Her light illuminates in the world. Her light saves many in the world. The one who rides the swan; she is victorious and gives victory to others. Oh Mata (Sarsvati Goddess of Wisdom/ Gurbani), please illuminate my wisdom.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
Listen Sri Guru Angad Dev ji, oh Giver of Joy, the Treasure of Virtues: Guru Nanak Dev ji travelled on. The Compassionate One went to the foreign land of Habash (possibly Abyssinia, Ethiopia, Africa). The king was corrupt. If Hindus came to his land, he would have them killed. This was known around the area: “if he finds a Hindu, the king kills them.” The Satguru came there to make people chant the Naam. The people were crocked there. Guru ji wanted them to walk the straight path. Guru ji came to make them stop doing the bad deeds and give them the wisdom of the righteous path. A Chola came from the sky and landed near Guru ji. Its colour could not be understood. The make of the chola was interesting and amazing. There were many types of writings on the Chola. Hindi, Farsi, Arabic, Turki and Sanskrit letters were written on the Chola. Guru ji put the Chola on. The colour of the Chola was radiant and natural. Where the king lived, Guru ji went and sat near his residence. When a man came out of the village, he was surprised to see Guru ji’s Chola. The whole village found out. They all came to see Guru ji’s Chola. The people went to the king and spoke with humility: “a Darvesh has come into the village. We have never seen such a Chola that he is wearing. The Chola has the 30 Siparas of the Koran written on it. The whole Koran is written on it. 5 types of writings are written on the Chola properly.” The king heard this and called his Vizier. He said to him: “there is a Darvesh that has come outside. Take his Chola off and bring it.” The Vizier obeyed and went outside. He came to Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji with some soldiers. He stood there and said: “take your Chola off and give it to us. The king is calling for it. Don’t disobey. You will be in pain otherwise.” Sri Guru ji laughed and said: “if you can take it off, you can have it.” The Vizier and the soldiers tried to take the Chola off. They tried their best but failed. When they pulled it, it did not pull nor did it rip. They were all surprised.
The people told the king of what happened. The king spoke in anger and ego: “he seems to be a Hindu. Drown him in the river.” The Vizier came back to Guru ji with anger. There was a deep river nearby. They picked up Guru ji and threw him into the river. The Chola did not get wet. The water did not drown him. Guru ji came out of the river and sat near the shore. People were surprised to see this. They were shocked and told the king: “he did not drown.” The king said: “throw firewood on him and burn him. Take a lot of wood and light it.” The Vizier came to Guru ji and brought a lot of firewood. They stacked them around Satguru ji. They lit the fire all around Guru ji. Guru ji was not touched by the fire. The fire cooled down. The wood became ash. Satguru ji sat on top of the ash. The king heard about this: “the Fakir is magical. Kill him in front of me.” The king came to where Satguru ji was sitting. He said: “bring boulders and put them on top of him.” The people brought boulders and put them on top of Guru ji’s chest. They said: “he will now be killed. Let’s go home.”
The next day, Guru ji was sitting on top of a boulder. The people were shocked to see this. They said: “this Fakir can’t be killed. We don’t understand this.” They went to the king and said: “the one whom you buried under the boulder, he is sitting with his 2 companions and singing something.” The king was amazed. He said: “oh Khuddah, what is this?” He spoke to his ministers. Some wise ones said: “he seems to be the form of Khuddah. Others don’t have these kinds of powers. Go and worship his feet with faith. You tried everything and failed. You tried to kill him but he did not die. Be humble in front of him. Grab his feet and ask for forgiveness. We have seen his power. Let’s listen to his words.” The king trembled in fear, hearing this. He thought to himself: “I have made a big mistake. I hope my land is not ruined.” He gathered many gifts and came to Guru ji. The king had black skin. He was really scared and became humble. He came and grabbed Guru ji’s lotus feet. He folded his hands and said: “I made a lot of mistakes. Please forgive me, oh Ocean of Virtues. You are the Peer of Peers. Are you Khuddah? You are mysterious. We don’t understand you. I will follow what you say. I won’t make the same mistake again. I won’t disrespect a Fakir again. I was unwise. Please bless me and don’t get angry.” Guru ji saw the humility in the king and became compassionate. He spoke words of wisdom: “if you stop killing humans then you will be forgiven. If you don’t stop, you will be punished in Hell. You will be in pain.” King Laajbardh heard this and said: “since I came to your feet, I can’t even break a piece of grass now. Whatever you say, I will do.” Guru ji said: “if you obey me then do the Simran of Satnam, which gives joy. Do deeds for Khuddah. In your land, start Langar. Make sure no one remains hungry in your land. Give clothes to whoever comes to your land, without clothes. Help the poor. Stop your sinful ways.” The king listened and started to do all of the good deeds. He started to do the Simran of Satnam. He made Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji his Peer. He became Guru ji’s Mureed and served him well. Guru ji stayed in this city for some days. His praises spread in the homes. People served visitors and saints. They chanted the Naam of the Parmeshwar.
