The feet of Sri Guru ji are like the sandalwood. I am like the Arind plant, planted near the sandalwood, which has taken on the smell and calmness of the sandalwood. I have become useful now.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
Listen Guru Angad Dev ji, oh Giver of Mukti, the Mine of Virtues then travelled on. We sometimes walked on the ocean and sometimes on land. To make us laugh, Guru ji spoke: “Mardana, you ate some good fruits. Are you satiated yet or not?” Bhai Mardana ji folded his hands and said: “I made a mistake, oh Giver of Peace. I spoke harsh words. I was punished with pain for that. You were compassionate and saved your servant. You killed the Daynt. I get anxious when I get hungry. I get angry and lose my wisdom. I speak harshly and then I get in trouble. You are the purifier of the sinners. You are the Love of the Saints. Forgive my mistake.” The Kamal Badan was happy to hear this and then spoke to Bhai Mardana ji, seeing him as his servant: “I am always happy with you. I am happy to hear your words. Stay happy when you are with me. I don’t think anything of your words.” Guru ji laughed and joked with us in this way as we all travelled. We walked for many days. There was no village on the way, nor any city. There were just ruins in every direction. Bhai Mardana ji spoke: “we’ve been travelling through ruins, day and night. Will there be a city or a village coming soon? We have travelled for many days. We didn’t see any village or city. We are walking through the jungles and ruins. We are walking for no reason here.” The Pankaj Naina laughed and said: “you like asking about cities. Are you hungry again?” Bhai Mardana ji said: “that is true. There is nobody here to feed us. I am hungry. There is no food ready for us here. We are walking through the jungle. I think I will die somewhere here. I only get food sometimes. Without food, life can’t exist. I don’t know how I stay in your company. I walk with you without food. You are never hungry nor thirsty. You are always in bliss.” Guru ji laughed slightly. His white teeth looked like crystals. Guru ji said: “listen Mardana, if you die from hunger, I am responsible for you. I’ll bring your Pranas back. One day, it is the truth: death will come. Just as the raw pot melts in the water, the body deteriorates in the world. Whatever you see, this is the food of death. Don’t get upset. The city is close by. You can eat what you want there. It’s not far. It’s close by.” Guru ji then went quiet.
The Complete Guru walked slowly. His Darshan was great. A city then came. It was beautiful and radiant. It was like the Amravati of the Devatas. Amravati would be embarrassed by the beauty of this city. There were beautiful gardens all around. The Kusum flowers were blossoming there. A golden fort could be seen which was radiant. It had different colour gems in it. The homes were the same. The Ataris were high. The domes were golden. The doors were beautiful. There were decorations hanging from them. The doors were made of sandalwood and smelled great. The Devatas would be greedy to see this. The city sparkled bright. It was like many suns shining. When we reached close to the city, Guru ji sat down. He said to Bhai Mardana ji: “go to the city and see it. You asked a lot of times. Eat the food and satiate your hunger.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “Sri Prabhoo ji, I don’t have any money. How will I eat? I don’t know anyone here. I am really hungry.” Guru ji laughed and said: “the whole city will give you food. You will get great food everywhere. You will get what you want.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “Prabhoo ji, looks like you will get me caught. When I eat, people will beat me up. This is your plan. They will see me as a thief and arrest me. They will tie me up. What food will I eat?” Guru ji said: “if someone arrests you, say my name. They will let you go. Eat as much as you want.” Bhai Mardana ji was happy to hear this.
Bhai Mardana ji went to the city. There was a great market in the square. The shops were made of gold. They had gems in the walls. It was beautiful. There was a lot of sweets in the shops. Karah, Pooras and Pooris were in the shops. The people were like Devatas, wearing jewellery and colourful clothes. Bhai Mardana ji was happy to see the city. He was surprised to see the people there. He went to a person and said: “what’s the name of the king of this place? Tell me what the name of this city is? Tell me everything. How do people deal in this place? The shops are made of gold.” The person heard him and said: “the name of this city is Swaranpur. The King is Kaval Nain. He is the king of kings. There is nobody else like him. Everything is free here. There is no price. You can take what you wish. The sweet foods at the shops, they give the food for Dharma. Whatever foreigners wish for, they are given everything without payment.” Bhai Mardana ji was happy and said: “I am hungry. I wish to eat. See me as a foreigner. Tell me your name.” The person said: “Dharam Singh is my name. Whatever you wish for, you can take from the shops and eat it. Nobody will refuse you for anything. They will give you everything for free. Food and gold are free.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “I will eat if you give it to me with your hands. I don’t know anybody here. I am shy to ask for food.” Dharam Singh heard this and said: “come! I will get you food. If you have others with you, take food for them without a doubt.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “there are two others with me but they don’t eat anything. Come and give me the food. Satiate my hunger.” The two of them walked towards the shops.
