The Brahmin heard Guru ji’s words and said: “your Bani is in the vernacular, the language of the country. I like Sanskrit because it is the language of the Devatas. We listen to Granths written in Sanskrit, the knowledge of Brahm. We only listen to Sanskrit and preach from it. It is the only language which can give you Mukti. It is the language of Bhagavan and the Devatas. One gains knowledge from reading Sanskrit. What can the vernacular language do? Your Bani can’t bless anyone. The Granths should only be in Sanskrit. People don’t have faith in the vernacular. People won’t listen to it. How will people get Mukti then? There is no execution in this.” Guru ji heard the Brahmin and said: “without the vernacular, Sanskrit can’t sustain itself. The disciples cannot be blessed by Sanskrit alone. How can a discipline be blessed until it’s translated into the vernacular? When you read a Salok, people can’t understand it. You have to translate it into the vernacular language. Then normal people can understand the message as well. Without the vernacular, the wisdom cannot be understood. The disciples will not be blessed. They cannot receive Mukti. Without the vernacular, Sanskrit is fruitless. The vernacular is the root to receiving wisdom. Everyone can receive wisdom by it. The vernacular has Bhagti and Gyaan understood by all. They can all achieve Mukti by this. The vernacular does not need any support and can give Mukti on its own. Only they know who have earned from it. One can easily understand everything from it. It is easy to read and understand. It can be learned in a few days. Sanskrit takes many years to learn. No translations are needed for the vernacular. Sanskrit needs many years of training. The army of attachment is killed by Gurbani. Once attachment is dead, one receives Gyaan. Just as there is a “Athrathi” (a warrior who fights with 10,000) fights alone and kills countless in war, Gurbani is like that. Your Sanskrit is a Rathi or a Maharathi; that needs support from other soldiers. It can’t fight alone. Gurbani speaks the vernacular and gives wisdom to the Sikhs. It kills attachment. Whoever listens to it, their attachment will die. If you call Sanskrit the language of the Devatas and it gives more rewards, then listen to this Pandit ji, I will clear your doubts: the beloved Bhagats of Parmeshwar, if they say something, the language of the Devatas is not equal to that. The Vedas and Shastras believe this. The words of a Bhagat are equal to the Vedas. The Devatas are stuck in Karamkaand (actions) and want to keep people there. That makes people go to heaven and hell. This is the Karma Chakra. That is what Devatas teach. They are in an endless cycle of joy and sorrow. The Satguru gives Gyaan which breaks the bonds of the Sikh. Understand this Pandit ji, there is no Bani big or small. Whatever gives Mukti is big. Gurbani is wisdom for all and gives mukti to all. Whether it’s Sanskrit or Vernacular, if it gives wisdom, it is high. The things that are to be avoided, if a person falls into those things, they will be in pain. Only good food should be plated in a plate by which one is satiated. If you put poison in the dish, eating it will kill you (go to Hell). Bad things can be written in Sanskrit as well. There have been Granths written in Sanskrit which gave people thick egos. So how can Sanskrit be so great? Without humility, Bhagti cannot happen by which Mukti is achieved in Kaliyuga. If someone plants seeds on a high hill, the plants do not grow. Sanskrit is like that. You read it and are proud about it. I will tell you another point. Try to understand it, as it is an objective observation. You have not given the opportunity for everyone to learn Sanskrit. Women and Shudras are not allowed to read it nor listen to it. You are always looking at castes to teach Sanskrit. Not all Kshatriyas and Brahmins can understand Sanskrit. Only the wise ones will practise it or who are enthusiastic about the knowledge. The ones that study hard will be rewarded. Out of Lakhs, one may achieve Mukti. The person will be Mukat but can’t give it to others. What happens to the others? Just as a person takes water from the well and waters his own fields after a great effort, the person has rewards. Now listen to the point about the vernacular: everyone from every caste understands it; wise and less wise understand it. Not a lot of studying is required. It is understood in a few days. Both high and low castes can understand it and do Bhagti. Everyone can achieve Mukti by doing Simran of Satnam. They will know between good and bad deeds. It is like the rain from the clouds that gives water to all. They rain upon high and low areas. Animals, birds, and lifeforms on land are all happy by the rain. Vegetation, plants and trees are all green by it. Forests go green because of the rain. The droughts are relieved. Sri Guru ji’s Bani is just like this. It is equal for all castes. All castes can achieve mukti. The dirty or pure, whoever does Simran of Satnam, they can easily achieve Mukti. Which is better? Rain or well-water? Oh Pandit, think about this objectively.”
