3-16 A Dog eats the Poisoned Yoghurt and Dies

The Brahmin woke up in the morning and took Sri Hargobind ji in his lap.  He played with him in the house where Mata Ganga ji could see him.  The maid came, bringing yoghurt with sugar in it.  It was in a silver bowl.  Sweet yoghurt was given to Sri Hargobind ji everyday.  The maid gave the yoghurt to the Brahmin.  He took the yoghurt and looked around like a thief.  He took the bowl of yoghurt to the top floor of the house.  He took the pouch with poison in it out.  He mixed the poison into the yoghurt and mixed it with his finger.  His heart was beating really fast as he did it.  He was scared.  He did it all really fast.  He took the bowl and put it to Sri Hargobind ji’s mouth.  Guru ji, the omniscient one, already knew everything.  He raised his nose and turned is head away.  The Brahmin turned Guru ji’s head with great force.  He scolded Sri Hargobind ji and told him to drink it quickly: “drink this quickly or the monster will come!  He will come and take you unless you drink this yoghurt.  It’s really good.  Hurry up!”  Guru ji knew that the Brahmin was determined to make him eat the yoghurt with force.  He was up to no good.  Guru ji put his hand on top of the bowl and pushed it away.  He was a strong boy.  The Brahmin got angry and scolded Sri Hargobind ji.  He grabbed both his hands tightly with one hand and took his other hand to feed him the yoghurt.  His eyes were red and was getting angry at him.  Guru Ji noticed that the Brahmin wasn’t stopping so he decided to call out to his mother.  He screamed and began to cry out loud.  The Brahmin put the bowl to his lips but Guru ji moved his mouth.  The Brahmin grabbed his hands aggressively.  He was no longer compassionate.  He had the intention to kill a child.  He said to him: “what’s wrong with you?  Why aren’t you drinking the yoghurt?  If you don’t drink it then the monster will come.  I won’t protect you then.  He will take you away.”  He would try to scare him or talk to him sweetly.  The Brahmin had his arm around Guru ji’s neck.  He just wanted him to drink the yoghurt.  He didn’t care if he cried after that.  His work would be done.  The Brahmin was shaking with fear and loosing his patience.  Guru ji kept crying but the Brahmin kept trying.  His work will be done if he drank it.  Nobody would know who poisoned him.  Sri Hargobind ji screamed out loud.  His screams were heard far into the neighbourhood. 

Mata ji was downstairs, doing the daily work of the house with the maids when she heard the scream.  She wondered why her son yelled so loud.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was eating on his seat.  Mata ji went to him and said: “Sri Hargobind ji is screaming.  Where is he?  He yelled so loud.”  Guru ji said: “Pandit ji had just taken him upstairs.  He was well a little while ago.  See what happened.”  Guru ji sent a servant to the top floor to see why their son was crying.  The servant ran upstairs and saw Guru ji in the Brahmin’s lap, crying.  When the servant came, the Brahmin let Guru ji’s hands go.  The servant asked: “Guru ji is asking why is the Sahibzada crying?”  The Brahmin said in a hurry: “I was giving him yoghurt but he wasn’t drinking it.  I got mad at him and so he got scared.  Look, I’m trying but he won’t drink it.”  He put the bowl close to Sri Hargobind ji’s mouth and Guru ji turned his mouth.  The servant came down and told Guru Arjan Dev ji what was going on.  Guru ji said: “call them both downstairs.  Let’s see why Sri Hargobind ji isn’t drinking the yoghurt.”

