I bow to the form of Sharda, the dispeller of pain; the giver of joy and wisdom. She destroys the fear of her servants and completes their wishes. You are illuminating in the 14 dimensions.
Guru Angad Dev ji was filled with love after hearing the Katha of Bharthri and Koda. Guru Angad Dev ji went into (Nirvakalap) Samadhi as he heard the Katha. His eyes were closed. His body was still. He did not say a word. Bhai Bala ji and the other Sikhs (Bhai Paira Mokha ji, Baba Budda ji etc.) went to their homes. Guru Angad Dev ji sat for 81 hours in the Samadhi. He did not gain consciousness for about 4 days. He did not eat, drink or bathe for that time. He sat in the same place, in the same Asan the whole time. Nobody disturbed him out of fear. The senior Sikhs sat near Guru ji during the day. They wanted his eyes to open. After 81 hours Guru Angad Dev ji came out of the Nirvakalap Samadhi. He got up and bathed. He ate and did his personal activities. Guru ji sent for all the people to come and hear the Katha of Guru Nanak Dev ji. The speaker, the writer and the listeners all came. They all sat in their places and got ready to listen to the Amar (immortal) Katha of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Bhai Bala ji began to say the Katha again. Sri Guru Angad Dev ji listened with focus.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
The Rakshish was saved. Guru ji, the Giver of Mukti, travelled on. The jungle was thick. There was no city nearby. Guru ji travelled from there, very slowly. At that time, Bhai Mardana ji said: “Prabhoo ji, I am hungry. It’s been many days since we ate. I can’t go forward. I can’t go another step. There is no village in sight.” The Light of the Bedis said: “be patient. There is a village close by.” Guru ji kept him busy and travelled. We passed the jungle. After about 9 km, there was a village. Prabhoo ji showed it to Bhai Mardana ji: “look at the beautiful village, high on that place. Let’s go quickly. You can eat there.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “listen oh Mine of Virtues, Prabhoo ji, I don’t have any strength to walk. I will die here somewhere. I’ve figured this out. Look where Khuddah decided to kill me. I can see that I will die. What will happen if we go to the village? I have no money. Without money, nobody will give us anything. How will I eat?” Sri Guru ji heard this and sifted the sand with his foot. From the ground came a very precious and expensive ruby. Its beauty could not be described. Guru ji said: “keep this ruby with you. Pick it up and tie it to your shirt. Be patient and walk on ahead. We are almost there now.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “what good is this rock? Nobody will pay anything for it. If we had money, we could have bought what we wanted to. Keeping the rock with me won’t satisfy my hunger. I need food.” Sri Guru ji said: “the village is close by. You will see the rock’s value in the city. Let’s travel the 9 km quickly.” Guru ji gave him hope and travelled on. Bhai Mardana ji was embarrassed. He was upset.
The Light of the Bedis travelled to the city. There was a beautiful tree with a nice shade. Guru ji sat under the tree, outside of the city. Bhai Mardana ji said: “I will do as you say. The “Laal” that you gave me, what shall I do with it?” The Lotus-faced One said: “do you know the name of this city or not?” Bhai Mardana ji said: “Prabhoo ji, what’s in a name? Will you let me eat or not? What I don’t care about, you speak of that. You wasted the whole day.” The Giver of Joy laughed and said: “the name of this place is called Bishamberpur (a town in Patna).” Bhai Mardana ji said: “so it is. I am hungry and weak. I don’t know how I came here.” Guru ji became compassionate and laughed. He said: “go to the city and find the home of a jeweler. Sell this laal (ruby).” Bhai Mardana ji heard this and went to the city, quickly.
(According to Giani Gian Singh ji, Guru Nanak Dev ji said: “don’t sell the ruby. Have it valued.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “life is precious too. It too is not valued correctly.” Guru ji said: “have it valued.” Bhai Mardana ji went to the city and went to a grocer. The grocer valued the ruby and 2 Radishes. Bhai Mardana ji then went to a Halwai. The Halwai valued it at a pound of burfi or Pakoras. As Bhai Mardana ji travelled, the value kept doubling. He then found Salas Rai)
Bhai Mardana ji went to a jeweler and had the laal valued. The jeweler was not wise. He valued it at 3 copper coins. Bhai Mardana ji thought to himself: “a laal is supposed to be expensive. That’s what wise people say.” Bhai Mardana ji said to the jeweler: “my 2 companions are outside of the city. I need to ask them first.” Bhai Mardana ji came back and said to Guru ji: “I had the laal valued at 3 copper coins.” Guru ji said: “find Salas Rai Jauhari. Mardana, go to his home. Give him the ruby. Whatever he gives you, bring it back.”
