The ones who have renounced Hangta (ego) and Mamta (possessiveness); stay the same in joy and sorrow; I bow to such saints and say the Katha.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
Listen Sri Guru Angad Dev ji to the Katha which makes the mind happy. Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Destroyer of Pain for the Poor, travelled to the high mountains. Sometimes the terrain was easy and sometimes it was harsh. The land known as Kashmir, that is where the Jagdesh went. Guru ji came to a village on a mountain. The Light of the Bedis sat in a nice place. Guru ji spent 12 days there. Nobody came to see him, nor did Guru ji call anyone. On the thirteenth day, a shepherd came. He saw us sitting down and was surprised. He spoke harsh words to us: “who are you people sitting in the ruins? Are you thieves or murderers? Who are you looking to rob? Are you waiting for someone to be revealed? If you were true Fakirs then you would have gone to the village to beg for alms. You are wearing the robes of Fakirs but you are not Fakirs in reality.” Guru ji heard this and gave a little smile. Guru ji said: “why are you worried? You have left your sheep to graze. Go and take care of them. You have no compassion nor do you wish to serve saints with love. You didn’t think about this. On top of that, you spoke harsh words. You have no fear for the Parmeshwar.” When the shepherd heard this, he went to see where his sheep were grazing. When he saw his sheep, they were all dead on the ground. He was surprised to see this. He was confused as to what had happened to his sheep. He thought to himself: “what will I say to the owners of the sheep? They will tie up my whole family. Who will rescue me?” The fool swayed in depression. He was really worried as he had lost his patience. He thought to himself: “I spoke harsh words to the saints. This is the result of such a bad deed.” He thought about this and ran back to Guru ji. He bowed his head to Guru ji’s feet. He stayed with his head down. He wouldn’t get up. Guru ji tried to raise him but he didn’t get up. Guru ji said: “what task of yours has spoiled? You came back to me in fear.” The shepherd said: “listen Sant ji, you are omniscient. You know everything. You asked so I will tell you. Something surprising happened. I am a shepherd. I left the sheep and came to you. When I spoke harsh words to you, my sheep all died. Forgive my mistakes. Have compassion on me. You are a Sadhoo who forgives. If I go home, the owners of the sheep will capture me. They will tie up my family. I won’t have anywhere to go. I come to your shelter, oh Compassionate One. Firstly, my job is gone; secondly the owners of the sheep will swear at me.” Guru ji heard this and became compassionate. He laughed and said: “where your sheep have died, go back there. Say “Vahiguru” from your mouth. Your dead sheep will wake up.” The shepherd was happy to hear this. He bowed and went back to where his sheep were.
The shepherd said: “Vahiguru,” and made all of his sheep alive again. The sheep grazed the grass again. Seeing this miracle, he was surprised. He left his sheep and came back to where the Sukhkand was sitting. He said: “I won’t leave from here now. I will earn the Seva of your feet.” Guru ji told him to go back but the shepherd stayed the night with Guru ji. In the morning, the owners of the sheep came looking for the sheep in the jungle. Some men came close to Satguru ji. They saw the shepherd there too. They said: “you fool! You are sitting here in joy. Where did you lose the sheep? Where did you hide them? Tell us or you will be beaten.” The shepherd spoke: “don’t speak harshly here. I came to this saint yesterday and disrespected him. All of the sheep died because of my harsh words. I came back to him and requested him to forgive me. I bowed to his feet, which give joy. The saint told me to say “Vahiguru” to make the sheep alive again. I did what he said and the sheep were alive again. This is the very form of Khuddah. I couldn’t leave him. I stopped tending to your sheep. You can go and find them in the jungle. Don’t depend on me to tend your sheep. Take care of your sheep.” The men were surprised to hear this. When they knew the truth, they all bowed to Guru ji’s feet. They all went to find their sheep. They found them and went back to their villages. The praise of Guru ji spread in the area. Everyone came to bow to Guru ji’s feet. They brought gifts and placed them in front of Guru ji. Everyone was blessed. The fortunate ones took the Pahul of Guru ji’s feet and did the Simran of the Satguru. They destroyed the vices of their hearts.
Guru ji entered the village and had a Dharamsala constructed. He made everyone practice Simran, charity and Ishnaan. The path of Sikhi was illuminated in the land. The praise of Guru ji spread in the area. The Shabads that Guru ji uttered, the people wrote them down. They recited the Shabads with love and did their work. They had faith in Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.