The servant brought everyone down.  The Brahmin said: “look Guru ji, I’m trying to feed him but he won’t drink it.”  The Brahmin was going pail and his lips were dry.  He was afraid that he would be exposed.  Mata Ganga ji was standing there as well.  Sri Hargobind ji’s eyes were filled with tears.  There was a little yoghurt on his top lip.  He was crying with agony and taking deep breaths.  He looked at his father Guru Arjan Dev ji and gave him a signal with his eyes that something is wrong.  Guru Arjan Dev ji understood what was going on.  Sri Hargobind ji told his father with his eyes that the Brahmin is trying to poison him and that he wanted him to expose the Brahmin.  Mata Ganga ji came foreword to pick her son up.  He had never cried like this before.  Guru Arjan Dev ji, the omniscient one, said to the Brahmin: “Pandit ji, why isn’t he drinking the yoghurt?”  The Brahmin said: “I don’t know.  I give it to him everyday.  I wonder why he won’t drink it today.  He pushes the bowl away and turns his head away.  I was trying to hold his hands and told him the monster will come.  He then began to cry out loud.  I don’t know why he cried out so loud.”  Guru ji said: “don’t worry, bring him to me.  Speak to him with love and then make him drink it.”  The Brahmin was happy.  He would do it in front of Guru ji and no one will suspect him: “this is good.  My work will be done and no one will suspect me of wrongdoing.”  He placed Sri Hargobind ji on a seat and tried to give him the yoghurt.  He was planning on blaming his death on a stomach problem.  The Brahmin put the bowl to Sri Hargobind ji’s mouth.  He was waiting for Guru ji to drink the yoghurt.  There was hatred in the Brahmin’s eyes now.  Sri Hargobind ji pushed the bowl with his hand again.  Guru Arjan Dev ji knew that there was something in the yoghurt.  Guru ji said: “have him sit in my lap.  Guru ji wiped his son’s eyes and took the bowl of yoghurt in his hand.  He was going to give him the yoghurt in his hand.  The Brahmin was happy that the father was going to feed his son himself.  He would be void of suspicion.  As Guru Arjan Dev ji put the bowl close to Sri Hargobind ji’s mouth, Sri Hargobind ji lowered his eyes.  The Brahmin noticed that the boy is powerful.  He wasn’t drinking the yoghurt from his father’s hands.  The Brahmin figured out that the boy knew about his plot.  He was afraid of being exposed: “what will I do now?”  Sri Hargobind ji did not drink the yoghurt.  There was a small dog in the house that always sat under Guru Arjan Dev ji’s seat.  He always stayed close to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet.  That dog was a great Tapasvi from many births that received the reward to be a dog and stay close to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet at all times.  As Guru Arjan Dev ji lowered his hand with the bowl in it, Guru ji called out to the little dog by his name and put the yoghurt in his doggy bowl.  The dog did not eat the yoghurt.  There was power in the dogs of the Guru.  They were able to perform miracles just as human were.  The dog knew there was poison in it after sniffing it.  He looked towards Guru Arjan Dev ji with his eyes and shook his head.  He moved his ears and gave the signal to Guru ji that: “there is poison in this yoghurt.  I will have a disrespectful death if I eat it.  This corrupt Brahmin has poisoned it.  Why should I eat it and die a terrible death?”  Guru ji heard the voice of the dog’s mind and gave his mind a response: “you were with my in this world and will be with me in the next world.  You will never leave him.  You will always be with me.  Don’t doubt this.  Eat the yoghurt so the sinner can be exposed.”  The dog heard this and was fearless. He had faith that he was going to Sach Khand to be with Guru ji.  He did not hesitate any longer and ate the yoghurt.  Mata Ganga ji was sitting close by.  The Brahmin was trembling.  The servants were waiting to see what was going on.  Nobody knew what was going on.  The Brahmin was going pail and was sweating.  He didn’t know what to do.  His own sin was eating hm up.  He knew we was about to be exposed.  He looked towards the ground and played with the dirt on the ground. 

After about a half hour, the dog suffered the effects of the poison.  He would lay down or wander around.  He cried in front of Guru ji’s feet.  He had fallen at Guru ji’s feet when he took his last breath.  Guru ji took his foot and put it on the dog’s head.  The dog’s soul came out of its body and boarded a special vessel that took him to Sach Khand.  Everyone in the house was shocked to see the dog die.  The servants and maids began to yell out in amazement.  They said: “thank Akaal Purakh that Sri Hargobind ji didn’t eat the yoghurt.  He was saved.” 