Bhai Mardana ji went to the city to find the home of Salas Rai Jauhari. When someone showed him the home of Salas Rai, Bhai Mardana ji went to the home and yelled out to him. Salas Rai heard the yelling and sent a servant: “who is this that is yelling out to me?” The servant came to Bhai Mardana ji and said: “who are you and why are you here?” Bhai Mardana ji said: “I wish to sell something.” The servant called him in. Bhai Mardana ji went into the home and showed Salas Rai the ruby. As soon as Salas Rai saw the ruby, he was extremely happy and amazed. There was something written on the ruby. The jeweler was wise and followed the Dharma. He thought about everything and said: “the ruby says that whosoever sees the ruby should pay 100 Rajitpuns. I will value it later. First take 100 Rajitpuns for having me see the ruby.” Bhai Mardana ji was happy and came to Guru ji. Guru ji said: “Mardana, how much was the ruby valued at?” Bhai Mardana ji told Guru ji: “there was a Shahukaar who gave me 100 Rajitpuns for just seeing the ruby. I came back to ask you how much should the ruby be sold for? The jeweler wants to know. Whatever you say, I will bring it back.” Guru ji said: “go to the Shahukaar and ask him why he gave 100 Rajitpuns.”
Bhai Mardana ji went back and asked: “why did you give me money?” The Shahukaar said: “this is for the respect of the ruby. It says it on top of the ruby: “give 100 Rajitpuns on seeing this.” The value is what you ask for it. I will give you what you ask for it.” Bhai Mardana ji came back and told Guru ji what the Shahukaar said: “the money was for the respect of the ruby. He will pay whatever the ruby is worth.” Guru ji said: “should it be sold or not? The ruby cannot be valued.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “I don’t know these things. You can do what you think is right.” Sri Guru ji said: “Mardana, this in fact is not a ruby. It is the Name of Kartaar. You can either keep it with you or sell it.” Bhai Mardana ji knew the value of the Name. He spoke with humility and clarity: “Sri Prabhoo ji, I won’t sell it. It gives peace in every dimension.” Guru ji said: “alright. If you won’t sell it, then give the money back to the Shahukaar.” Bhai Mardana ji went back and returned the 100 Rajitpuns to the Shahukaar. He said: “take the money. Give me the ruby back. The Master does not wish to sell it.” Salas Rai said: “take the money and the ruby. Do as you wish with them.” Bhai Mardana ji was happy to get both things. He came back to Guru ji and said: “Sri Prabhoo ji, I got the money and the ruby. He gave it to me and said sweet words. Whatever you command me, I will do. I am tired and can’t travel anymore though.” Sri Guru ji said: “take the ruby and give the money back. Take the money if we are to sell the ruby. If you’re not going to sell it, then why take the money?” Bhai Mardana ji went back with the money. The Shahukaar didn’t take the money back and said: “it says that on the ruby. That’s why I gave you the money. This is my Dharma. If you take the money back, my Dharma is violated. I would never do that. The money is yours. Do what you want with it.”
Bhai Mardana ji came back to Guru ji. He thought to himself: “Sri Guru ji doesn’t keep it. The Jauhari doesn’t take the money back.” He went back and forth 7 times. He was tired of going back and forth. He was hungry. He got angry and threw the money in front of the jeweler’s home. The jeweler thought to himself: “this ruby is rare. Whoever had this, he didn’t take the money. He is content. I wish to do his Darshan. He discarded his greed. He must be great.” He collected sweet foods as his Karma came to fruition. He sent a servant and said: “don’t let them leave. Keep them there.” Salas Rai took the food and gifts and went to see Guru ji. He saw Sri Guru ji’s radiant form from afar. Bhai Mardana ji was embarrassed. He kept his head low and didn’t say anything. He was upset from being hungry. He was tolerating everything. He was thinking many bitter things but didn’t say anything out of fear of Guru ji.