There was a wise Pandit that lived there. He was well versed in all of the Vidyas. He heard of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s praises and wanted to meet him. The Pandit had defeated many scholars in debates. He had two camels that stayed with him and carried all of his books. They travelled with him wherever he went. He wore the Salagrama idol around his neck and wore 12 Tilaks on his body. Where the Light of the Bedis was sitting, the Pandit came there. He said: “Ram Ram,” and sat down. He was egotistical about his knowledge. He saw Guru ji wearing a leather cloak and spoke harsh words to him: “why do you eat meat, being a saint? Why do you wear a leather cloak? This is an unorthodox thing to do.” Guru ji wore a Pusteen. He heard the Pandit’s words and said a Shabad with love to give the Pandit wisdom:
Sri Mukhvaak.. Salok M:1..
You read and read loads of books gathered on carts; you read and study vast multitudes of books.
You read and read boat-loads of books; you read and read and fill potholes with them.
You read them year after year; you read them as many months there are.
You read them all your life; you read them with as many breaths you have.
O Nanak, only one thing is of any account: everything else is useless babbling in ego. ||1||
(SGGS 467)
Listen Pandit, without the Satguru, the Path is not achieved. Without the key, the lock remains locked. It does not open with many efforts. When the good karma gathers, one meets the Guru. The Guru gives them wisdom and shows them the difference between truth and myth. The person then knows what to keep and what not to keep. The doubt is erased and one is in peace. The imaginations are destroyed in the Munn. The person does not look towards the body and actions of others. The person only looks inwards and makes it grow. Oh Pandit, listen to this and think about it: till the mind is stuck with vices and desires, the outward appearance is useless. Till you are not connected to the truth, you will experience the stick of the Jumms. One is always caught in the cage of desire. The intoxication of lust, anger and ego control the person by which they cannot see the True Self. They are fools. When the good karma comes to fruition, you meet the Satguru by blessings. The Satguru shows you your true form. He frees you from the doubts and karma. The ego is renounced along with all of the pain. The person takes in whatever his destiny allows him. He/she does not desire anything and is always in bliss.” The Pandit heard this and bowed. His Dvait wisdom was destroyed. He realised that Guru ji was omniscient. He figured out that no one could win the Guru. Guru ji said: “listen Pandit ji, go somewhere and take on a Guru.” The Pandit said: “listen Sant ji, where shall I go now? Tell me who should be my Guru.” Guru ji heard this and said: “go towards the dense jungle. There are 4 saints sitting there. Ask them and they will tell you.”
The Pandit headed towards the dense jungle. He saw the saints which gave joy. He bowed to them and told them his story: “I had doubt in my mind.” The 4 saints were Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Inder who had taken on a human form and came for the purpose of Akaal Purakh Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Darshan. They knew about the Pandit and said: “your Guru is in front of your home. The Guru lives there day and night. Go and accept your Guru.” The Pandit went towards his home and saw a home there where a beautiful woman lived. She wore jewellery of gold and expensive red clothes. She lived alone and danced in her home with joy. The Pandit thought to himself: “she seems to be a very powerful person.” The Pandit bowed his head to the woman. The woman took off her shoe and slapped the Pandit in the head. The Pandit could not say anything. He moved back and ran away. He went back to the 4 saints. The 4 saints (Brahm, Vishnu, Shiva, and Inder) clapped and laughed. They said: “why did you came back so quickly? Did you not take on a Guru?” The embarrassed Pandit spoke: “there was a crazy woman in the home. She was really bad with a bad personality. She was carefree and egotistical.” The saints said: “that is your Guru, whom you think of day and night. Whom you focus your attention on all the time. Lakshmi (Maya) is who you wish for. You are never satiated with how much money you get. Your desire grows by the day. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji is the Giver of Mukti. Leaving him, you wander for the love of others. Go and beg him for forgiveness. Have unwavering faith in him. Keep your mind focused. The Guru will save you if you take him on as your Guru. You won’t come back in the world again.” The Pandit had faith and came back to Guru Nanak Dev ji. He put the dirt from Guru ji’s feet onto his forehead. He denounced the ego of his education. He became deserving of The Charan Pahul. Sri Guru ji had done a drama to destroy the Pandit’s bad wisdom. He gave him Pahul and made him his Sikh. A Dharamsala was made where Maya had appeared as the dancing woman. The Pandit was made the preacher in that area. Guru ji made him practice Simran, charity and Ishnaan. Many came to the path of Sikhi. They did the Simran of the Satguru with great focus. Guru ji stayed there for a few more days. The name of the Pandit was Brahm Das. Guru ji preached Prema Bhagti there. Guru ji took leave from there and went somewhere else. Many people were saved and given Mukti. He destroyed their ego.
