." He was going to save his servants. He had relieved the pains of his servants. Bhai Mardana ji said: "wherever you wish, we can go there, oh Pure One. You lead and I will follow you, oh Sri Prabhoo; Ocean of virtues." Guru ji said: "Ahmnabad is a place where a Tarkhan named Laalo lives. Let's go and meet him first." In this way, the Kamal-badan spoke and slowly walked towards Ahmnabad. His lotus feet walked on the path. The servants who ingrained his feet in their hearts, their pain was all gone.
After 17 days, they reached Ahmnabad. The Destroyer of Pain went to the home of Bhai Laalo ji. He went to give him bliss. Bhai Laalo ji saw Guru ji and stood up with his hands folded. He bowed to Guru ji seeing him as a Sadhoo. As soon as he saw Guru ji, his heart was filled with peace and bliss. Guru ji said: "may the Kartar come into your heart. Continue doing your work." Bhai Laalo ji said: "oh saint, where did you come from? Tell me. Your form is beautiful and unique. Your words are sweet that give Mukti. To hear you and see you, my heart is filled with love. I am in peace looking at you." Guru ji said: "I am a traveler from a foreign land. My home is far away. This form is of a Dervish. I am from a foreign place." Bhai Laalo ji said: "your Darshan and touching your feet washes the sins. You are radiant. The birth and death cycle are destroyed seeing you. For sinners like us, you are the deliverer. The peace I feel in my heart is from your sweet words. You give peace and Mukti. You are a complete Sadhoo. Please tell me your name. My mind is smitten by your feet. Oh Compassionate One, please have mercy on me." Sri Guru ji spoke form his mouth: "you will know who I am. Sit down now and do your work. Do the Simran of Hari Hari." Bhai Laalo ji said: "I have heard of a Tappa named Sri Nanak ji from Talwandi. I think that is you. I don't think there is any one equal to you. I've searched in all 10 directions. I feel you are him. I wish to hear it from your mouth. I won't believe it otherwise." Bhai Mardana ji said: "you are right! That is him. Keep faith in your heart." Bhai Laalo ji heard this and said to Bhai Mardana ji: "what is your caste and name? Tell me about you, who told me about Guru Nanak ji. From where are you from?" Bhai Mardana ji said: "my name is Mardana. I travel with Guru Nanak Dev ji. I am the Miraashi of the Bedi clan. Nanak ji is my master." Bhai Laalo ji bowed his head to Guru ji. He put his head onto Guru ji's lotus feet. He had faith now. He knew that he was the Parmeshwar. He respected Guru ji and laid out a bed. Guru ji sat down. The Master of the world, the ocean of joy, blessed his servant. Bhai Laalo ji obeyed and went off to prepare food. He went to his home. Bhai Mardana ji said to Guru ji: "speak to me. Who is he oh Master? You blessed him. I see him as fortunate. His Bhuddi is engrossed in Bhagti." Guru ji spoke: "he is a saint. He has done Bhagti from many births. It is complete now. There are 9 types of Bhagti. If one is to do any one of them, they can be crossed from the world and get the highest status. There is no doubt in this." Bhai Mardana ji asked: "tell me all of the types of Bhagti; by which one achieves the highest status and crosses the world ocean filled with the water of fear." Sri Guru ji said: "Listen to the different types of Bhagti. I will tell you all of them. I will tell you their characteristics and goals. The first is to do Seva in the Satsangat. Meet the Sangat and do Seva with devotion. The second type is to listen to the history of the Guru and Parmeshwar. Keep your mind focused on the Katha. 3- Make your mind the bee for the Guru's feet. Think of the Guru's form in your heart. 4- Sing the glories from your mouth of Parmeshwar. Singing the glories, you should get goosebumps. 5- Dam- control your Indriyas; Sam – control your mind; do selfless acts and remain detached. Don't expect anything from your Seva. Don't look for rewards. 6- Don't find faults in others. See gain and loss as the same. 7- Remain without fraud and deceit. Don't be clever. Don't let sorrow or joy come into your heart when someone says something. 8- Have faith in Kartaar. Don't waiver. 9- See everyone as Hari Parmeshwar. Everything is the Hari. These are the 9 Bhagtis I told you quickly. If you do even 1 type, you and your whole family will be blessed in this world. Your friends will also be saved. Maya cannot attract you if you do Bhagti. Such people are drenched in the colour of Hari." Bhai Mardana ji heard this and bowed his head to Guru ji's feet. He said: "Sat Bachan! You speak the truth. Your words destroy the pain of the world."
