As Guru-Father carries out his daily routine, so does Sri Arjan Dev ji sit with the Sangat for Katha and Keertan in Lahore. He lives his life with the same routine as his father. It had been a long time for Sri Arjan Dev ji in Lahore and Guru Ramdas ji did not call for his son. The people who were close to Guru Ramdas ji did not say anything either, fearing Prithi Chand. They talked to Prithi Chand to keep him happy. They were afraid of Prithi Chand. They were afraid to get him angry in case he told his father and they would be cursed. They accepted Prithi Chand’s words. Whatever transactions, give and take needed to happen, Prithi Chand was the one to do everything. Everyone needed to go through him. Nobody thought of calling Sri Arjan Dev ji back from Lahore, nor did they talk about him, fearing Prithi Chand. They only praised Prithi Chand all the time. Satguru Ramdas ji was taking a great test from Sri Arjan Dev ji. He was well aware of everything. Guru Ramdas ji did not send a letter or a messenger to see how he was. Guru ji thought to himself: “I gave Arjan Dev the command to go to Lahore. Let’s see if he fully obeys my command or not. If he comes without being called upon, that means he is not obedient. Till I don’t call him, he should not come. He should stay there until I call for him. He would be obedient if he stays. He would be deserving of the Gurta Ghaddi then.” In this way, Guru ji would think, but not say anything to anyone. He was thinking about his son constantly, but didn’t show it.
Sri Arjan ji was in Lahore for a long time. He wanted to see his father. He would long for his father, like the Chatrik longs for the first drop of rain from the clouds carrying the Swanti drop. His mind was not at rest. The river of love flowed with great power in his heart. He thought about his father a lot. He wrote a Shabad, thinking about his Guru-Father. He wrote it on a piece of paper, of what he was feeling.
Maajh Mahala 5 Chaupaday Ghar 1.. (The heading was added later)
My mind longs to see the Guru.. It calls out like the Chatrik..
The desire does not go away, I am not at peace without seeing the revered, beloved Saint..1..
I sacrifice myself, I am forever a sacrifice unto the blessed sight of the beloved Saint..1.. Rahao..
(SGGS 96)
Sri Arjan Dev ji gave this letter to a Sikh and sent him to give it to Guru Ramdas ji. He said to him: “take this Ardaas and give it to Satguru ji. When he reads this, whatever he says or writes back to you, bring that message back to me.” The Sikh listened to Sri Arjan ji and took the letter. He bowed to him and left from Lahore. He headed to Amritsar. It took him two days to get there, staying one night on the way.
Guru Ramdas ji was in his home. The Sikh from Lahore wanted to give the letter to Guru ji. He wanted to see Guru ji as well. Prithi Chand was sitting near the door of Guru ji’s home. When he noticed the unfamiliar Sikh coming towards him, Prithi Chand asked him: “where are you from? Who sent you with this letter?” The Sikh told Prithi Chand everything: “I came from Lahore and this letter is from your younger brother. I am to give this to Sri Satguru ji. Whatever response Guru ji gives me, I must take it back to Lahore and tell the son of the Guru.” Hearing this, Prithi Chand’s ears were alerted. He said to the Sikh: “give me this letter. I will give it to him. Guru ji is resting now, so you can’t see him. You can bow from here and go back.” The Sikh gave him the letter and went to rest. Prithi Chand opened the letter and read it. He thought to himself: “he has composed Bani just as the previous four Gurus have written. There is a lot of love for the Guru in this Bani. He longs to see the Guru. If Pitha ji reads this, he will call him back. He will be happy and give him his throne. I will not show this to Pitha ji and keep it in my pocket.” Prithi Chand did not send the letter to Guru Ramdas ji’s home. He hid the letter and kept it with him. The Sikh spent the night in the visitor’s camp. In the morning, he came to Guru ji’s court. Prithi Chand saw him and called him over. He said to him: “Satguru ji read the letter and was really happy. Tell my brother that everyone and everything is fine here. Tell him not to worry and stay in Lahore. Tell him to recite Gurbani and stay with the Lahore Sangat. Get them to do Simran and Seva. There is nothing more for you, you can leave right now.” The Sikh left the court and headed back to Lahore. Prithi Chand did not let the Sikh meet Guru ji and lied to him. As the sun came up, the Sikh went back to Lahore.
The Sikh met Sri Arjan Dev ji and bowed to him. He told him everything: “I met your brother Prithi Chand ji and gave him the letter. He gave the letter to Guru ji and told me in the morning that Pitha ji said that everything is good in Amritsar and there is nothing to worry about. He had read your letter.” Listening to this, Sri Arjan ji got worried: “the giver of happiness, Pitha ji, has forgotten me. Staying away from me, the love is gone. He loves the ones that are close to him now. He read my letter and did not send me a response. He does not love me anymore, it seems. Guru ji is omniscient, how can it be that he didn’t know about my love? I wish to see him and long for his meeting, day and night. My eyes long for his sight and shed tears all the time. When will he call me, the poor one, and put his hand on my head and make me happy? The ones who live with him are fortunate. They get to see Guru ji and listen to his words. Their wishes are fulfilled. I am unfortunate, who does not get to see him. It has been a long time since I’ve seen him.” In this way, Sri Arjan ji was very worried. A long time passed and Sri Arjan ji composed a second Shabad. We wrote it on a piece of paper and read it to himself. He called the same Sikh as before, to take the letter to Guru Ramdas ji: “go to where Guru ji is and give this to him.” This letter was towards seeing Guru ji.
