Bhai Luddha ji, the “Altruist,” had no doubts in his heart. He wanted Bhai Satta and Bhai Balwand to be forgiven. He didn’t care if his reputation was ruined: “I’ll wash my face and my hair will grow back. If my body is useful for someone else’s benefit, then my life would be a success.” He had love for Guru ji’s feet in his heart. There was a great crowd with Bhai Luddha ji. A dhol was playing. Guru ji came to ask: “who is coming with such a crowd making so much noise? From which land did this Sangat come from?” The Sikhs folded their hands and said: “your Sikhi is great. Your Sikhs have great patience and altruism in their heart. Bhai Luddha ji is coming, following your command. He has blackened his face. He is on a donkey and travelled the streets before he headed towards you.”
Bhai Luddha ji came to Guru ji. He folded his hands and came to grab Guru ji’s feet. He placed his head upon his feet. Bhai Luddha ji said: “you are the ocean of compassion. You make the sinners pure; you are the one to give greatness to the poor; you give bliss to your servants. Your anger and joy are great. Please forgive your servants. I have followed your orders and come to ask forgiveness for your servants. If there are other punishments you wish to give me, I accept them. I still have a request for your feet. Oh compassionate one, I am unwise. Please give me Gyaan.” When Guru ji saw Bhai Luddha ji’s state, his eyes began to shed tears. Guru ji said: “if the Guru curses someone, the Sikh can save them; if a Sikh curses someone, the Guru cannot save them. A dehydrated tree can be saved by water, but if water drowns the tree, then no one can save it. If a person gets injured by a knife, the person can be saved; if a person is deliberately murdered, then the chances of survival are less.” The Sikhs heard Guru ji’s word. Guru ji sent Sikhs to give Bhai Luddha ji a bath and dress him with new clothes.
Bhai Luddha ji came back after getting cleaned up and bowed again. Guru ji asked him: “why did you do this?” Bhai Luddha ji said: “you are omniscient. You know everything in the world. You know the past, present and future. If you are asking, obeying your command I will speak. The reason that I did this as per your command; I darkened my face, sat on a donkey and shaved my head, because nobody was helping Satta and Balwand. I did this first so I can present my request after. You are forgiving. Satta and Balwand are in pain. Their ego is gone. They are paupers and ill now. Please forgive their mistake. Please connect them to your feet again.” Guru ji and the Sangat acknowledged Bhai Luddha ji’s altruistic intentions and said: “why did you endure so much pain? You could have come in your normal state and I would have forgiven them in an instant. I would have taken your word for it, that their ego is gone. Satta and Balwand were punished because of their pride for their skills. I wanted their ego to go away. You saved them. Call the two brothers if their ego is gone. I will take their pain away. When the iron is hot, it is soft. We can mould them in any way we want.” Bhai Luddha ji sent a person to call Satta and Balwand.
Satta and Balwand started to bow from far away as they came to Guru ji. They came and grabbed Guru ji’s feet. There were tears in their eyes. They said: “please forgive us. We were rightfully punished for our ego.” Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “Bhai Luddha Sikh has been gracious upon you. It’s because of him that I am forgiving you. Don’t keep pride in your heart going forward. You made a big mistake in speaking bad words towards Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Master of the Universe. Bhai Luddha had you forgiven. You would have had thousands of punishments to endure in both worlds.” Bhai Luddha ji said: “their skin has a disease. Please cure them as they are in pain. They can only do Keertan in your court if they are well.” Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji then said: “they said bad words towards Guru ji. That is why they are in pain. When their sin is washed away, their illness will go away as well. The mouth that spoke bad words, must sing the glories of the Guru; then they will be cured. That is the only way.” Bhai Luddha ji said to Satta and Balwand: “go and bathe under the Dukhbhanjni Berri. Sing the praises of the form of Brahm, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, who saved the whole world. After that, sing the praises of all 5 Gurus. Kill your ego and corruption. You will be joined with the Sadh Sangat then.” Satta and Balwand heard the words of Bhai Luddha ji. They were happy. It was as though Amrit rained upon them. They bathed under the Dukhbhanjni Berri in the Sarovar. They did Simran of Guru ji and had love for the Guru in their heart.