3-17 The Brahmin tells his story of why he gave the Poison

Guru ji figured out that the Brahmin did a very bad thing.  Seeing the Brahmin’s sin, Guru ji became very angry, after seeing his dog die.  He looked towards the Brahmin and said: “you corrupt Brahmin!  The way this dog suffered and died in front of you, you will suffer the same fate and die!  You fool!  You will be destroyed!”  The foolish Brahmin heard the words of Guru ji with his ears.  As soon as the words came to his ears, a great pain arose in his stomach.  He was in great pain and fell to the ground.  He screamed in agony and banged his arms and legs on the ground.  He had ill-will towards the Guru’s house.  The Brahmin suffered for a half an hour and died because of the pain.  His soul came out of his body.  His body lay next to the body of the dog.  The Sikhs said: “Prabhoo ji was graceful and saved Sri Hargobind ji from the Brahmin’s sinful actions.  How did this Brahmin become so corrupt?  He tried to give the poison to Sri Hargobind ji but he didn’t drink it.  He started to yell and cry.  There is no doubt, Sri Hargobind ji is definitely Akaal Purakh’s form.  Guru Arjan Dev ji’s son is the ocean of power.  He is the Avatar of Akaal Purakh like Guru Arjan Dev ji.  If it would have been a normal child, the Brahmin would have surely killed him.  This foolish Brahmin took Sri Hargobind ji into an empty room, away from everyone and tried to give Sri Hargobind ji poison.  He used force too.  Sri Hargobind ji did a drama to show that the Brahmin was corrupt.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did a good thing for cursing the Brahmin to his death.  The Brahmin’s actions were not befitting of a Brahmin.  He should be cremated.  He is burning in his own sins.  Guru ji, why did this Pandit do such a sin?  What was his motive?  Looks like someone told this Pandit to give poison to Sri Hargobind ji.  This foolish person didn’t distinguish from right and wrong.  He didn’t realize how bad his intention was.  He was a Brahmin but his actions were that of Chandaals (corpses burners).  The Brahmin got what he deserved right away.  Someone surely told him to do this evil act.”  Guru ji looked at the scary face of the dead Brahmin and recited a Shabad:

Bhairon Mahalla 5..

The poison did not affect even a little bit.. The corrupt Brahmin died with a sool..1..

Parbraham protected the servant himself..  The sinner was killed by the radiance of the Guru..1..Rahao..

The servant remembered the Master..  The unwise sinner was destroyed by the Master..2..

The Prabhoo is the mother, father and protector of his Servant..  The slanderers forehead is stained black in this world and in the next..3..

Says Nanak, Parameshver heard the Ardaas of the servant..  The corrupt sinner was upset and destroyed..4..9..

(SGGS 1137)

Guru ji spoke: “this sinner was killed by Parmeshwar.  He got what he deserved.  His life was done.  Just as parents protect the child, that is how Akaal Purakh saved Sri Hargobind ji.  Our relatives, who are slandering us, they have been stained.  Their faces were stained which won’t be washed.  The stain will get worse by the day.  Their generations will also have this stain and won’t be washed away.”  The servants talked bad about the slanderers as well.  They asked: “we don’t understand who sent this Brahmin.  This Brahmin could not have done this act without being told to do so.  He must have been paid to do this.”  Everyone was wondering why the Brahmin did what he did.  Sri Hargobind ji has a long life.  Nobody can kill him because Akaal Purakh ji protects him.  Guru Arjan Dev ji washes the troubles of the Sikhs.  His son is the Avatar of Guru Nanak Dev ji.” 

Guru ji looked towards the dog with compassion and said: “this dog stayed with me all the time.  When I sat on my seat, he would stay near my feet.  He did not move from under the bed.  He didn’t move till I got up.  When he would see me put my shoes on, he would get up and wag his tail.  He would look at me.  These wise dogs are very rare.  Pick up his body and bury it into the earth.”  The Sikhs took the dog’s body to bury it. 