Sri Mukhvaak..
Your face is so beautiful and your Bani is filled with the wisdom of Sahij (path to Brahmgyaan)..
It has been a long time since I have seen you, it is like a Chatrik has not seen water for a long time..
Great is the land where you dwell, my friend, my divine Guru..2..
I am a sacrifice, I am forever a sacrifice unto my friend and divine Guru ..1..Rahao..
(SGGS 96)
The letter was folded and given to the Sikh. The Sikh headed towards Amritsar and arrived at Guru Ramdas ji’s door by evening. Guru ji was inside the house so the Sikh waited for about a half hour at the door. Prithi Chand came out of the house and saw the Sikh. He saw that it was the same Sikh that came before. He thought to himself: “my brother must have sent another letter.” Prithi Chand called the Sikh to him and asked him why he was there. The Sikh took out the letter and gave it to him. Prithi Chand read the letter and felt a sense of danger. He felt like he was hit with a spear with the Gurbani. He thought to himself: “my brother writes Gurbani everyday now. If Pitha ji finds out, I will be considered useless. My brother has praised the Guru in this Bani. Just as Pitha ji composes Gurbani, my younger brother is composing Bani in the same way. If Pitha ji sees this, he will be very happy.” Prithi Chand had the Sikh stay in the visitor’s camp. He was given food and bed. He said to him: “I will give Guru ji this letter.” The second letter was kept in Prithi Chand’s pocket as well.
In the morning, Prithi Chand called over the Sikh and said to him: “the letter that Sri Arjan ji sent, Pitha ji read it and was really happy. He understood that everything is well in Lahore. Everything is good here too. Go back to Lahore. This is what Satguru ji said: “do the Seva of the Dharamsala and have the Sangat meet there. I reside in the Satsangat and that is where one can meet me. Meet the Sikhs and bless them.” Listening to Prithi Chand, the Sikh headed back to Lahore.
Prithi Chand thought to himself: “Pitha ji is to live around 6 years and some months after Guru Amardas ji. That time is very near now. I will get the Gurta Tilak. Till then, Arjan should not come here and meet Pitha ji. My brother is my rival in this. He is my competition. This will be a problem. The Sangat will hear his Bani along with Pitha ji and make him the Guru. There is no doubt that I am next of kin for Pitha ji. Nobody will speak in front of me. I have the right to the Guru’s throne. This is not hidden. Everyone knows this in the whole world. Pitha ji will not give me the throne while he is alive, though. He always opposes me. It is better that Arjan does not come back till Pitha ji is alive.” In this way, he had bad thoughts in his mind. He was not obedient to Guru ji’s commands. He wanted to acquire the Gurta Ghaddi with his wealth, wisdom and strength. What he didn’t know was that the Guru was omniscient. The Satguru is omnipotent and omnipresent. He is the master of the universe and cannot be cheated.
The Sikh came back to Lahore and told Sri Arjan Dev ji: “without saying anything, Prithi Chand took the letter from me. I don’t know if Guru ji was given the letter or not. It seems as though he was lying. He sent me off quickly and it seems as though he was trying to get rid of me. I didn’t think about his lie the first time but now I saw jealousy in his eyes. He didn’t let me see Guru ji as well. He sent me off quickly. He gave me a bed to sleep on and sent me in the morning. I then figured out that something was wrong. I couldn’t do anything and left from there.” The whole Sangat in Lahore heard this. Sri Arjan ji and the Sangat figured out that Prithi Chand was a cheat. Sri Arjan Dev ji thought to himself: “my brother is seeing me as an opponent.” Sri Arjan Dev ji wrote a third Shabad. In this Shabad, he wrote about his longing to meet the Guru. He wrote it on a piece of paper and collected it.
Sri Mukhvaak..
When I cannot meet you for a moment, it becomes Kaliyuga for me..
When will I meet you, my beloved, Bhagwant Lord..
I cannot endure the night, sleep does not come, without seeing the Guru’s court..3..
I am a sacrifice, I am forever a sacrifice unto the true court of the beloved Guru.. Rahao..
Sri Arjan Dev ji gave the Sikh strict instructions this time: “this time, go to where Guru ji will be sitting. Do not meet Prithi Chand. Go when the Sangat comes to sit with Guru ji. Go quickly when the Sangat comes and give Guru ji this letter. Bow to him for me and place your head on his feet.”