One day when Guru ji was sitting down, oh Guru Angad Dev ji, I said to Guru ji: “the Avatar of Sri Prabhoo ji, Sri Ram Chander ji, the one who killed the clans of the Daynts; the Lanka in the ocean, which has no path to reach, he put rocks in the ocean and made a bridge and made the monkey army cross it; I wish to see the Lanka. Please be compassionate and show me the Lanka.” Guru ji heard this and said: “Bala, I can’t refuse you.” Guru ji left Habash right away. We came to the ocean shore in a blink of an eye. Guru ji sat near the place where the bridge was built by the Raghuvir (Ram Chander ji). There was a Shivling there that was radiant. Bhai Mardana ji spoke: “how is this Shivling here? He established this? It is a great reward to do its Pooja. Tell me about this. You know past and future, oh Omnipotent One.” Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji said: “listen Mardana to the Katha: when Ram Chander ji came here with the monkey army, he saw the ocean and said: “how can we cross this ocean?” The people said: “build a bridge.” Ram Chander ji accepted their idea. He first did the Pooja of Shiv ji. He worshipped the Shivling and then gave permission to build the bridge. Before starting any task, those who worship their Guru, their tasks become easier. Those people are peaceful. Since then, the Shivling has been here. Raghubir has established the Shivling with love. He wrote his own name of “Ram” on the rocks and tied the bridge which was beautiful. This is the place known as “Rameshwar.” The bridge was known as “Ram Setu.” Bhai Mardana ji said: “I have a doubt. Why did the Raghubir do this? He was omnipotent. Where he was standing, he could do anything. Why did he do the Pooja of Shivji? This is one doubt. Another doubt, oh Omniscient One is: why did he write his own name and place the rocks in the water? Why did he do this? Please destroy my 2 doubts. It seems that he didn’t have strength or power; so he used the support of others.” The Compassionate One heard this and spoke: “listen Mardana, by your ear: the greatness of the Naam is the greatest along with the Bhagat. The greatness of the Bhagats is because of the Naam as well. Within Devatas and humans, the glory of the Naam is known as the highest. Shamboo Shiv is the greatest Bhagat. He does Bhagti all of the time. He sits in Bhagti for many Yugas without opening his eyes. He focuses on the Parmeshwar continuously. Vishnu is the Satoguni, which radiates the white colour. Shiv ji meditates upon Vishnu and so he is white. Shiv ji is Tamoguni. Tamogun is black and because Vishnu ji meditates on Shiv ji, he has become black. Both of their bodies have switched with each other’s colours for this reason. Don’t see any difference between the two. They are two but their Jot is one. Now listen about the writing of his name on the rocks, I will destroy this doubt of yours. Only some have seen the form of Ram Chander and become blessed. By chanting the Name, crores will be saved. The glory of the Naam is bigger than the one whose name it is. He saw the “Ram” name as higher than him. The bridge was tied in this way. He killed the egotistical Daynts.” Bhai Mardana ji asked: “I wish to hear the Katha of Raghuvir ji with love. Why did he cross the ocean by tying a bridge? Why did he go to the Lanka to kill the Daynts? Tell me the whole Katha. Nothing is hidden from you.”
The Great Satguru ji spoke: “there was a great king named Dashrath who was from a great family (the Surya Vansh). He had 3 queens: Kaushaliya, Kaikaee and Sumitra. 4 sons were born to these 3 women. From the eldest, Kaushaliya, Ram Chander ji was born. Kaikaee had Bharat and Sumitra gave birth to Lachman and Shatrugan. These 4 were more handsome than Kamadeva. They grew up playing when the king of Munis, Vishwamitra was preforming a Yagna. The Daynts would interrupt the Yagna. They made Vishwamitra stop the yagna. Vishwamitra sat in Dhyana and looked with his powerful vision. He knew what was happening in the world. He saw that the Devatas were in pain because of Ravan. They went to the shelter of Akaal Purakh and sang his glories. Sri Kartaar ji listened to their prayers. Sri Vishnu ji took an Avatar as Ram Chander ji to kill the Daynts. When Vishwamitra ji saw this, he came to Ayodhya. Dashrath respected the Muni. Vishwamitra asked for the king’s eldest son. He took Ram Chander ji back to his Ashram with joy. On the way, Ram Chander ji killed Taraka. Two other strong Daynts came. Ram Chander ji killed Mareech with a headless arrow. He fell at the doors of Lanka. Ram Chander ji then killed Subahu Daynt. The Rishi, Vishwamitra ji, was able to complete his Yagna. At that time, Raja Janak’s messenger had come to invite the Muni to the Swaimvar (choosing of a husband) of Janak’s daughter. The Muni went to the Swaimvar with both the princes, Ram and Lachman.