Mata Ganga ji looked towards the Brahmin and then said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, the Brahmin died because of his sin but we didn’t get to see who sent him with poison to kill my son.  We don’t know why he wanted to kill my son.  Why did he want to do such a sin?  Somebody must have told him to do this.  There is an enemy out there who wants to kill us.  This kind of stuff happened to us in Vadaali.  We didn’t get closure on this issue.  All of us are confused.  He is dead now.  If he was alive, he would have told us.  With your words, he died.  I request you to make him alive again so he can tell us who it was that sent him.  First of all, he is a Brahmin and shouldn’t be killed.  Secondly, he can clear all of our doubts.  He will tell us what his plan was.  Please resurrect him.  Everyone will know for sure who sent him.  We will know that it was your relatives that sent him.  Let’s not keep this a secret.  This Pandit should say it from his mouth.  Other than your relatives, it can’t be anybody else who would do such a sinful thing.  I want the Pandit to say it.  Another point I want to make: if the Brahmin stays dead, people will say that Guru ji killed a Brahmin.  They won’t know the reason as to why he died.  Guru ji, you are the protector of the cow, the poor and the Brahmin.  Please forgive this Brahmin as you are full of mercy.  Your personality is to be generous.  You bless everyone and are full of compassion.  Please accept my plea as you have always listened to me.  He has suffered his fate already.  Till he doesn’t speak, our relatives’ egos won’t break.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard Mata Ganga ji and said: “he was a sinner.  It is deserving to kill a sinner.  He ate our salt and wanted to kill a small child.  He disrespected the house of the Guru.  He was not ashamed of what he was going to do.  There is no sin in killing such a Brahmin.  Who knows why he did what he did?  Why do you want him to be alive again?  He has died.  He should be cremated now.”  Mata Ganga ji heard her husband’s words and then said: “I have heard stories from the great beings.  I do not have wisdom to say anything to you.  You are omniscient and omnipotent.  I will be stubborn and still say the story to you.  I have heard that if a Brahmin is a sinner, he still should not be punished.  He could be convinced and taught in other ways.  Even though this Brahmin is a sinner, please do not punish him by death.  Till he is not alive, the real sinners will not be exposed.  This is my plea as a woman’s stubbornness.”  Sri Guru ji accepted Mata ji’s plea as it was important to expose the real sinners.  Guru ji took water in his hand and said the Satnam Mantra.  He sprinkled the water on to the body of the dead Brahmin.  The foolish Brahmin opened his eyes and got up.  He was alive again.  It was as though he got up from a deep sleep.  He understood what had happened to him as he saw Guru ji and the whole family standing around him.  There were many Sikhs and servants there as well.  He thought about his corrupt action.  He knew he was exposed and so he lowered his eyes.  He was embarrassed.  He fell off the path of Dharma.  Guru ji said to him: “tell us why did you get motivated to do such a bad thing?  You got paid from the house of the Guru.  You got food and clothes from here.  Why did you get wrapped up in such a sinful act?  Who tempted you?  If you were successful, what would you have achieved?  Did someone pay you to do this or did you have a personal agenda?  Tell us the truth.  You fool!  I had killed you.  Mata Ganga ji had requested you to be alive again and be forgiven.”  The corrupt Brahmin did not have the will to raise his eyes.  He was too ashamed to speak.  His body was trembling.  He was worried.  He was scared.  He remembered the pain he was in just before he died.  He didn’t want to be in that agony again.  His body had dirt on it as he was suffering before he died.  His pugri was off his head and he had foam at the side of his mouth.  He was in Hell for a brief moment.  Guru ji had brought him back.  He had the memory of the pain in his stomach.  His face was pail.  He looked scary.  He folded his hands and said: “I will tell you everything.  I won’t hide anything.  Baba Prithi Chand called me to him last night.  He is the orchestrator of this sinful act.  He has deep hatred for you in his heart.  He called me and respected me.  He had me sit near him.  He gave me the instructions.  He said: “I will give you 500 Rajitpuns and take care of you for the rest of your life.”  I don’t know why I listened to him.  I didn’t think about what a sin I was going to do.  He gave me poison, which I grinded up into a powder.  I kept the powder in a pouch, storing it in my pugri.  I mixed the poison with the yoghurt with my finger.  My logic was shrouded but I was convinced by Prithi Chand.  I got tempted by the money and didn’t think about what I was doing.  Sri Hargobind ji is filled with powers.  He knew I was going to poison him so he didn’t eat the yoghurt.  He pushed it away.  I have told you why I wanted to poison Sri Hargobind ji.  You are merciful and generous.  Just as the earth is forgiving, you are more forgiving than the earth.  My greed caused chaos in my mind.  You save the sinners and bless them.  Please forgive my mistakes.  I have spoken the truth.  Don’t trust your brother, Prithi Chand.  He is not afraid to do any type of sin.”  Sri Guru ji heard the truth from the Brahmin.  Guru ji said: “you didn’t do anything to me.  You have done Sri Hargobind ji wrong.  He can only forgive you.  He is fearless.  Go and ask him for forgiveness.  He is sitting in his mother’s lap.  Saying his name gives peace and joy to the mind.”  The Pandit turned his head and looked towards Sri Hargobind ji.  The Pandit went to him and stood in front of him.  He folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, I am your servant and will continue to do your Seva.  You are the King of the Earth and the Devata of Devatas.  I am unwise.  I did an unforgivable sin but you are full of merci.  I come to your sanctuary.”  The Brahmin placed his head on to the feet of Sri Hargobind ji.  Sri Hargobind ji understood that his father wanted him to forgive the Brahmin.  Sri Hargobind ji forgave the Brahmin right away after hearing the sinner’s plea.  The master placed his hand on the Pandit’s head.  There is no one greater than the Master Guru.  The Master forgave the sinner who wanted to kill him.  The Pandit wanted to kill a child.  He deceived the house that gave him food.  Guru ji forgave the sinner by his request.  Only the Guru has this greatness. 

