After listening to his sister/cousin Bibi Bhaani ji’s words, Bhai Gurdas ji began to strategize: “this is wrong what is happening. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji is very calm. He is the form of peace. He doesn’t say anything to anyone and stays in his bliss. Prithi Chand takes all of the money by deception and fraud. He takes the Guru’s Sangat by saying that he is the true Guru, being the eldest son of Guru Ramdas ji. This is not good. When a Sikh really needs the Guru to complete their tasks, their wishes will not be fulfilled. They will be in trouble in this world. When they will ask for sons and money, they will not receive anything. Prithi Chand will not be able to do anything for them. The Sikhs will lose faith and will not worship the Guru’s house anymore. There will be a loss for Sikhi. People will lose faith. This game of theirs needs to stop. If Guru ji stays hidden, how will anyone know who the true Guru is?” In this way Bhai Gurdas ji thought to himself. He stayed in Guru ka Chak with Guru Arjan Dev ji. He saw the bad intentions of both Guru ji’s brothers. The brothers were jealous of Guru Arjan Dev ji’s greatness. They took the money from the Sangat.
One day, Bhai Gurdas ji said to Guru Arjan Dev ji: “you have received the status of Guru, but your brothers are the ones being worshiped. They are getting people to worship them. This can’t go on. You are not saying anything. The light of the Guru is inside you and you are being ignored. You need to reveal yourself, just as the Gurus before you. It is not right to hide the Gurta Ghaddi like this. Sikhi needs to be grown in the world. You have powers. You need to use them to collect the money. There is Sangat everywhere. I have another issue, all three of you brothers are living in the same area but the money of the Sangat is not coming to you. It is going to them. You have no money. There is poverty in your home. Sri Guru Ramdas ji, Bhagwant ji, commanded you to do the Kar of Sri Amritsar Sahib by making the steps around the Sarovar permanent. If you stay like this, how will the Sarovar be completed? It takes a lot of money to make a Sarovar. It will cost thousands. How will it be done? You need to make an effort and show yourself to the world. There is no other brother better than “effort” itself.” Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji heard him and said: “my brothers have desire in their hearts. They run after money. They run and stop the Sangat to take the money from them. They are not content with what they have. They lie and cheat. They have greed and jealousy in their hearts. I didn’t take the Gurta Ghaddi for money. Desire is destructive to the mind. If I become like my brothers, what would be the difference? We need to destroy our vices. Money and greed are the root of the vices. I need to destroy the vices in the hearts of the Sikhs. If I become like my brothers, everything would be reversed. The task of the Sarovar will be handled by Guru Nanak Dev ji. He is preparing for it, day and night. If you wish to do a good thing, then start the Seva of the Sarovar to save the Sikhs. Do the Seva with determination. Guru Bhagavan will be by your side and assist you throughout.” Bhai Gurdas ji heard Guru ji’s words and thought to himself: “what he has said is true. He can’t do as his brothers are doing because he has to clean the minds of the Sikhs from their vices. The Guru can’t act like people with desires. The Guru has to think of the Sikhs. I will need to make an effort and do something for the whole world. I need to preach the traditions of the Guru and show the Sangat who the real Guru is.” Bhai Gurdas ji thought about this as he lived with Guru Arjan Dev ji.
