Oh River Sarasvati, flow fast so that the waves of the words come with the thought. Bless me so I may make the right decisions.
The master of the Devatas and the Demons, the one who sustains the unconscious, the supreme master who listens to the servants, you cannot be understood. The Munis, Shaishnaag and Sarasvati call you “the indestructible one.” Oh mind, don’t try to describe the Akaal, see Akaal as beautiful and be humble. You shall be blessed in this way. Seeking the protection of the Prabhoo, the desires and vices are all gone. Saying the name makes the attachment go away. The mind becomes still and there are no more births. Bow to the feet of Guru Nanak Dev ji, who is the savior.
I bow to Guru Angad Dev ji, the illuminator, the destroyer of problems.
I do Simran of Guru Amardas ji, who destroys all desires.
I bow to Guru Ramdas ji who is Akaal Purakh that helped Ram Chander.
I bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji, whose words are sharp like Arjan’s arrows, the son of Kunti.
I bow to Guru Hargobind ji. If one drinks the water that he touches, one is blessed.
I bow to Guru Har Rai ji, the master of the universe, the giver of peace.
I bow to Guru Har Krishan ji, the form of Vahiguru, the one of softens the blackest of hearts. The vices are purged by doing his Simran.
Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji makes the enemy worry but protects his servants. His Bani is like a sword for the sinners.
Guru Gobind Singh ji is the lion that killed the deer-like vices. He is all-powerful, the master of the Khalsa Lions. I do Simran of his name.
The Third Raas now begins by singing the praises of the Satguru. The Satguru destroys all of my problems.
As the Singhs listened to the Katha from Bhai Ram Koer ji, they listened with love and shed tears from their eyes. They couldn’t get enough of the Katha that Bhai Ram Koer ji said. They wanted to hear more from him. Bhai Ram Koer ji’s face was like the moon. Just as Amrit drips from the moon, that is how Amrit came from Bhai Ram Koer ji’s mouth. This Katha had the great virtues of Sat, Santokh, Daya and others. The ones who heard this Katha did not go to the Jumms. Speaking and listening to this Katha was full of many rewards. Whoever made this Katha reside in their hearts were blessed. The Khalsa wished to listen to this Katha everyday. They heard with a still mind, surrounding Baba Ram Koer ji, Baba Buddha ji’s 7th generation. He anointed Guru Gobind Singh ji with the Guru Tilak. Baba Ram Koer ji was like the mountain of Himalaya. Just as the river Ganga comes from the mountain, that is how the Ganga of the Katha came from his mouth. The river has water; the praise of the Guru is the river full of love. The river flows and wears down the shores. This Katha wears down atheism and doubt, the reasons for pain. Just as thorns and bushes grow on the shores, the vices of desire and jealousy grow on the banks of atheism and doubt. Theses bushes and thorns are all taken down with the flow of the Katha. When one reads and listens to this Katha, the roots of the vices are pulled. Just as lotus flowers grow in the water, the virtues grow when listening to this Katha. The Saints fly like bees around this Katha. The Singhs listen to this Katha and stay alive like fish in the water. The Singhs love to listen to this katha all the time. The 10 Gurus are the 10 Ghats of this Katha. The thirsty and hurt people drink this Katha. The ones who drink this katha of praise become calm. Their desires are extinguished and do not feel the scorching heat. The ones who listen with love, Baba Ram Koer is the gardener who sang the praises for them, he planted this garden for them. The chapters of this katha are the plants of the garden. The Chands are the branches. The lines are the leaves. The virtues are the flowers. The meanings of this Katha are the fruits. There are many pleasures in this katha which is the shade. Baba Ram Koer ji put love into this Katha. The attachment does not come near. The ones who heard this Katha, they received the fragrance of Mukti.
The listeners said to Baba Ram Koer ji by folding their hands with humility: “Baba ji, please tell us the Katha of the birth of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. You are omniscient. Tell us his Katha of how Mata Ganga ji gave birth to Guru Hargobind ji.” Baba Ram Koer Sahib ji said: “I will tell you his full Katha. Listen with great attention:
Wherever there is Sikhi in the world, the glory of Guru Arjan Dev ji spread like the moonlight. When the glory of Amritsar spread, many Sikhs came to bring gifts for Guru ji. All of the Sikhs came. No one stayed back. Guru Arjan Dev ji sat in the Sangat in the middle, seated on his throne. He was the light of Akaal Purakh. He gave bliss to anyone who came to him. He wiped their troubles away; their pain was gone. Some Sikhs lived with Guru ji and were saved from the Jumms. The Sikhs achieved many virtues by denouncing announcement.
Some Sangat went to Baba Prithi Chand and Baba Mahadev as they did receive blessings from Guru Ramdas ji. The powers although, were with Guru Arjan Dev ji. Prithi Chand was always jealous of Guru Arjan Dev ji, his younger brother. A lot of money would come to Guru Arjan Dev ji. Many expensive gifts would come to Guru ji. Prithi Chand was jealous of Guru Arjan Dev ji. He would see him as his younger brother and being more successful than him.
After a few years of Guru ji on the throne, a lot of Sangat came on Vaisakhi. The Sangat came for afar. They came to see the Sarovar and bathed in it on Vaisakhi. They brought a lot of money and gifts. Guru ji sat in the Divaan as the Sangat did their Ardaas, just as Krishan ji met his followers in his court. The Sikhs placed their offerings and asked for blessings. They left with many blessings. One Sikh came and brought a lot of jewellery for Mata Ganga ji. He also brought expensive clothes and said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, these gifts are for Mata ji. This is my wish that she accepts all this. I would be happy if she wears all this jewellery and clothes.” Guru ji sent the gold and clothes to his home. Mata Ganga ji wore the gold and clothes and was very happy with them. Mata Ganga ji was young and beautiful. She looked even more pretty wearing these clothes.