Bhai Laalo ji had returned soon. He said: "Sri Guru ji, come to my home and eat food. You are the lion that kills the painful elephants. I am stuck in the snake-like bounds of the world. Your words are like the Garud, killing the snakes. Bless me by coming to my home and eating the food." Guru ji heard this and said: "bring the food here." Bhai Laalo ji said: "you are wearing a Janyow. How can you eat outside? You can come to my home and eat in the Chownka (the kitchen boundary specially prepared). You are born in a high caste. If you wish, I can bring the food here. Please destroy my doubts." Sri Guru ji said: "all of this earth, it is a one big Chownka. Whoever is true, that is pure. These are all doubts of the mind. Saints have relieved these doubts." Bhai Laalo ji laughed and ran home.
Bhai Laalo ji made Rotis of millet and oats (kodra); and Saag of mustard. When Bhai Mardana ji saw the food, he thought to himself: "these rotis are thick. How will I eat these?" Guru ji knew what Bhai Mardana ji was thinking. He said: "Mardana, why are you thinking so hard? When you eat this food, you will know how it tastes." Guru ji took the roti and poured Saag on it. He gave it to Bhai Mardana ji. Bhai Mardana ji ate the food. It tasted like Amrit. The Highest being spoke: "how was it? Tell me." Bhai Mardana ji smiled and said: "what shall I say? I have heard of Amrit but never experienced it. I have heard that it tastes great. That is how this food tastes. You are omniscient. You know everything. Whatever I think of, you already know." Bhai Laalo ji spoke a request: "the greatness of great beings is that they only see love in a person. They don't think of anything else. They don't care of the food. The food of Vidhur, Sri Krishan ji ate that; leaving the delicious food of Duryodhana. He took the raw rice of the Brahmin, Sudhama, and blessed him with prosperity. This was the greatness of the deliverer of the poor. He took the half-eaten Bers of the low caste Bheelani. He only saw the love and didn't think of her faults or virtues." Guru ji was happy and said: "I tasted Amrit in this food. That's what I tasted. You made this food with your honest earnings." Bhai Laalo ji bowed his head to the Giver of Mukti. When he touched the Parmeshwar's feet, his sins were all washed away. His attachments were all broken. He said: "you blessed me today. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, I was drowning in the well of pain. You saved me with your compassion. You are the complete and ancient form of Parmatma. You save your servants. You support them." He then grabbed Guru ji's feet. He bowed with the utmost humility. He didn't lift his head. Sri Guru ji put his hand on Bhai Laalo ji's head. As soon as he touched him, his Dasam Duaar opened and he could see the 3 Loks. Guru ji's hand blessed him and gave him bliss. His bliss couldn't be described. Bhai Laalo ji was One with Guru ji. He saw his Aatma. He could only see himself everywhere in the world.
Guru ji stayed for 3 days there. He stayed in Bhai Laalo ji’s home and destroyed his pains. Bhai Laalo ji knew the greatness of Guru ji. He served his feet, day and night. His attention was focused in the Anaahad sound, continuously. The sounds of the Raags gave him bliss. His bonds were broken and the fear of the Jumms was gone. Guru ji wished to go somewhere else. Guru ji asked Bhai Mardana ji: "where do you wish to go now? I wish to spread the Bhagti of Parmeshwar. I have no other task." Bhai Mardana ji said: "Prabhoo ji, you know what’s in every heart. You know my state and know my wish. You can go where you wish. I will follow. People slander you without knowing you here. These people are unwise and forget about Mukti. What is in every heart, you already know. These people slander you. I hate that." Guru ji heard this and said: "we will take leave and go ahead. That place is good where the Satsangat is. These people are corrupt and in pain. I came to the home of the wise and honest person. We have to go to far off lands." Guru ji said this in the form of the Dervish. Bhai Mardana ji said: "wherever I go in this city, people say: "he is the Doom of the Kurahia." I get angry when I hear this. Let's leave now." Guru ji laughed and said: "we will leave in the morning, Mardana."