Some days passed and Bhai Gurdas ji continued to observe Prithi Chand and Mahadev. The two brothers were taking the money of the Sangat. One day, he heard from some of the Sikhs that a lot of Sangat was coming at a distance to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji. They were coming from a far away place. Bhai Gurdas ji thought to himself: “if we stay seated, nobody will end up coming here.” Bhai Gurdas ji took 2 or 3 Sikhs and slipped away without telling anyone. He went away from the city of Guru Ramdas ji about 15 km away. He made a platform there and laid out a white cloth. He made that place into a worshiping place. He sat crossed-legged down beside the platform. He made a Chaur out of peacock feathers and set up other symbols of the Guru. The Sangat had to cross this area to go see Guru ji. They saw the platform and began to inquire, as it seemed like a special and historical place: “what is this place?” Bhai Gurdas ji told the Sangat to sit down near the platform. He respectfully had them seated near the platform: “rest here.” In a little while, the entire Sangat that was travelling gathered and sat down there. Bhai Gurdas ji then spoke in a loving voice: “those of you who have brought gifts for the Guru, and wish to meet the Guru with faith and devotion, place the gifts here and then go to see Guru Arjan Dev ji. I will tell you the reason why you are to do this, then you can do as you wish. Guru Ramdas ji had three sons but the Gurta Ghaddi was given to the youngest. He is completely calm and serene. He sits in his bliss and does not say anything to anyone. His two older brothers lie and cheat to take the gifts and money from the Sangat. If the Sikhs refuse to give them money, then the two brothers swear and curse them. They are greedy people who snatch the money from the Sangat. They don’t let the gifts and money reach Guru Arjan Dev ji. They take the money with force. For this reason, I am collecting the gifts here, so the true Guru actually gets it.” The Sangat heard Bhai Gurdas ji’s words and believed him. They said: “yes this is good!” The Sangat placed their money at that place and then they headed towards Guru Arjan Dev ji’s place. Bhai Gurdas ji gave the Sangat hope and walked with the Sangat towards Guru Arjan Dev ji’s home.
Bhai Gurdas ji came quicker to Guru ji and bowed. Bhai Gurdas ji placed the money, which was 500 Rupees, and said: “please accept this from the Sangat.” Prithi Chand found out about the Sangat coming and sent his servants to bring them to him: “the Sikhs do not know the truth. Bring them here. Tell them to come to the eldest son of Guru Ramdas ji.” Mahadev sent his servants as well: “gather them and bring them to my home.” The servants surrounded the Sangat and did not let them go on ahead. The servants wanted to take them to their leaders. The Sangat already knew the truth, as they heard it from Bhai Gurdas ji. They said to the servants: “whatever money and gifts we brought for Guru ji, Bhai Gurdas ji already took it all from us. All we have left now is the wish to see Guru ji. We will now go and meet him, as per Guru ji’s will.” The servants heard this and scolded them: “why did you give him the money of the Guru? The Gurta Ghaddi is with Guru Ramdas ji’s elder son, whom everyone worships. Your money and gifts will not be accepted as you have given in to the younger brother instead of the older one. What is done, is done now. Don’t do this again. Come to Baba Prithi Chand first and don’t listen to anyone else.” In this way they praised their own leader and scolded the Sikhs. As they saw that the Sangat had no money, they let them go.
The Sangat then came to Guru Arjan Dev ji. They met him and were in total bliss. Their wishes were all fulfilled and they knew the greatness of the Satguru. They saw the still form of Guru Arjan Dev ji, that was calm and still. The light could be seen radiating from his face. His face was radiant with humility. He was the provider and giver of all. His words were sweet and beautiful like Amrit. He had not an ounce of desire or jealousy. His words would give the Sangat Mukti. The Sangat was fully convinced that this was the true Guru. They said: “this is the true Guru. The other brothers are greedy for money. Satguru Ramdas ji, the gracious one, has placed him on his throne as the next Guru. The other two are cheating the other Sikhs. They take them to their own homes for the money. They have no virtue or power to bless anyone. They only care about taking money from the Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev ji is not like his brothers. He is the form of the Sri Satguru, the deliverer.” The Sikhs were given great respect by Guru Arjan Dev ji. Guru ji met everyone. With the money, grains and other foods were brought to make Langar for everyone. The traditions of the Guru’s house were all fulfilled and the Sikhs received Siropas as well. They then went back to their homes and sang the praises of Guru ji. Wherever the Sikhs met each other, they would say: “the Guru is Guru Arjan Dev ji.” They would tell others of the glory of Guru Arjan Dev ji. The praises of the glory of Guru Arjan Dev ji spread throughout the other regions and lands. It spread like the existence of the moon. The Sangat came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and did their Ardaas, with their hands folded.