The one who rides the swan, the Mother of Vidya, she is white. She is the form of Bani in the world. I bow to her Lotus feet and say the beautiful Katha of Sri Guru ji.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
An hour went by fast. Bhai Mardana ji left his home and went towards Pith Kalu ji’s home. He saw the Mata ji of Guru Nanak Dev ji, Mata Tripta ji. When Mata ji saw Bhai Mardana ji coming, she came and hugged him with love. The river of attachment flowed with force. She lost the sandy bridge of patience. Her words were like the strong current of the river. Bhai Mardana ji asked her to gather herself but she couldn’t. The love for her son was overwhelming for her. She cried a lot. She eventually gathered herself after a while and asked: “tell me about my son, Nanak ji. Where did you leave him? Since you left home, we haven’t heard of any of you. My son left everything, his home and his belongings. I don’t know why he became a Fakir. I spend my whole day and night crying. I sit there and remember him. I suffer. Vidhata gave me only one son who never stays with me.” In the courtyard of Pitha Kalyaan Chand ji, many other people began to gather. Hearing the words of Mata ji, Bhai Mardana ji said: “when we lived in Sultanpur, we stayed with Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. When he left, I didn’t hear about him either. I don’t know where he went.” Mata ji heard this and became anxious. It was like scratching an old wound. She couldn’t say anything. She was anxious. She was lifeless without her son. She had gone very old. She was weak. On top of that, she didn’t know where her son was. She thought Bhai Mardana ji was with her son but he spoke painful words of not knowing where Guru ji was. It was like an arrow piercing a vulnerable spot. Mata ji was anxious and went pale. She laid down on the floor. After a long while, she regained consciousness. Her eyes kept shedding tears. Bhai Mardana ji sat for about an hour and a half. He then got up and came back to the well. Mata ji gathered her patience of where Bhai Mardana ji was going. She thought to herself: “where is he going? He must be going to my son. He came after 12 years. He didn’t stay in his home for even a day.” In this way, Mata ji thought about everything. She took sweet food with her and quickly ran behind Bhai Mardana ji. She took new clothes for her son. She followed Bhai Mardana ji and said to him: “take me to my son. You must know where he is. I haven’t seen him for many years. My love has made me suffer for him.” Bhai Mardana ji remained quiet as he was told not to say anything. He didn’t respond out of fear of Guru ji. Mata ji figured out what was going on. She continued to follow Bhai Mardana ji.
Where the Light of the Bedis was sitting, Bhai Mardana ji and Mata ji came to the well. Guru Nanak Dev ji saw his mother coming from afar. He quickly got up and bowed his head to Mata ji’s feet. He came ahead to meet Mata ji. Mata ji hugged Guru ji and began to cry a lot. The tears flowed like a strong river. Her tears were cooling the fire of pain. She made Guru ji’s clothes wet. Whoever saw this began to cry as well. She didn’t let her son go. She was not satiated. She kissed Guru ji’s forehead. She touched his head with love. She had gone old and weak. She sat near Guru ji with joy.
When Pitha Kalu ji heard about his son arriving at the well, he saddled his horse and came to meet Guru ji. Guru ji saw his father coming and got up. He bowed to Pitha ji’s feet. Pitha ji got off his horse and hugged Guru ji with love. It was like a hungry person getting food; like a person dying of thirst, getting water. Pitha ji shed tears from his eyes. His throat swelled with emotion. Many other people came to see Guru ji with love. They all met Guru ji with love. Everyone sat with Guru ji. A great crowd gathered. The King of the Bedis sat and everyone sat around him. They just kept looking at Guru ji with love. Nobody spoke. For a half hour, everyone sat like statues. Mata Tripta ji spoke with patience: “I am a sacrifice unto you. You gave us your Darshan today. You made me really happy. Day and night, I have been worried about you. We only have one son, not a second. You left your home and became a Fakir. We lost our patience. The both of us are always anxious and wonder when we will see you again. Many years have passed since you left us. You travelled many lands and returned now. I am happy to see you. It is like Kaushaliya seeing Ram Chander ji after his Vanvaas (exile). I am a sacrifice unto you.” She said this over an over again. When Guru ji heard this, he spoke a Shabad:
Raag Vadhans Mahalla 1 Ghar 1..