Bhai Mardana ji and Dharam Singh went to a big shop. Dharam Singh said to the shop keeper: “give him 2.5 Sers of sweets.” Bhai Mardana ji got the sweets and was happy to eat them. He then drank water. He roamed the whole city. He was happy to see the city. For an hour and a half, he saw the whole city and came back to Guru ji. Guru ji saw Bhai Mardana ji coming and said to him: “how did you find the city? You are blooming like the lotus. You are full of happiness. Are you satiated or not?” Bhai Mardana ji said: “Prabhoo ji, listen, I have never seen another city like this. The whole city is made of gold. The homes are made of gold. The shops have many sweets: Karah, Jalabees and Pooris. The food is pure. They are kept nicely. The ladoos, Ras gullas, nuktis and other Pakvaans are kept in the shops. They gave me everything for free. Whatever somebody wants to eat, they give them what they want. I met a person with a great personality. He got the food for me. He said to me: “if you have others with you, take food for them, without fear.” I told him that I have 2 others with me but they don’t eat. They are Santokhis. I ate the sweets and then roamed around the city.” Guru ji laughed and said: “you did good. What you like, you did. Sit and sing Shabads with me.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “what type of work do these people do? The whole city is in joy. The people are always happy.” Guru ji said: “listen Mardana, nobody lies here. The Dharma is great here. People earn virtues and good deeds here. The Raja banished sins from here. The people keep Sat and Santokh in their hearts here. The men and women do not engage in sexual contact here. They procreate with each other by Dhrist Bhog, vision. Everyone loves to give donations and do good Karmas.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “this is amazing and surprising what you have told me. These are all new traditions. I have never seen or heard anything like it.” Guru ji said: “what the Kartaar does is amazing. The Ikankaar is infinite and unthinkable. His ways are amazing. Nobody can understand them. A person, although being as small as an atom, feels proud of his/her accomplishments. Such people speak nonsense and show off their achievements. They can't handle their accomplishments. Some show off their powers for glory. There is no Raja like this Raja in Kaliyuga. Parmeshwar has not made another one like him. 17 Kings follow him. The Raja follows the Dharma and is great." Bhai Mardana ji said: "let's stay here and make a living. This place is beautiful. The place is made of gold. Great food is always made. You can get what you want." Sri Guru ji said: "this is not in our hands. Wherever Kartaar takes us, that is where we will go." Guru ji, the master of the world, went quiet. Doing his Darshan, the sins are destroyed.
We spent 7 days there. Saying Guru ji's name, the Jumms get scared. Bhai Mardana ji went to the city twice a day to eat food. He would go to a shop and get the food he wanted to eat. He got Pooriyas, Pooray, ladoos and other foods. He ate and was very happy. Dharam Singh met him one day and said to him: "your 2 friends, we have never seen them in the city. How do they eat?" Bhai Mardana ji said: "they are Santokhis. They don't come here. If someone takes food with love, they will eat. Otherwise they are Pavan Ahaari (extracting food from the wind). They sit in the Garden outside of the city." Dharam Singh heard this and thought to himself: "I should see these great saints." He took 5 Sers of food and came to see Guru ji with love.
Where the Light of the Bedis was sitting, Dharam Singh came there. Bhai Mardana ji was with him. Dharam Singh bowed with humility to Guru ji's feet. He put the food in front of Guru ji. He said: "please eat this, Sant ji. Please accept this. I have heard of your greatness. You have killed the jungle of attachment. You are the fire that burns it." Guru ji looked at Dharam Singh and spoke with love: "who sent this food? Who are you? For what reason did you come here? Tell me your story." Dharam Singh folded his hands and said: "listen Sant ji, you are the Giver of Mukti. It has been 7 days since you have been here. You did not set foot in our city. You did not take any food. You sit here in the jungle. I've heard your ways from your companion. I came to you with love. I brought food for you. Kaval Nain is the king of the city. He follows the Dharma and is without ego. He doesn't show his power to anyone else. He doesn't show off to anyone nor does he give pain to anyone. He sees everyone as equal to him. He has great willpower and tolerance. 17 kings around this region, they obey him. He doesn't say anything to anyone. He doesn't show is power or strength to anyone. Please eat this pure food. I have told you everything." The Bhagat Vachal spoke: "I have understood the way of this region. I won't eat the food in this place. I have seen one fault in the Raja. Where there is no fault, that is where the food is pure." Dharam Singh heard this and said: "our Raja is without fault. What fault did you see in him? Tell me what fault you see." Sri Guru ji said: "the one who has the fault, only he knows it. He doesn't tell anyone else. The other minds don't know his story." Jagannatha ji went quiet. Dharam Singh bowed to Guru ji's feet and left.