Where the Sindh River flows, there is a mountain 25 Kos away. They mountain is 1 Ko high. There were green trees at the foot of the mountain. Guru ji sat under a tree there. Guru ji stayed there casually for some time. Bhai Mardana ji wanted to drink water. He was thirsty and said to Guru ji: “oh Prabhoo ji, is there any water here? I am thirsty. You know everything. Please tell me where the water is. If it is not close by, let’s go on ahead. Let’s sit where there is water.” Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji spoke: “you can drink water. It is close by. Go up the mountain. There is a Fakir there named “Vali Kandhari.” He does Tapp with love. He wishes to receive bliss in the afterlife. He is born a Turk like you. Go and ask him for water. Till you don’t drink water and come back, I will stay under this tree.” Hearing Guru ji’s words, Bhai Mardana ji left to go up the mountain. He climbed the mountain slowly. He arrived at the place of the Fakir and saw Vali Kandhari sitting there. He had kept some water blocked atop of the mountain. Bhai Mardana ji bowed to Vali Kandhari and said: “I am thirsty. Please give me water to drink. I couldn’t find water anywhere else. I heard that you had water and so I came.” Vali Kandhari heard this and said: “from which land are you from, oh thirsty one? Who are you? Are you alone or is there someone else with you? Why did you come here?” Bhai Mardana ji spoke: “the Tappa Guru Nanak Dev ji is really great and famous. Everyone in Punjab knows him. He travels where he pleases. Hindus and Turks follow him. One call him the Guru and the others call him the Peer. He is the supreme. He has all the powers. Everyone bows to his feet. They all bring great gifts to his feet. I am the Rababi who stays with him. I sing beautiful Shabads with him. He is sitting at the foot of the mountain, under a tree. Please give me water. This is my story.” When Bhai Mardana ji praised Guru Nanak Dev ji, Vali Kandhari could not tolerate it. It was like the painful tears that give trouble. It was like a depressed person looking at a lit Deeva. Vali Kandhari said: “the Tappa whom you say is really powerful, why does he not call water for you? You say he is really powerful, why does his companion go around asking for water? It is good to give water to a thirsty person but I won’t give you water hearing your words.” Bhai Mardana ji heard his command and came back to Guru ji.
Bhai Mardana ji told Guru ji what had happened: “he heard your praises and felt pain. It was like a lonely woman getting jealous, seeing the moon. He said: “if you are with the Purshotam then why are you going around asking for water? Why doesn’t he take out water for you? If he is really powerful, then he should give you water.” Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji smiled and said: “he is egotistical with his Tapp. He can’t tolerate the greatness of others. He is burning in jealousy. You are a Turk so you should go and ask him for water. Drink it and destroy your thirst. Only the Turks love the Turks. Stay humble and ask him for water.” Bhai Mardana ji went back up the mountain by Guru ji’s command. He came to Vali Kandhari and said: “it is rewarding to give water to a thirsty person. There is no water anywhere else.” Vali Kandhari got angry and turned Bhai Mardana ji back: “I won’t give you water! You speak of your Guru’s powers. Why doesn’t he give you water?” Bhai Mardana ji got angry and returned.