In this way the Brahmin was forgiven.  Guru ji is full of merci.  He makes the poor strong.  Guru Arjan Dev ji and Mata Ganga ji looked towards Sri Hargobind ji with joy.  His glory was great.  He took an Avatar in the house of the Guru.  He is handsome like the moon.  There were many people sitting and standing in the house.  They bowed to Guru ji and sat down.  They saw that the great sinner was forgiven.  They said: “when Sri Hargobind ji grows up, there will be no one more generous than he.  He will bless many.  He will give joy to many.”  The Sikhs spoke about the praises of Sri Hargobind ji.  One can try a million tries but no one can defeat Guru Hargobind ji.  The nurse and snake were killed.  The Pandit was killed as well.  Whoever comes with bad intentions, their plan is never successful. 

3-18 Prithi Chand Fights

Everyone in every direction heard about the foolishness of the Brahmin.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji said to the Brahmin: “you have committed a grave sin.  You will have to say what you just told us to the face of Prithi Chand.  The 500 Rajitpuns that you were paid and the poison you were given, you will have to say this to him.  Prithi Chand is corrupt.  I know how he is.  He is my brother but Guru Ramdas ji called him a Meena (clever, corrupt).  My brother burns in the fire of his jealousy.  He sees the greatness of the Guru and feels pain.  He does not like to see us happy.”  The Brahmin folded his hands and said: “whatever your brother said, I will admit everything and say everything he told me to do.  He has destroyed me.  I don’t know what I will do after this life.  I will go to Hell.  I am a poor person.  I used to play with the Sahibzada and get food to eat.  Now I am stained.  I was unwise.  My bad days are here.  I have lost in this world and in Akaal Purakh’s court, I will be stained.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said to the Brahmin: “you foolish person, what did you do?  Why did you not think of what you are doing?  What value did you put on the Sahibzada? 500 Rajitpuns?  You made a living by playing with the child.”  Guru ji told another Sikh to call Prithi Chand: “tell my brother I am calling him.  Don’t say anything to him.  Fold your hands with respect and ask him to come.” 

The Sikh went to Prithi Chand’s home and bowed to him.  The Sikh folded his hands and said: “Guru Arjan Dev ji is calling for you, Baba ji.  He has asked us to come right now.”  Prithi Chand got up and put his shoes on.  He left with the Sikh.  Prithi Chand asked: “what is the reason he has called me?”  The Sikh responded: “I don’t know.” 