In the morning, Guru ji said: "Laalo, may you remember the Kartaar. I am going to another land now. I wish to go see other lands." When Bhai Laalo ji heard this, he said: "what did I do that was wrong? You are leaving quickly. Why don't you stay? See me as your servant, oh Giver of Joy. Why are you upset?" Guru ji said: "you are without any faults. The people of your city are foolish. They see me and are in pain. I wish to go where the Satsangat is. There is bliss there, day and night." Bhai Laalo ji said: "you are the saint. Parmeshwar is on your side. How are you in pain by the words of the foolish? You have no work with them. These people are caught in the worldly ways. Seeing and speaking to the saints makes one happy. You give joy. Stay here for some more days. You can do as you wish." Guru ji heard this and said: "I speak the truth. There is no lie in this. The world is anxious. Many are in pain. They don't know what lies ahead for them. If I sit and stand; speak or not; walk or not; they are not complete in any way; they always criticize. They don't get along with the Bhagats. They never get along with them.
Sri Mukhvaak..
In this Kaliyuga, how can I save my honour from the 5 types? If I speak to them, they say I speak too much..
If I stay quiet, they say that I have no wisdom.. If I sit in one place, they say he sits and does Bhagti..
If I travel, they say look how he puts ash in our heads, does he not get food in his own place? If I stay humble, they say I am afraid..
They are not happy in any way. Where I can go and spend my time, they always say something. Here and there, says Nanak, only the Karta keeps the honour..8..
(Bhai Banno Saroop/ Bhai Bala Janamsakhi)
Laalo, as the Kartaar keeps you, that's how you should stay. Only the Kartaar can keep your honour. The world is a deep hole. Whoever falls into it, can't do anything." Bhai Mardana ji became upset seeing the unwise people of Ahmnabad. Bhai Laalo ji bowed many times with humility. He said: "stay another month with me. Oh Master, see my state. You can go where you want to then." Sir Guru ji, the Omniscient One, saw his servant's humility and decided to stay. He said: "I can't refuse your wish. I will stay a month. Mardana, stay a month and then we will go as you say. How can I refuse this Bhagat? How can we leave now?" The Compassionate One stayed in Ahmnabad.
After 2 days, by whose blessings one is taken out of the birth and death cycle; by doing the Simran of his name, the fear of Jumms goes away; sat on his seat. Bhai Laalo ji massaged his feet. The Munis meditate on this form. The ones who have his form in their heart, they do not fear death. Bhai Mardana ji sat down and said: "I can see that you are going to stay here for many days. Give me permission to go to Talwandi. I will give them your message. I will come back. I won't delay. I will get news of my family. I will tell them: "I am going with Guru Nanak Dev ji. Don't worry about me." Guru ji said: "your heart is still with your home. Go home quickly and come back soon. Whatever you see about me, you can give my news to my family. Don't say anything else." Bhai Mardana ji took leave and went to Talwandi.
What happened after that, how he stayed in Ahmnabad, I will tell you. Guru ji would go to the jungle (where Rori Sahib is now) and do Tapasya. His form was of the Lotus. He destroyed the pain. He would come to Bhai Laalo ji's home in the evening. Bhai Laalo ji would make food with love. He would request Guru ji to eat the food. The lover of the Bhagats would see the Bhagti and eat the food from Bhai Laalo ji's home. He was always under the spell of his servants. He didn't see high or low castes; virtues or cleverness; he only saw the love and Bhagti. He left the Brahmins and Kshatriyas to sit with the Shudra Tarkhaan. He ate his food with delight. He saw his love. Bhai Laalo ji served his feet. He fanned him in the heat. His heart had bliss. He worked during the day. His night was spent in Guru ji's Seva with love. Guru ji would give the practice of Aatam Abhyaas to Bhai Laalo ji. He gave him the wisdom: "you are the Sat, Chetna and Anand form; which is away from attachment and hatred. It is away from birth and death. It is without creation. It is the One form of creation. Maya is nothing without this form." Bhai Laalo ji heard this and his Agyaan was gone. His desires were gone. He became the knower of the Brahm, the Tat Veta. In this way, Guru ji spent some days. The Flag of the Bedis spent time.
Listen oh listeners, whoever listens to this Katha, they will get Sikhi. The status of Sikhi is great. Only few know of its greatness. The Jumms do not take the Sikhs of the Satguru. Just as the moon does not shine in the day, the Jumms do not take them. The love of the feet of Guru ji is radiant like the sun. there is no darkness there, nor the moon. The ones who keep devotion, their doubts do not remain. The cardinal sins don't illuminate where the Guru's feet are. The night of Bemukhta is destroyed. The Kavi says: "I fold my hands and bow to the feet of the Guru. The Sikhi that gives bliss, I ask for that. I have no other hopes. Give me your Darshan."