Seeing that the time for Guru Ramdas ji to go to Sach Khand was near, Bibi Bhani ji, the fortunate one, folded her hands and bowed to her husband. She had love in her heart. She said to her husband: “you are complete and great in every way. You are the giver of peace. The fortunate ones know you. You protect and support your servants in this world and in the next. You do as you please. I want to go with you as well. What will I do in this world without you? I do not wish to live on without you. There are only joy and sorrow in this world, nothing else. Nobody in this world is forever peaceful or forever in pain. The elder son, Prithi Chand, will cause problems. Seeing his actions will give me pain. I want to live with you in bliss, forever. I will be worry-free living with you.” Listening to Bibi Bhaani ji’s soft words, Satguru Ramdas ji said: “oh fortunate, great woman, you are with great karma. There is no other woman in this world who is more fortunate than you. Your father was Guru Amardas ji. Who can be compared to you? I have always been happy with you. Whatever words that you said, I have listened to them all and did what you wanted. I agreed with your every word and acted on them. You listened to my every word and acted on them. Your son is Guru Arjan Dev ji, who is an Avatar of Akaal Purakh. He will make the Sodhi family illuminate in this world. He kept the Gurta Ghaddi in the house. Your son didn’t let the Gurta Ghaddi go to another family. Your life is a great success. You did all that you needed to do in this world. You have a few breaths left and you will come to me in a few days. Be patient for a few days and let your remaining karma action out. Leave your body with peace in a few days. Oh fortunate one, then come to me. You will stay with me in Sach Khand for eternity, where there is only bliss. Joy, sorrow, pain, love, hate or attachment does not exist there.” Guru ji encouraged Mata Bhaani ji and gave her peace. Guru ji, the giver of peace and happiness, looked towards Baba Bhudda ji and Bhai Gurdas ji to tell them about Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji.
The gem of the Sodhis, Guru Ramdas ji, then sat on the mat made of kusha (grass). He laid down and covered his face with a blanket. Just as an elephant breaks a garland made of flowers around its neck with great ease, that is how Guru Ramdas ji left his body. The Devatas came to welcome Guru Ramdas ji’s light in the greater dimensions. Brahma, Naarad, Shivji and others came. There was a great illumination in the sky. The vessels made of gold and gems were shining bright. Kuber, Varun, and all the Lokpals with other Devatas came at once. They all shouted out “jai, jai.” They all sang Guru Ramdas ji’s praises and celebrated in many ways. They showered Guru Ramdas ji’s soul with fistfuls of flowers. The flowers fell on to earth. They were very fragrant. The people on earth, at that time, in that area, were surprised to see and smell these unfamiliar flowers, being showered on to Earth. Many people gathered near the Baoli. The Sangat had heard about Guru Ramdas ji departing to Sach Khand and began to gather. They sang Guru ji’s praises and said: “Guru ji is great. His greatness could not be quantified. The mine of virtues left his body by his own will.” People were crying and shouting out in sorrow. The Sikhs with love were crying. They remembered the things Guru ji did for them and his teachings. They also remembered that Guru ji had told them not to cry or mourn for his departure. He wanted everyone to do Keertan and Simran of Satnam. He wanted people to do Keertan in their homes. The Senior Sikhs reminded everyone not to cry and to read Bani. The Sikhs then began to read Gurbani and remembered Guru ji’s wisdom. Bibi Bhaani ji was patient and did not cry. She stayed beside her husband’s body. Baba Mohan ji and Baba Mohri ji sat on the other side. Guru Arjan Dev ji was sitting beside his mother. Everyone was sad of Guru ji’s departure. People were quiet and were shocked to see how quickly Guru ji left.