Guru Arjan Dev ji told the Brahmin to go upstairs and stay quiet.  The Brahmin was scared and sat in the room upstairs.  He said: “I will come when you call for me.  I will say the truth.  I won’t let Prithi Chand deny anything.”  In this time, Baba Prithi Chand reached the home of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji got up and bowed to his elder brother.  He had him seated with respect.  Guru ji had his brother sit on a higher seat.  Guru ji spoke with humility: “you are my elder brother.  You are always worthy of worship.  We will all always respect you and would never have hatred and jealousy towards you.  You are like our father.  All of these people know that just as a father takes care of the family, the older brother takes care of the younger brother.  If you wish to keep hatred, then you can do it with me.  Children are innocent.  They do not know friend or foe.  You have done a very bad thing.  You sent the Brahmin that works in our home and tempted him.  You ruined his karma.  You did not think about the great family of Guru Ramdas ji.  You wanted to kill one of your own.  This is not the way of compassionate people.  You didn’t care about what the world would say about you.  You did not determine what a grave sin you were doing.  You did not think of the jumms that would take your soul after you die.  You did bad for yourself like unwise people.  Uneducated people wouldn’t do what you did.  Guru Nanak Dev ji intervened and saved his servant himself.  You stained your reputation.  This stain will get worse by the day.  You will be talked bad about in this world forever.  What you had done today, you will be considered bad for the rest of time.  Just as mud stains swans and dirt to lotus flowers, your corrupt mind always stains you by thinking of schemes.  Your face is now stained.  It cannot be removed.  Your generations will hear what you did and be ashamed of you.  They won’t claim that they are your descendants.  Your descendants will hear about your actions and lower their heads.  They will talk bad about you.  The whole world will know about this.”  Prithi Chand heard this and became very angry.  He said: “you are lying.  You are accusing me of doing something I didn’t do.  What did Sri Hargobind ji do that I would want to hurt him?  Who is my enemy?  I did not tell anyone to give the child poison.  If you can’t see me living in Amritsar, don’t make lies about me.  You make up stories about me in an instant.  Who is the person that is accusing me?” 