Bhai Mardana ji said to Guru ji: “he won’t give me water.” The Omniscient One knew what had happened. Guru ji had a stick in his hand which he banged into the root of the mountain. Pure and cold water came out of the root of the mountain. A great flow came sprouting out. The water that Vali Kandhari had blocked, drained down the mountain. He saw the miracle and focused with the power of his Tapp to see what had happened. By his power, he pushed a big heavy boulder from the top of the mountain towards Sri Guru ji. The boulder rolled down the mountain really fast, uprooting trees along its path. It smashed other smaller rocks. It was to stop the water flow. It sounded like the Vajjar of Inder. It was power striking power. The boulder was coming to stop the water. Sri Guru ji lifted his hand and spread out his fingers. He remained sitting down casually. The boulder came towards Guru ji and was stopped in its tracks, being held up by the hand of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. It stayed there. The water flow did not stop. The Fakir was shocked. He used his powers to push the boulder further. He used all of his strength of his Tapp. Guru ji’s hand pressed into the boulder like Inder’s Vajjar going into a mountain. Vali Kandhari figured out that there was nothing more he could do. He saw his power as less than Guru ji’s. He couldn’t stop his water from draining.
That place is still famous as Sri Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan. The imprint of Guru ji’s hand can be seen in the boulder. Many tried to erase the imprint with many efforts but they all lost. The sign can still be seen. The water continues to flow down the mountain in the same way today. The water is pure and flows heavily. The Peer saw himself as weaker and came down the mountain to see Guru ji. He grabbed the feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and said: “oh Prabhoo, forgive me for my mistake. I did not know of your greatness. Assist me in my afterlife. Give me your wisdom.” He made many requests to Guru ji. He had faith in his heart. Sri Guru ji gave him wisdom: “you were suffering the pain of jealousy which has never given anyone, anything. Renounce the jealousy and be happy. Remember the Khuddah all the time, with every breath. Make your human life a success.” Guru ji spoke wisdom and Vali Kandhari accepted it. He bowed to Guru ji a second time. He made Guru ji his Peer. He received Mukti for that. The Peer remained in that place. Guru ji left from that place. The place of Vali Kandhari is still there. The water still flows in the same way.
Where the city of Kabul is beautifully situated, the Guru went there as the fire to destroy the jungles of pain. Guru ji saw a nice Maseet there where the Turks gathered and sat. Guru ji set up a Dhera in the Maseet. The Mulla of the Maseet came to Guru ji and said: “who are you and where did you come from? You look like a Hindu. This place is a great place for Turks. Don’t stay here. Leave from here.” Guru ji said: “we’ve been travelling and now we’re tired. We will only stay one night here and leave in the morning.” The Mulla said: “you can’t stay here. We don’t let Hindus stay here. Go and spend the night somewhere else. Listen to me and leave from here. If other Turks come, they will get angry. They will grab you by the arm and take you out. What work is there for a Hindu in the Maseet? Get up and go. That would be best for you. If you don’t listen to me, I will grab you by the arm and kick you out.” Guru ji heard this and smiled. He spoke to the Mulla: “if you have the strength, then keep your Maseet in this place. If it doesn’t stay then you are a liar. You speak like an empty pot.” The Mulla said: “staying still? Where will it go? Are you trying to scare me? Looks like you want to see my words become reality.” He got angry and got up. Guru ji went on top of the Maseet and rode the Maseet like a horse. The Mulla got really scared. Everyone saw this and were amazed. The Maseet ran around, which everyone saw. The Maseet was taken around Kabul like a horse. The Qazi of the Maseet came running. He wondered if it was a Peer, Auliya or Khuddah himself. Everyone folded their hands and grabbed Guru ji’s feet. They all became humble and had faith in Guru ji as they saw him as omnipotent. They said: “please stop the Maseet. For the sake of Khuddah, please give us your Darshan.” Guru ji stopped moving the Maseet. The people of the city came quickly. They brought gifts and bowed to Guru ji. They said: “Dhan Dhan.” They asked Guru ji what his name was. Guru ji said: “my name is Aughar (the Avdhoot).” Guru ji had them all practice Simran, Charity and Ishnaan. The left foot of Guru ji, the Turks worshipped it and bowed to it. The right foot of Guru ji, the Hindus worshipped with love. Everyone was given the wisdom: “do the Simran of the Naam. The bonds of the world will be broken. In the end, the Naam will assist you. The sins that you have done, the Naam will wash them away. Do the Seva of saints with love and devotion. Listen to their words which will give you joy. Earn their wisdom in your heart. You will be happy in both worlds.” Guru ji stayed there for some days and gave the wisdom of doing the Simran of the Naam. Guru ji took leave and came to a new place. I, Kavi Santokh Singh, ask for a gift: give me the gift of Satnam which will destroy my pain.