They arrived in the city of Raja Janak. Many other kings had gathered along with other people. The challenge was to break the bow of Shiv ji. Whoever would break the bow would be able to marry the daughter of Raja Janak. None of the kings were able to pick up the bow. Ram Chander ji got up with the permission of Vishwamitra ji and broke the bow of Shiva. The daughter of Janak, whose name was (Mata) Sita ji, she put a flower garland around the neck of Ram Chander ji. Raja Dashrath was called. He brought a Bharaat and came to Mithila. He had all 4 of his sons married with the 4 daughters of Raja Janak (2 were his own daughters and the other 2 were his brother’s). They all came back to Ayodhya and spent some days there. Bharat went off to Kashmir to visit his Nana (maternal grandfather). Ram Chander ji was in his home. Dashrath saw the state of his body and wished to give the kingdom to his son, Ram Chander ji. He analysed the time of the royal coronation and made preparations. Kaikaee heard about this and became anxious. She thought to herself: “my son should be the king.” She became greedy and wanted Bharat to be the king. When her husband came to her, she was upset and did not speak. Dashrath got scared and said: “oh one with the moon-like face, why are you angry? You can take what you want. Who has upset you?” Kaikaee spoke of her wish: “complete your promise. You have given me two wishes that you would complete. If you don’t complete my wishes, I will be upset. If you complete them, I will live on. Otherwise I will die right now.” The Raja said: “take what you wish.” Kaikaee said: “I wish for my son, Bharat, to be king.” The king could not refuse. He damned Kaikaee but completed her wish. Kaikaee’s second wish was for Ram Chander to be exiled for 14 years to the forest. When Dashrath heard this, he lost his will to live. Ram Chander ji obeyed the two commands and went to the jungles with Sita Mata and Lachman. The subjects of Ayodhya cried seeing this. They did not want to be away from Ram Chander ji. Dashrath ji left his body in depression. He completed his promises but left his body. When Rishi Vashisht ji saw all of this, he quickly called for Bharat to come back.
When Bharat ji came home and saw the bad natures, he was hurt and upset. He cursed his own mother and cremated his father’s body with proper traditions. He cried and left Ayodhya. He came to where Ram Chander ji was in the jungle. He met his brother with anxiety. He bowed to his feet with love and devotion. He said: “oh master, please forgive our mistakes. Come home or take me with you.” The Ocean of Truth, Sri Ram Chander ji thought about everything and gave hope to his brother. He gave his brother his sandals and sent him back home. Bharat ji took the sandals of Ram Chander ji and placed them on the Royal Throne of Ayodhya. (Bharat ji ruled Ayodhya in his brother’s absence and lived in a hut outside the royal palace. He dressed like a hermit and ate what his brother ate in the jungle.)
After a few days, Ram Chander ji came to the Ashram of August Muni. He stayed there for a few days and then went to another place in the jungle, which was the place of Ravan’s sister, Soopnakha. He made a hut there and lived there with Sita Mata and Lachman ji. One day, Soopnakha came to see them. She was attracted to Ram Chander ji’s handsome face. She said: “love me and marry me. Otherwise I will defeat you and kill you.” Lachman heard this and became very angry. Lachman cut Soopnakha’s nose and ear.
Soopnakha went to Ravan and told him what happened. She said: “there is a beautiful woman with Ram and Lachman. I went to capture her to bring her to you but they cut my nose and ear.” Ravan heard this and got really angry. He made Mareech into a golden deer. Trimundang was sent. When he heard of Mareech’s death by Ram’s hands, Ravan went himself disguised as a Jogi.
Sita Mata ji had seen the golden deer and asked Ram Chander ji to hunt it. Ram Chander ji chased to hunt the deer. Lachman ji followed after a long time, when Ram ji did not return. Ravan saw an opportunity as Sita Mata was alone. He said: “Alakh,” and played his bells. He came begging for alms. Sita ji saw the Jogi and brought food for him. Ravan grabbed Sita ji and flew to the sky. When Ram Chander ji came back, the hut was empty. He wondered where his wife was. He became anxious and yelled out for Sita. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He lost his senses. In the jungle, Ram ji met the Vaanars, Sugreev and Hanuman ji. They all became friends as Sugreev’s wife was taken by force by his brother Baali. Baali took over Sugreev’s kingdom with deceit. Ram Chander ji killed Baali with one arrow and completed Sugreev’s task. The Vaanar army was sent to look for Sita Mata. Hanuman ji came to Lanka and saw Sita Mata sitting there. Hanuman killed many Daynts and burned the Lanka. He came back to Ram Chander ji and told him where Sita Mata ji was. Ram Chander ji took the Vaanar army and attacked Lanka. He came here and tied the bridge of Rameshwar. Angad was a great Vaanar. He went to Lanka and told Ravan to give Sita Mata ji back. Ravan did not listen. A great battle raged. The death-filled Nagaras played from both sides in Raag Maaroo with the flags flying proudly. Kumbkaran was killed first by Sri Ram Chander ji. Meghnaad was then killed by Lachman ji. Trimundang was killed by Hanuman ji. Ravan was killed by Sri Ram ji and Sita ji was brought back. They all went back to their home. Ram Chander ji sat on the Royal Throne and ruled for 10,000 years. He then went to Vaikunt. This is the Katha of Ram Chander ji. It is a blessed Katha. Mardana, this is a summary. The Katha is really long and great. It destroys the sins. I will take you to the beautiful Lanka now. There are homes made of gold and diamonds there.”