Salas Rai came at that time. He placed sweet foods in front of Guru ji. He folded his hands and bowed to Guru ji. He said to us all: “please take your money. Please let me follow my Dharma.” Sri Guru ji said: “if I wished to sell the ruby, we could have taken the gift money of respect. If we are not selling it, how can we take the money? You keep the money.” Salas Rai’s doubts were gone, seeing Guru ji and hearing his words. His mind was pure now. He knew that this was a complete saint: “it is great to see him and hear him.” He said: “I was amazed to see the ruby. By your grace, I got to see the ruby. Is the ruby valuable or yourself? Seeing you, I am blessed. Who is the real ruby? Please help me understand this. Oh Compassionate One, you are the Mine of Virtues.” Guru ji spoke a Shabad:
Bilaval Mahala 1..
The red ruby created by the Beloved. He is seen within his Beloveds..
The ones who have the red love in their eyes for the Parmeshwar, they don’t regard anyone else as valuable..1..
Listen Salas, you are a jeweler, recognize the ruby within you..
Don’t gather these garbage rubies, recognize the real form..1..Rahao..
From the joining of rocks and stones, you call yourself a Shaho..
Without the complete Satguru, one is blind; one cannot value the way (of Bhagti)..2..
You gather as “Mine, Mine!” Day and night..
No field grows crop that has the Kullar (scum) after rain..3..
Listen Salas to this request, if you get the (selfless) Karma..
Nanak says, only meditate on the One, pain will never come then..4..
(Sri Nanak Prakash Granth)
These false rubies, you gather. Nothing is solved by this. You can’t even eat them. It doesn’t protect you from cold, like clothes do. People keep them for prestige and ego. They call themselves as “Shahoos.” Sri Kartar’s name is the ruby. Whover gets it, they are blessed. The Aatma ruby is priceless. You didn’t value it. You forgot about the bliss of your Aatma which is infinite. You fell into the troubles of the world.” Salas Rai heard this and said: “who are you? Where is your country? Where are you going, Sant ji? What is your form? I have seen the followers of the 6 Darshans (Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisesika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta). You don't dress like any of them." Sri Guru ji heard this and said: "my name is Nanak Nirankari. I am from the land of Ikankaar. That is the way they dress there." Salas Rai heard this and wanted to grab Guru ji's feet. He said: "if you have seen Ikankaar, then show me as well. Make me free from sorrow. I come to the sanctuary of your feet." Sri Guru ji said a Shabad:
Maaroo Mahala 1.
In the pure, pure waters, both the lotus and the slimy scum are found.
The lotus flower is with the scum and the water, but it remains untouched by any pollution. ||1||
You frog, you will never understand.
You eat the dirt, while you live in the pure waters. You know nothing of the Amrit there. ||1||Rahao||
You live continually in the water; the bumble bee does not dwell there, but it is intoxicated with its fragrance from afar.
Sensing the moon in the distance, the kumunadi bows its head. ||2||
By adding Amrit-like; sugar, milk and honey into the Toomba is not sweet; the cleverness does not go away.
You don’t let go of your ego, your sense of self; just as the mosquitos loves blood. ||3||
The fool may live with the Pandit, the religious scholar, and listen to the Vedas and the Shastras.
You don’t let go of your “self” (ego), like the crookedness does not leave the tail of the dog. ||4||
The hypocrites; they do not merge with the Naam, the Name of the Lord. Some are absorbed in the Feet of the Lord, Har, Har.
The mortals obtain what they are predestined to receive; O Nanak, with your tongue, chant the Naam. ||5||4||
(SGGS 990)
Salas Rai heard the Shabad and its translations from Guru ji. He became humble from his mind. He said: "please give me the wisdom by which I can receive the greatest status of Mukti. Take the Rajitpuns and bless me. You are the complete and compassionate saint." Sri Guru ji said: "the money is of no use to me. This money looks good in your home." Salas Rai said: "if you don't take the money then please eat the food I brought." Bhai Mardana ji heard this but remained quiet. He thought about the food: "Sri Guru ji should take the food and give it to me. I am hungry and tired. I will be satiated if I get the food." Sri Guru ji was benevolent. He said a Shabad after seeing the food:
Maaroo Mahala 1..