Satta and Balwand were without pride. They stood in front of Guru ji and sang a Vaar in the Ramkali Raagni. It is the Raag of Jogis. They were in bliss. They sang 4 Pauris about Guru Nanak Dev ji’s praises. They used all of their wisdom to redeem themselves. They praised all of the Gurus. They sang a Pauri each for the other 4 Gurus. There is a total of 8 Pauris in that Vaar. They stood in front of Guru Arjan Dev ji and sang all of the Pauris with their hands folded. Guru Arjan Dev ji was very happy to hear the Vaar. Guru ji decided to include the Vaar into Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. The illness was gone and their skin was good as new. Everyone was surprised to see their illness disappear as they sang the praises. Whoever reads or listens to this Ramkali ki Vaar with faith and devotion; their illness will go away from their bodies. If one reads this Vaar everyday, their faith and devotion towards Guru ji will grow. They will receive what they ask for, who think of Guru ji’s form after reciting this Bani. There is nothing that can’t be achieved by reciting the Bani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.
A Divaan was in session. Guru Arjan Dev ji praised Bhai Luddha ji: “great is Bhai Luddha who did not care about his reputation and did what he did for the benefit of others. Nobody else could have done what he did for the Rababis. He travelled through 2 cities on a donkey and then came back. Satta and Balwand’s pain is gone now. The Simran of Satnam is the greatest as well as altruistic tasks. Without these two things, the life of a human is useless and damned. That human is an animal without a tail and horns who does not do Simran or helps others. In their end time, Jumms will take them. They will have to leave empty-handed. Good deeds, donations, Tapp, yagnas are nothing in front of altruistic tasks. There are many karmas in Kaliyuga but nothing is worse than being ungrateful. That is the biggest sin. Doing karma with Ahimsa, one should identify sin. One should always think about helping others with their mind, body and wealth.” Everyone heard Guru ji’s words with faith and devotion. They did Simran of Satnam. They knew to help others now. Bhai Luddha ji stayed for a few more days and then asked for permission to leave: “oh treasure of compassion, you are generous. I am the servant of your servants. I am without virtues. I am full of vices. People call me your Sikh, so please, for that sake, protect me.” Guru Arjan Dev ji was happy. Guru ji gave permission to Bhai Luddha ji to leave. Bhai Luddha ji Parupkaari did Parkarma of Guru ji and went to Sri Harmandhir Sahib. He bowed inside and then headed to Lahore. He sang the praises of Guru ji on the way home. He sang the praises of the Guru in whichever village he went through. Bhai Luddha ji was praised in every home as well.
Guru Arjan Dev ji continued to write Guru Granth Sahib ji. Bhai Gurdas ji was the scribe and wrote with love. As Guru ji dictated, they had reached Raag Basant. Guru ji was about to dictate the Vaar. As he spoke 3 Pauris of the Basant Ki Vaar, the Langri came and said to Guru ji: “Prabhoo ji, the Langar is ready. Please tell me what is your desire.” Guru ji, in respect of Langar, stopped at the third Pauri and did not go forward. He ate Langar with respect. This became known in the Sangat that Guru ji respected food and Langar a lot. Guru ji did not focus on the Vaar again and looked towards something else.
Kavi Santokh Singh ji makes a clarification: some people say that the Satta Balwand incident happened during Guru Amardas ji’s time and that Guru Amardas ji threw them out of his court. This is not true. The Vaar that they composed has the praises of five Gurus. This has been proven that the Vaar was written during Guru Arjan Dev ji’s time. There is no doubt for this. Do the Simran of the Satguru and listen to the Katha. Don’t let your mind wander when listening.
Guru Arjan Dev ji wrote new Gurbani everyday. He praised Parmeshwar and the Saints: “do Simran of Satnam and don’t waste your birth. Be successful by connecting with the Prabhoo. You will be happy.” Guru ji put wisdom in the Bani. Guru ji wrote a lot of Shabads speaking to his mind. This would give Sikhs a lot of wisdom to help them. Thousands would recite this Bani and achieve the wisdom of the Guru. The ones that listened to the Bani and recited it, they have crossed the world ocean.
Guru Arjan Dev ji was the most altruistic. There has been no one like him. He made two ships: Guru Granth Sahib ji and Harmandhir Sahib. He helped many people achieve Brahmgyaan. The Harmandhir inside the Amritsar is very beautiful. Guru Granth Sahib ji was placed on the throne inside the Harmandhir. The Sikhs were told to connect to Guru Granth Sahib ji. Many people received joy like this. Many people were successful. The ones who bathe in Amritsar with faith and devotion, their sins are washed away. The ones that sing the praises of Hari in Harmandhir Sahib (or listen to them) they leave sins and achieve Brahmgyaan. They are well received in the other world as well. There is no other more altruistic than the Guru. Guru Arjan Dev ji thinks of the benefit of everyone. I bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet, over and over again. He will help you during the time of death.