To the addict, there is nothing like the drug; to the fish, there is nothing else like water. Those who are attuned to their Lord - everyone is pleasing to them. ||1||
I am a sacrifice, cut apart into pieces, a sacrifice to your Name oh Master. ||1||Rahao||
The Lord is the fruitful tree; His Name is Amrit. Those who drink it they are satiated. I am a sacrifice to those who drank it. ||2||
You are not visible to me, although You dwell with everyone. How can the thirst of the thirsty be quenched, with that wall between me and the pond? ||3||
Nanak is Your merchant; You, O Lord Master, are my commodities to sell. My mind is cleansed of doubt, only when I praise You, and pray to You. ||4||1||
(SGGS 557)
After hearing this, Mata ji placed the sweet food in front of Guru ji and said: “eat this, oh son. I will be happy if you eat this.” Guru ji said: “I am always satiated. I am never hungry. I have eaten only once and have never been hungry again.” Pitha Kalu ji then said: “what have you eaten that you are never hungry? Which food made you satiated? Tell me everything. We made food for you and you are not eating. You are just making it up that you are full. What unorthodox way do you follow?” Guru ji then spoke the Bani.
Sri Raag Mahalla 1..
All tastes are sweet. Hearing, the salty flavors are tasted;
Chanting with one's mouth, the spicy flavors are savored. All these spices have been made from the Sound-current of the Naad.
The thirty-six flavors of Amrit are in the Love of the One Lord; they are tasted only by one who is blessed by His Glance of Grace. ||1||
O Baba, the pleasures of other foods are false joys.
Eating them, the body is in pain; wickedness and corruption enter into the mind. ||1||Rahao||
(SGGS 16)
Sri Guru ji then went quiet after saying this. Mata Tripta ji then said: “oh son, let go of the garb of Fakirs. Wear the nice clothes on your body. This garb of Fakirs does not look good on you. I am your mother who is a sacrifice unto you. Your personality is already of a saint. You don’t need to wear these clothes. You are the boundary of greatness.” Guru ji said: “I have worn the best clothes. They never leave me nor are they ever destroyed. They don’t go old. They are always new. I don’t wish to wear anything else.” Pitha Kalu ji said: “where are the clothes you speak about? I have never seen your new clothes. If you are wearing them, we would see them. Everyone would see them.” Guru ji spoke to explain to his father:
Sri Mukhvaak..
My mind is imbued with the Lord's Love; it is dyed a deep crimson. Truth and charity are my white clothes.
Erasing the blackness of sin is my wearing of blue clothes, and the focus onto the Lord's Lotus Feet is my robe.
Contentment is my cummerbund; Your Name is my wealth and youth. ||2||
O Baba, the pleasures of other clothes are false joys.
Wearing them, the body is in pain; wickedness and corruption enter into the mind. ||1||Rahao||
(SGGS 16)
Pitha ji said: “stop saying foolish things. Obey us and come home. You have travelled a lot. Stay home and rest. Don’t talk about leaving again. Ride this beautiful horse. You have walked a lot and must be tired. Ride the horse.” Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji said: “this horse is of no use to me. What stays with me is very beautiful. I have a very nice horse with me.” Pitha Kalu ji said: “I don’t see your horse. Where did you tie it?” Guru ji said a third Shabad”
Sri Mukhvaak..
The understanding of Your Way, Lord, is horses, saddles and bags of gold for me.
The pursuit of virtue is my bow and arrow, my quiver, sword and scabbard.
To be distinguished with honor is my drum and banner. Your Mercy is my caste. ||3||
O Baba, the pleasures of other rides are false joys.
By such rides, the body is in pain; wickedness and corruption enter into the mind. ||1||Rahao||
(SGGS 16)
Pitha Kalu ji went quiet after hearing this. Mata Tripta ji spoke with love: “listen son, you don’t have attachment in your heart. Come home and meet the family. The other Bedi family and relatives have been waiting for you. We have made the home beautiful after you left. We spent a lot of money on it. Let’s go son! Come and see it for yourself. Come see the new home. It will give you a lot of joy. We made it for you.” The Home of Compassion, Prabhoo ji said:
Sri Mukhvaak.
The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is the pleasure of houses and mansions. Your Glance of Grace is my family, Lord.