The Sangat that came, they were given Siropas and blessings. Some were given great blessings such as wealth and children; some wanted Mukti. The desireless ones asked for Satnam and the company of Guru ji in the afterlife. Guru ji gave those people the blessing of not forgetting Satnam; and to some the great Gyaan of the Aatma. Many types of wishes were fulfilled by Guru ji. The Sikhs returned home and sung the praises of Guru ji. They would tell their families and friends about Guru ji: “he has a glorious, handsome and calm appearance. There is no one more generous than him. He is the son of Guru Ramdas ji, his glories cannot be counted. He is the form of Akaal Purakh. Guru ji makes his Sikhs fearless and without hatred.” Guru ji returned to his home, “Guru ke Mahal,” after giving leave to the Sikhs. Mata Ganga ji saw him come in and stood up. She bowed to Guru ji and said to Guru ji: “where did this beautiful jewellery and clothes come from? They are rare and expensive. The Sikh seems to be from a foreign land. He gave you this with devotion. This is your glory.” Guru Arjan Dev ji listened to Mata Ganga ji, his wife, and said: “Guru Nanak ji is the greatest. It is his glory that is spread throughout the world. He came in the severe time of Kaliyuga. He planted the plant of Sikhi. The poison of the vices was gone by the name of Satnam. The Sikhs come from afar and bring lovely gifts. Their wishes are fulfilled by Guru Nanak Dev ji’s blessings. It is because of Guru Nanak Dev ji that the Sikhs bow and bring gifts. Nice clothes, pearls, gold and other things are because of Guru Nanak Dev ji.” Mata ji heard the glory of Guru Nanak Dev ji. She listened with faith and devotion. She folded her hands and bowed her head in remembrance of Guru Nanak Dev ji. In Ramdaspur, Guru Arjan Dev ji and Mata Ganga ji spent time. Many Sikhs and servants did Seva. Mata ji did Seva in the Langar as well. Clothes of Pashmina and silk, Mataji would wear those clothes sometimes. Most of her time was spent in the Langar, so she only wore them sometimes. The maids would keep her clothes and gold in wooden chests. The servants would say: “these clothes are expensive.”
The rainy months came and the black clouds of Saavan (July) rolled in. On the days that the sun came out, the maids took out Mata ji’s clothes and put them out on the roof to make sure they don’t stay damp in the chests. They took out the Pashmina and zarri clothes to hang them out in the sun. They were hanging out on the roof and some maids sat close by to make sure the clothes don’t get blown away by the wind. The people who were passing by, saw the clothes. The clothes were shining and reflecting the sun’s rays. Everyone appreciated the clothes and the Sikh that brought them. Prithi Chand’s servants caught sight of the clothes. She was a jealous one and went to Prithi Chand’s home and told Prithi Chand’s wife, Karmo, about the clothes: “your sister-in-law’s clothes are out on the roof. I was amazed to see the clothes. They are very expensive from a far away land. I haven’t seen any queen with such beautiful clothes. They are royal. They are hanging on their roof. They are made with great skill. They are quite expensive.” Karmo heard the maid and began to burn with jealousy. Karmo went to her roof and looked towards Guru Arjan Dev ji’s house. The sunrays of the July/August months fell on the clothes. The gold in the clothes was shining bright. She couldn’t tell if the sun was up in the sky or on the roof of Mata Ganga ji’s home. The glory of the clothes, Karmo could not tolerate. It was as though a knife pierced her heart. The jealousy was hurting her. She went light-headed with such rage. The maid had to handle her. It was as though a gambler lost everything in gambling.
All day, Karmo didn’t eat or speak. When Prithi Chand came home at night, he saw his wife depressed and sitting down. He approached her and said to her: “what’s wrong? Did something happen that has made you upset? Did you get into a fight? Did you lose something? Don’t worry and tell me what happened.” Karmo heard her husband and spoke with anger: “our relatives have expensive things. I saw my sister-in-law’s clothes which are more expensive than a queen’s clothes. Her clothes were so bright. I saw them and my chest was burning like a coal was placed on it. Their glory is growing and ours is shrinking. The whole family knows that we are left behind. If you would have served your father, you would have been the Guru of the world. You would have received these gifts. You were the eldest but your younger brother took the Gurta Ghaddi. You didn’t do any Seva. He has unlimited money. There is no end to their joy and none to our sorrow either. I cannot tolerate this. It is all your fault that I am not sleeping well.” When Prithi Chand heard this, he tried to cheer her up and said: “don’t worry. I am the eldest son of Guru Ramdas ji, I do not lie. What comes from my mouth will be true. Till my brother is alive, that is how long he will have these expensive things. He will die in a few years and then we will get everything. He doesn’t have any children. He will not have any children either. We will get the Guru Ghaddi. If there is no son, what’s the use of having money? Our son, Meharban, will get everything. We will be the owners. There can’t be any other owner because his nephew will sit on the throne. Don’t worry. We will get everything. Let them have their fun. Don’t be in pain. Without children; land and money are worthless.” Prithi Chand gave his wife hope: “what has happened is gone. Don’t worry or think about the past. We have our Sangat that gives us money too. Make all the gold that you want. I’ll get you more clothes. Get all the things that you want.” After saying this to his wife, his wife was happy. Both of the corrupt people thought they were going to get everything. The ones who think bad about others and feel better because of it, Prabhoo has other plans for such people. What they think unto others, happens to them. This is evident in the world.