The Love of food and Pakvaans is to love the Parmeshwar
It fulfills the wishes, this is the Pooris
The sweet is to say Har Har from your mouth. The mind stays in his presence..1..
Listen Salas, you are my brother,
If you understand yourself, you will be complete..1..Rahao..
The Meva is to meet the Parmeshwar. To know the Sat is the clothes..
Eat food that satiates you, that is the name of the Hari, what turns you away from the poisons of the vices..2..
(Sri Nanak Parkash Granth)
The servant that was with Salas Rai, Adhraka Das, he quickly became pure. He bowed in the Ashtanga way to Guru Nanak Dev ji. He said: "I am in your sanctuary. I am fortunate. I know that you are the Parmeshwar. Your name is “Deen Dyaal,” the Compassionate One towards the weak. You save everyone from the fires of the world. Keep the promise of your Name." Guru ji was happy with Adhraka. He broke his bonds of rebirth. He said a Pauri by which Salas Rai wanted Mukti
Pauri..
To be born in a high caste, who doesn't think of the Lord, they are Saakat..
If a low caste attains to the Narayan, they are free from the waves of greed who sing the praises in the Sadh Sang..3..
Listen Salas, this servant of yours, he understood that he is the Narayan.
Nanak has (counted him among) met him with Bhagats. He has received the highest status..4..
(Sri Nanak Parkash Granth)
Salas heard this and thought: "he is the Avatar of Sri Parmeshwar. His words have freed your servant's pain. He is in bliss now." He became humble and let go of his ego. He bowed to Guru ji's feet. He said: "free me as well. You are the Giver of Mukti. Break my bonds of attachment. You purify the sinners. Keep my honour. I am in your sanctuary. I don't see anyone else like you." Sri Guru ji said: "then do this: bow to your servant's feet. If you bow, you will be free. You won't be born again." Salas Rai heard this and folded his hands. He bowed to his servant's feet quickly. He said to Guru ji with humility: "this servant of mine is very wise. He had the characteristics of saints. He is great in his Karma and Dharma. You blessed him. He is deserving of being bowed to. He is a human. I would bow to a dog if you tell me to. I will obey you." Guru ji heard his words and laughed. He said: your bonds are broken. Bow to Nirankaar now. Your doubts will be destroyed from your heart." Salas Rai bowed in the Ashtanga way towards Guru ji. He praised Guru ji with love: “you are the compassionate Master. You are omniscient of the 3 Loks. You give joy and kill the enemies. You kill the attachment with your Darshan. You are the Master of Inder. You are undefeatable. You are under the spell of your servants." Guru ji had a 1.5 yard Dastaar tied to his head. Guru ji gave that Dastaar to Salas Rai. Salas Rai tied the Dastaar to his head. His Dasam Duaar opened right away. He was in Gyaan Anand. His radiance grew. He was blessed right away. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji blessed him. He was in deep love in his heart. He praised Guru ji in a Shabad:
Salas Rai Vaach..
The complete Satguru, he gave me the Naam and opened my Kapaat..
The transaction I did, it is never in loss..1..
Satguru Nanak is complete, he is the warrior of his word..1..Rahao..
He showed me the Gyaan of the Shaasters and Vedas; he opened my eyes of Gyaan, forever..
The world is a Merchant, the Shah is the One Bhagwant..2..
The Satguru is the business, Naam is the profit..
The Naam is always sounding, that is my work..3..
Salas makes a big request, listen Kartar.
You took off the fragile colour of Maya and gave me the deep colour of the Name..4..
Sri Guru ji was really happy to hear this. Salas Rai was given a Manjhi of a Masand. the whole city worshiped him then. He was deserving of Pooja. Guru ji then said: "till you are alive, don't give this seat to your children. Your servant will sit on your seat after you. Don't give it to anyone else. I was going to give the Manjhi to your servant first. He came to my shelter first. He is the servant so he will get it second according to the worldly ways. I kept your respect. Your age is less. You have 2 years and 7 months left. Your servant is a saint. He is without jealousy." Listen Guru Angad Dev ji, the Giver of Mukti, Guru ji said to me: "Mardana is hungry. Give him food to eat." I obeyed and gave him food. There was sweet food. He ate as much as he wanted to. His belly was full. Salas Rai went home. We all stayed there for many days. (3 months according to Giani Gian Singh ji)