Baba Bhudda ji then got up and spoke: “why is everyone sitting? We need to prepare for the traditions of the cremation. Everyone should meet Guru ji’s body one last time and we should prepare for the cremation. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji should do the tradition. Gather the items for the cremation. The Sangat should get together and prepare the flowers, ghee, sandalwood essences, water and sesame seeds. Prepare a carrying platform for Guru ji’s body. Cover it with expensive pashmina. Collect the Beri wood for the pyre and let’s go to the shores of the Beas. We will go close to the place where Guru Amardas ji’s body was cremated. We will take Guru Ramdas ji’s body there.” Guru Arjan Dev ji got up. Baba Mohri ji made all of the preparations and told the Sikhs to get the items. Everyone had their duties. Bhai Gurdas ji was directing people as well. Baba Mohri ji stood near Baba Bhudda ji and called Guru Arjan Dev ji. Guru Ramdas ji’s body was bathed with yoghurt. His hair was bathed as well. Water from the Baoli Sahib was brought to bathe Guru Ramdas ji’s body. New and beautiful clothes were put on Guru ji’s body. A new Dastaar was tied on his head. The “vimaan” (platform) came, decorated with expensive cloths and garlands of flowers. The garlands hung all around the vimaan. The fragrant essences were sprayed. Guru Ramdas ji’s body was placed on the vimaan. Pashmina cloths were placed on Guru ji’s body. All of the Sikhs were in sorrow. They showered Guru ji’s body with flowers and shouted out jaikaras in his name. The vimaan was so beautiful. It looked like it was from heaven. Guru Arjan Dev ji picked up one of the sides of the vimaan on his shoulder. Baba Mohri ji and Baba Bhudda ji also picked up the vimaan on their shoulders. The Sikhs were doing Seva and were taking turns to pick up the vimaan on their shoulders. Kusum flowers were showered with rice puffs and money. Everyone shouted out “Dhan Guru Ramdas ji.” The Rababis sang Gurbani of love. When the Shabad would be completed, they would stop and sing its Pauri, from the different Vaars of different Raags. They would be given money and would start walking again, with a new Shabad. Thousands of Sikhs travelled along, showering flowers and money on Guru ji’s body. Two chaurs were waved over Guru ji’s body, looking like swans flying above his body. They reached the place where Guru Amardas ji’s body was cremated. With great love, the Sangat reached that place before hand. Everyone’s eyes were full of tears. It was close to the Beas where the Vimaan came to rest on the ground. There was Sangat in every direction. Many conches were blowing. The pyre was prepared by the Sikhs. It was stacked very high with sandalwood. Satguru Ramdas ji’s body was placed in the pyre. Guru Arjan Dev ji took a flame and lit the pyre. He was crying has he lit the pyre all around. Guru Arjan Dev ji cried out loud and Bibi Bhaani ji saw this. She began to cry and then was overtaken with love and sorrow. The women wiped their tears, continuously. Baba Bhudda ji stood up and said: “why are you not remembering Guru ji’s words? The Satguru never leaves. Be in bliss by doing Keertan and Katha. Don’t cry. Satguru ji does not like this. The Keertan and Katha will bless you. This was Satguru ji’s command.” Baba Bhudda ji encouraged and consoled everyone. He made everyone do Simran. People stopped crying but Guru Ramdas ji was very lovable and dear to everyone. They would begin to cry again. Guru Arjan Dev ji listened to Baba Bhudda ji and recited the Keertan Sohila (during that time, only the first three Shabads as we know them today, were recited as the Keertan Sohila). In this way, the cremation was done near the shore of the Beas. The water of the Beas was pure. Guru Arjan Dev ji and the Sangat, all bathed in the Beas after the cremation. Along with Baba Bhudda ji, Guru Arjan Dev ji did the tradition of Tilanjal (offering of sesame seeds). He did the Simran of his father and read Gurbani.
Everyone came back to Goindwal Sahib and had a Divaan near the Baoli Sahib. Many people gathered and sang Guru Ramdas ji’s praises. They said: “Guru Ramdas ji was very gracious. Just as clouds come in the sky and let down water to water the earth, that is how Guru Ramdas ji showered his blessings for everyone. He lived for everyone else’s well-being. Guru ji came to bless the Sikhs in this world and then went to Sach Khand, his home.” The wise Sikhs spoke in this way. Everyone looked towards Guru Arjan Dev ji to meet Guru Ramdas ji in him. Bibi Bhaani ji was sitting with her sisters-in-law. The women came to meet her and cried. Bibi Bhaani ji would give everyone hope and encouragement. She was with great patience. She thought of her husband’s form in her mind. She would close her eyes and focus on her husband. Many people came to pay their respects. They came to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji and bowed. The people then started to go to their homes. As people in the nearby villages found out, they came to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji. They reached Goindwal and met Guru Arjan Dev ji. There was a great crowd in Goindwal for three days. There was Shabad Keertan for the three days. Baba Mohri ji and Baba Bhudda ji sat with Guru Arjan Dev ji in the Divaan.
Thus ends the Katha of Sri Guru Ramdas ji.