The whole family was worried, including Baba Mahadev ji. Baba Mahadev ji wanted Sri Hargobind Sahib ji to be well again. Prithi Chand, on the other hand, was happy. He spoke to Karmo: “did you see what is happening to their son? There is no hope for him. They are in pain. Did you notice that my words came out to be true? Just as I said before in anger, that curse came out to be true. The boy contracted Seetala. It’s quite severe. I am sure he will die now. I have noticed many times that my words come out to be true. I am now saying: the boy will die now. I have many powers. Only Guru Arjan Dev ji knows about my powers. He knows how strong I am, that’s why he is afraid of me. He comes to bow to my feet out of fear. He doesn’t fear Mahadev. Mahadev is a naive person. After Guru Arjan Dev ji’s son dies, there will be sorrow and pain in their home. They will not have another son.” After listening to Prithi Chand’s words, Karmo’s mind was calm and her eyes lit up. She said to her husband: “if what you’re saying is true, there will be nothing better for us than this. This is like an owner of 10 or 20 villages, who is losing money, becomes a Chakravarty King. That is how happy we would be. The Gurta Ghaddi will come to our home then. We will be worshiped for a thousand years. Many Sikhs will come and worship us. A lot of people will become Sikhs. Our family will illuminate in the world like the moon.” Both husband and wife thought of such sinful things. They wanted a little boy to die for their personal gains. What they wanted, was never going to happen. Only that would happen which the Satguru wishes for. Prithi Chand and Karmo loved sin. They were not afraid to go to Hell for their sinful ways. They would hide and talk secretly among themselves so no one else would hear them. They were corrupt-minded. They wanted others to be in pain. These sinners were not afraid of being seen as bad people. They were going to be talked bad about in this world and were going to go to Hell for sure.
On the fifth day, Sri Hargobind ji was still not well. The illness got severe. There were blisters all over his body. There was puss in the blisters. They looked like pearls all over his body. He couldn’t eat or drink anything. He was not able to talk either. He would stay quiet and have his eyes closed. Cotton was placed over his bed to absorb the blisters. His body was full of blisters and swollen. The maids and servants would turn his body after a few hours. His body felt soft. Mata Ganga ji was very worried. She kept on doing Ardaas to Guru Nanak Dev ji at all times: “please protect my son. My wealth is my son. Please make this pain go away. Oh gracious one, your love is all over the world, you are the master of the poor and weak. Protect us.” Mata ji would pray to the master of masters, Guru Nanak Dev ji, all the time. She would take deep breaths and shed tears all the time. Her eyes were fixed on her son’s body. She would look towards the ground when it was too much for her to look at his blisters. Mata ji’s body got weaker too as she didn’t eat either. She would stay close to her son. These 5 days made everyone sad. The servants and maids were upset. Nobody was eating. Nobody wanted to eat. Nobody cared for their bodies. They were all worried about Sri Hargobind Sahib ji. Mata ji would not sleep. The servants and maids would talk about the boy all the time. They went to Guru Arjan Dev ji and told him about Mata ji: “Mata ji doesn’t eat anything.” Guru ji gave them hope: “have patience. Trust the Parbraham. Have hope in Akaal Purakh. Guru Nanak Dev ji is always with him. Saying his name will make the trouble and pain go away.” The servants would tell Mata ji but she would not feel better: “how can I feel better when my son is not well?”