The Pandit heard this and had nothing more to say. He understood everything objectively and was in bliss. He looked towards Guru ji and folded his hands. He said to Guru ji: “you are the provider for the whole world. I am filled with ego of debate. Please accept me as your Sikh and remove my delusions. See me as you servant. You are the ocean of generosity. I am a drop in front of you. I can’t compare to you. I am fortunate that I had the opportunity to meet you. Please give me wisdom and make me your own.” The Brahmin grabbed Guru ji’s feet, letting go of his pride about his high caste. He saw himself as a troubled person and Guru ji as omnipotent. He saw Guru ji as the complete Avatar of Akaal Purakh. He said to Guru ji: “please break my bonds and relieve my pain. You are gracious and serene. Please wash my troubles away.” The Pandit was humble and made his pleas. His heart was drenched with Prema Bhagti. Whoever is fortunate, their sins are washed away. Sri Satguru Arjan Dev ji said: “you are of the high caste of Brahmins. Do Simran of Satnam with devotion, all day and night.” The Pandit said to Guru ji: “I have disrespected you. Please forgive me, oh provider of the world. Your feet are beautiful like the lotus flower. Please clean them with water and give it to me. I wish to take your Charan Pahul and become your Sikh.” Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji saw the faith and devotion in the Pandit. He gave him Charan Pahul and made him his servant. Guru ji washed all his vices away. The Pandit’s attention became focused in Satnam and Rass came on his tongue. He was deserving of the Gyaan. The Pandit received all four gifts (Dharam, Arth, Kaam and Moksha) and was in bliss. He began to sing Guru ji’s praises all the time, seeing Guru ji’s glory. This was the Katha of the Brahmin as it happened. Listen oh listeners to the Katha ahead, filled with flavour and joy.
As time passed, Guru ji stayed in Amritsar where many Sikhs came and settled down. They loved the feet of the Guru and came from afar. They served Guru Arjan Dev ji, leaving their egos behind. Guru ji called for people to come to settle there. On one side was the Amritsar Sarovar and on the other was Guru ji’s home. In between the two was a great market. There were many types of businesses there. Many rich merchants began to live there after listening to Guru ji’s call to come and settle there. They stocked up their stock with many types of commodities.
One day the merchants got together and went to Guru Arjan Dev ji. They bowed to Guru ji and folded their hands. They said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, we obeyed your command and set up our businesses here. The shops are stocked but we don’t have any customers. How shall we make a living? How will we eat? There are no customers and nothing is sold. How can we buy more if the old stock is not sold? What shall we feed our families?” Guru ji heard the Sikhs and said to them: “come to Sri Darbar Sahib and bow your heads. Come two times everyday. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Bring 1, 2 or 3 Kaudis. 4 or 5 if you can, and offer it when you bow your heads, with faith and devotion. Come in the morning and then do your business the whole day. In the evening, come again and do the Parkarma of the Sarovar. Your business will grow. You will be rich and happy. Your families will grow. Clear all of your doubts.” The merchants heard this and folded their hands. They obeyed Guru ji’s command and bowed. The merchants came in the morning and evening to bow their heads at Harmandhir Sahib. Their businesses grew even till this day. They were rich and enjoyed the joys of life.