The Hukam of Your Command is the pleasure of Your Will, Lord. To say anything else is far beyond anyone's reach.
O Nanak, the True King does not seek advice from anyone else in His decisions. ||4||
O Baba, the pleasure of other sleep is false.
By such sleep, the body is in pain; wickedness and corruption enter into the mind. ||1||Rahao||4||7||
(SGGS 16)
Guru ji said: “listen Mata ji, I am detached from my heart. I need to travel the world still. I will come home after all that. I will stay permanently then.” Mata ji said: “your words have made my heart unrested. You came after 12 years. You didn’t step foot in the home. You were going to leave from the outskirts of the city. You didn’t listen to what we said. Which sorrow has made you so detached? Tell me and we will do as you say. If your wife gives you pain, we can marry you off again. We have everything. We will do as you say.” Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji heard this and said: “the connections that Kartaar has made, they are great. I have no other wish. I will stay as the Parmeshwar wishes. I will stay where he wishes me to stay. To leave and stay is not in my hands. I am under the command of Sri Kartaar. He sends me where he wishes me to go. One word cannot be said without his permission.” Pitha Kalu ji spoke with love: “listen son, let go of your carefree words. Let go of your Fakir clothes. Do the work of the home. Since you left us, we met today. If you leave us now, I don’t know when I will see you again. I don’t even know if we will ever see you again. We have gone old and weak. Our age has passed. Old age has confined our bodies. Our end time is near.” Guru ji heard this and spoke a Shabad.
Maaroo Mahall 1..
Those who receive the call in the last hours of the night (old age/Kaliyuga), chant the Name of the Lord and Master.
Canopies, Chattars, tents and chariots (Sunan, Manan, Nidhyasan) are prepared and made ready for them.
The ones who think of your name, they are called and met. ||1||
Father, I am unfortunate, a fraud.
I have not found Your Name; my mind is blind and deluded by doubt. ||1||Rahao||
I have enjoyed the tastes, and now my pains have come to fruition; such was my destiny according to my Karma, O mother.
Now my joys are few, and my pains are many. In agony, I spend my life. ||2||
What separation could be worse than separation from the Lord? For those who are united with Him, what other union can there be?
Praise the Master, who created this play and sees it. ||3||
By good destiny, this union happens; this body enjoys its bliss.
Those who have lost their destiny, suffer separation from this union. O Nanak, they may still be united once again! ||4||1||
(SGGS 989)
Pitha Kalu ji heard this and became quiet. Mata ji became humble and said: “oh son, your nature is like saints. Obey my command. Come stay in the home for some days. You are adamant of leaving. Don’t be stubborn. Fulfill our wishes. Spend some time with us. I have not been satiated seeing you. I spent my whole life separated from you. I am old now. I wish to see you. My wish is to see you and spend my life.” Hearing his mother, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji became compassionate and obeyed. He got up and walked with his mother. Everybody was happy that Guru ji was going to his home.
Prabhoo ji entered his home and sat down. Many people heard about his arrival and came to see him. They folded their hands and bowed to Guru ji. Guru ji respected everyone according to their ages; bowing to the elders, hugging the young. Chacha Lalu ji was gone out for work. As soon as he heard about Guru ji’s arrival, he quickly ran home. He came and met his nephew with love. There was a big crowd in the home. Many men and women came for Guru ji’s Darshan. Guru ji asked how everyone was. Everyone was seated. Purohit Hardial ji and Maulana ji had gone to heaven. When Guru ji heard about this, he said: “this world is a myth. This body doesn’t take long to end. Do the Simran of Satnam with love. Living in this world is like watching a dream. Let got of your attachment towards this world. It will not last forever. The ones who have Prema Bhagti in their hearts, they make their life a success. They have left, achieving the highest status.” The people that came to meet Guru ji, they all said: “Dhan!” People left praising Guru ji and said: “he is a great Sadhoo being.” Guru ji stayed home, whose Darshan makes the pain run away. Sri Guru Angad Dev ji, Guru Nanak Dev ji said to me: “Bala, go and meet your family with love. Go meet them and quickly come back to me. Don’t get caught into the mud of attachment.” The sun that blooms the lotus of the Bedis, I obeyed him and went home, singing his praises. I met my family with joy. I then returned to Guru ji after meeting them.