Dharam Singh went to his king. He said to him: "3 Sadhoos have come to your city. Listen to my request: one comes to the city to eat food. The other 2 sit in the jungle. They have been here for 7 days and haven't eaten anything. I took food for them but they did not eat. They said that they see a fault in the king. They won't eat the food because of that. I asked them about the fault but they didn't tell me. They said that the Raja knows everything." Kaval Nain heard this and starting thinking deeply. He said: "I wish to see the saints. They have been sitting outside for 7 days." The Raja left with Dharam Singh. The Raja wished to see Guru ji. He took expensive gifts with him. Many warriors and ministers went with him.
The Raja came to Guru ji and bowed. He then sat nearby. He had no pride of his kingdom. He said: "Sant ji, what fault did you see in me?" Guru ji said: "oh Raja, you know in your mind that all the humans are just like you. Why do you make the others obey you? Your ego still lives. It is hard to kill the ego. Ego has the whole world in its command. It eats the whole world. It is the giver of birth and death. The one who knows how to win it is the greatest warrior. That is the greatest being. To win the attachment, they are the greatest." The Raja said: "I don't say anything to anyone. The 17 kings came by themselves. If you see ego in me, then Sant ji, please destroy it." Guru ji said: "if you have killed your ego, then follow Sudhar Sain Raja. Follow his command. Then I will see you without faults. If you obey this, you will receive Jeevan Mukti. If you have ego of commanding 17 kings, destroy it." The Raja was happy to see Guru ji. He said: "I would bow to Sudhar Sain's dogs if you say. I would fall to their feet." Guru ji was happy with the Raja's humility. He said: "you are great Raja! Your greatness is like Raja Janak’s. You served him in a pervious birth." When the Raja heard this, he was in doubt. He said: "if you know of my previous life then please tell me everything. How did I do his Seva? How did Raja Janak get happy with me and give me wealth? You are the Complete Saint, the Compassionate One. I am fortunate to have met you." Guru ji heard this and said: "when Raja Janak was here, your name was Safa Chand. You did the Seva of the Raja, a lot. One day, the Raja said to you: "get water from the icy mountain. The water is cold there. I wish to drink that. I am thirsty. Go quickly." You obeyed and left. As you walked, you thought to yourself: "if I was a king, I would give such commands. Raja Janak lives in joy, day and night. He calls for what he wishes for from his servants." You thought of all this. When you brought the water to Raja Janak, he drank it and was happy. He said to you: "ask for what is in your heart. I will give you what you ask for." You said to him: "I don't wish for anything. What should I ask form you, oh Raja? I have everything that you gave me." You didn't speak the truth. You were shy to say anything to him. Raja Janak was omniscient. He could see everything. He knew what you were thinking. He said to you: "you have already asked for something. You were thinking of something when you were walking towards the icy mountain. You asked for that. You wanted to be a king. You will be bigger than me." He gave you the great boon. You folded your hands and bowed to him. You said to Raja Janak: "I did your Seva for Aatam Gyaan. I didn't get that." Janak said: "in Kaliyuga, the complete Guru will meet you once. He will give you Aatam Gyaan. He will break the bonds of the world for you." Kaval Nain heard about his previous birth. He was really happy to hear this. He bowed to Guru ji's feet. He then said to Guru ji: "who else can be more complete than you, Guru ji? Your Darshan makes the pain run away. Come to my city and make it pure. Come and sit in the beautiful home." After praising Guru ji in many ways, Kaval Naina brought Guru ji to his city.
Guru ji came to the city with love in his heart. Where the golden palace was, strands of beautiful pearls hung; Guru ji sat on the beautiful bed in the middle, that was laid out for him. Many types of Sevas of Guru ji were done. The Raja served Guru ji himself. Guru ji stayed there for a long time. He gave the Aatam Gyaan wisdom to the Raja. He saw the One form in all by Guru ji's help. The duality in his mind was gone.
I state this Katha in short. The Katha is long. I am afraid of the Granth becoming big. I have summarized this Katha. It is a long one. A Dharmsala was constructed. Keertan began to be sung there every day. Bhagti illuminated in the city. They all did the Simran of the Naam, which destroyed the pain. They all did the Seva of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. The attachments and egos were being destroyed.
Guru ji then decided to leave. The Raja said: "I will go with you. Give my throne to someone else." Sri Guru ji said: "listen Raja, you are deserving of being the king. Keep the Dyana of the Parmeshwar. I will always be by your side." Guru ji gave him hope and got ready to leave. The Raja was drenched in love. He shed tears and his throat swelled with emotion. It was like a fish without water. Guru ji blessed the Raja and set forth. He was the Door of Mukti. Bhai Mardana ji ate a lot of food while he stayed there. He got healthier. He became heavier. He left with Guru ji in joy. Guru ji's glory was deep. The Adhyay is now complete. The Kavi sings the glories of Guru ji.