On the sixth day, during the night, the Seetala was on the mend. In the morning, as the sun came up, Sri Hargobind ji opened his eyes. It was the seventh day that Sri Hargobind ji looked towards Mata ji. Mata ji saw his opened eyes and had hope. She was glad to know that his eyes were not affected by the Seetala. Food was brought for Sri Hargobind ji and he had a little to eat. The whole house was happy that Guru ji was on the path to getting better. They all said: “glory to Guru Nanak Dev ji! He protected us during the time of pain. He saw Sri Hargobind ji as his servant and saved him.” They were thanking Guru Nanak Dev ji. When Baba Mahadev ji heard he was really happy. He came to the home to find out. He was worried that his younger brother only had one child and that he may die. He was happy that his nephew was getting better. Baba Mahadev ji went to go see Guru Arjan Dev ji. Baba Mahadev ji bowed to Guru ji and Guru ji got up to bow to his older brother. Guru ji had him sit down. Baba Mahadev ji said: “tell me how is Sri Hargobind ji? I just found out that his blisters are getting better. I got this great news today that his pain is less now. What do the blisters look like now? I am happy to hear that his eyes are well. I was afraid for his eyes.” Guru Arjan Dev ji responded: “you have blessed us greatly. It is your love that made our child better. There is joy in the house again. The time of pain is gone. Your Ardaas to Guru Nanak Dev ji was accepted. The Seetala is turning now. The blisters are drying up and the pain is gone. The protector has been gracious and came to save our child. He protected his eyes. The young Sri Hargobind ji has eaten some food today. His body will be better soon. When you first came to see him, he was really bad. The illness had taken over his body. With your grace, Baba Mahadev ji, he is better now. The pain is gone now.” Baba Mahadev ji heard this and was happy. He said out a blessing: “he will be happy!”
Prithi Chand came next, having hatred in his heart, as a formality. He had bad thoughts in his heart but spoke sweet words as a façade. He came close to Guru ji. Guru ji got up and bowed to his elder brother. He had his brother sit down with great love and respect. Guru ji was the Master of the Universe. The Master of the Universe had no hatred, not even for the ones that wanted bad for him. Prithi Chand said: “how is your son? Seetala is a very bad disease. It gives a lot of pain. I heard that his Seetala was really bad. I was afraid that his eyes may go blind. I hope Parmeshwar protects his eyes.” Prithi Chand didn’t know that Guru ji had opened his eyes yet. Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “Guru ji will protect him. By your blessings, he will be well. These things are not in the hands of humans. It is Ishwar that can keep people alive or kill them. We only have hope of Parmeshwar who takes care of the whole world; who gives joy and sorrow to all.” Prithi Chand heard this and thought that the trouble was still not gone. He shriveled his face as to show his grief but, on the inside, he was jumping for joy. Prithi Chand, the corrupt, got up and went towards his home. He thought to himself: “their son won’t survive.” The seventh day was over and Sri Hargobind ji was a lot better than before.
On the eighth day, he got even better. He began to eat with joy. He was sitting up and his eyes looked like lotus petals. His eyes were good and the blisters began to dry up. The top layer of his skin came off and a new layer of skin came out from underneath. There were no scars left. Mata Ganga ji noticed that there were no longer any blisters so she gave Sri Hargobind ji a bath. She warmed up the water and washed his face. His skin was as fair and handsome as it was before. The maids and servants came and expressed their joy. They said: “congratulations! You have bathed your son after many days.” Mata ji reciprocated the sentiment back to them. The news spread in the city that Sri Hargobind ji was well. Everyone came and celebrated. Mata ji dressed Sri Hargobind ji with fine material clothes. She dressed him with jewellery. She kept looking at her son. It was like her son had a new birth. The servants took Sri Hargobind ji to his father, Guru Arjan Dev ji’s court. They brought him to Guru ji and had him bow to Guru ji. Guru Arjan Dev ji was happy to see his son well again. He had him sit in his lap. He checked his eyes and his body parts. He noticed that he was all well. He put his hand on his son’s head and blessed him. Guru Arjan Dev ji said a Shabad of Gurbani, seeing his son’s eyes:
Gauri Mahalla 5..
The Gurudev made the eyes illuminated.. The doubt was gone as the Seva was accepted..1..Rahao..
The giver of joy has saved him from Seetala.. The Parbraham Prabhoo was gracefull..1..
Nanak, whoever chants the Name of Akaal Purakh, only lives.. In the Sadhsangat, one drinks the Amrit of the name of Hari..2..103..172..
(SGGS 200)
“Guru Nanak Dev ji made his eyes good. He protected Sri Hargobind ji by extending his hand. Our Seva was accepted and all the doubts were gone. All the slanderers were proven false. Guru ji made us his own. The Seetala was very bad. Akaal Purakh ji saved Sri Hargobind ji, seeing him as his servant. He will recite the name of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and will live a long life. He was blessed by Baba Bhudda ji and the pain was gone. The Amrit name of Hari was taken.”