Guru Arjan Dev ji told a Sikh: “go and get the Brahmin.”  The Brahmin came out and sat beside Prithi Chand.  Prithi Chand did not have the strength to look towards the Brahmin.  They both wanted to hide.  Their actions were exposed.  Prithi Chand was embarrassed.  The Brahmin spoke: “Prithi Chand, you ruined me.  You are a fool!  What did you make me do?  How were you born in the Guru’s family?  You are full of sin and made me drown too.  Guru ji is omnipotent and you have made him your enemy.  You will not be happy.  What will you do in the afterlife?  You will be talked bad about.  Don’t deny what you said to me last night.  Tell everyone what you said to me.”  Prithi Chand heard the Brahmin and denied everything.  He was corrupt and didn’t even lower his eyes.  He said: “so first you accuse me and now you have a fake witness.  You have taught this Brahmin to lie.  You aren’t afraid of me.  You are making my reputation go bad and making people worship you.  You are a thief and taking money from fools.  I am not afraid of all this.  I do not fear your words.  You gather people and tell them fake stories to make me look bad.  I have figured you out.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji noticed that his brother was stubborn and that he liked to sin: “he did not feel ashamed of doing sins.  He is corrupt and tried to be smart.  The Brahmin is admitting everything but my brother is still denying it.  He is getting mad.  He is doing foolish things.  The thing that he is committing sins for, the Gurta Ghaddi, he does not understand it.  It is too great.”  Prithi Chand spoke: “I haven’t done anything yet but now I will show you what I can do.  I will send you and your son to the home of Jumms.  Just wait a few days, I will show you what I can do.  I was the eldest son but Pithaji banished me.  You are now egotistical.  Somebody will surely give me justice.  The younger got everything and the elder is empty.  If there is no justice then there is darkness in the whole world.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “Guru Ramdas ji did not do anything new.  Guru Nanak Dev ji gave the Gurta Ghaddi to the deserving and not to his own sons.  This tradition was known in the Guru’s house.  Guru Nanak Dev ji’s sons were both wise but they did not do Seva.  The one who did the Seva got the Gurta Ghaddi.  The second Guru, Guru Angad ji was compassionate and the form of Gyaan.  He did not give the Gurta Ghaddi to his two sons either.  He gave it to the Bhagat.  The third Guru, Guru Amar ji sat on the throne.  His sons did not sit on the throne.  The Jot went to Guru Ramdas ji.  Guru Ramdas ji was fully illuminated with the Jot.  He did the Seva and saw my Seva.  He made me sit on the Gurta Ghaddi.  You know all of this.  This happened in front of you.  Wherever you go, you will not get the Gurta Ghaddi this way.  You have hatred and jealousy in your heart towards me.  Nothing will happen to me.  Your heart is burning.  You see my greatness and feel pain.  Guru Ramdas ji gave me this, which cannot be compared to.  An unwise person can try many things but will not be the Guru.  How would you take the weight of the Gurta Ghaddi?”  Prithi Chand’s face was red with anger.  He said: “you can say what you want.  The accusation that you have done, I will not let you sit in peace.  The stronger can take things away from the weak.  In any way, the stronger always wins by killing the weaker.  Everyone knows this.  I will use my power and reverse what Pitha ji has done.  The strong can do anything he wants.  He can reverse the father’s doings and kill the younger.  The strong always takes from the weak.  I was quiet up till now.  I haven’t shown you how strong I am.  I will show you the drama.”  Guru ji heard his words and responded: “if the strong person does bad things and uses his foolishness, Prabhoo defeats them.  The strong loses because of ego.  Haranakash was stronger than Prahalad.  Haranakash defeated Inder and kicked him out of Heaven.  Akaal Purakh could not tolerate this and made a form of Narsingh.  Narsingh did not take long to kill him.  Baali did bad things to Sugreev.  Baali did not survive in front of Ram Chander ji.  You are corrupt.  I will tell you another old Katha: Raavan was a very strong king.  He did a lot of injustice and bad things.  Inder and the Devatas were defeated by Raavan.  Ram Chander came as a Tapasvi and killed Raavan and his whole family.  Parmeshwar kills the ego and gives joy to the bhagats.  This is the personality of Parmeshwar.  You are full of sins.  I’ll tell you another katha: Duryodhana was strong and corrupt.  He was the king of the Kauravs and kicked the Pandavs out, taking their kingdom.  He thought he was the greatest then.  He did many bad things with his power.  He was killed in the battlefield by the help of Bhagavan.  He was mixed into the dust.  The one who used strength to do sin, tell me, were they not destroyed?  I have just mentioned the famous kathas.  Who knows how many less famous people there are.  Parmeshwar kills the strong and egotistical.  You are a mere mortal though.  You can do what you want.  If Parmeshwar does not wish it, my and Sri Hargobind ji’s hair will not be affected.  You can bring all the kings of the world, you still will not be the Guru.  They will all return and regret what they did.  Think about this first.  Think calmly like smart people.  I am not afraid.  Don’t bother making your eyes red.  There is no advantage for you in this.”  Prithi Chand did not like those words at all.  His anger was at its limits.  He said: “I will call myself Prithi Chand when I make you and your son into prisoners.  I will destroy you and your son.  You were a sharp object in my chest for a very long time.  I will go to Delhi and go in front of Jahangir.  I will tell him all the wrong things you have done to me.  I wasn’t going before but now I am sure to go.  The Turks will come to your home and take your wife, son and all who follow you.  I will make sure they catch all of you and have you stand in front of me.  I will punish you and you will call out but won’t be released.  Then you will understand the result of my red eyes.  I will not leave the Gurta Ghaddi with you.  I will take it with my strength.  You have awakened the sleeping lion.  Just as someone takes a poisonous snake, they only know when the snake bites of how poisonous it actually was.  The person dies that picks up the snake.”  The master of the world, the serene and calm, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji heard his brother and said: “only that will happen that the master of the universe wishes to do.  Whatever Parmeshwar does, I will accept it, joyfully.  Sri Hargobind ji will have a grandson who will be all-powerful.  He will create a radiant and powerful Panth.  Your descendants will have to be the Sikhs of those Singhs.  You are calling yourself great but your descendants will be helpless.  They will have to ask the Singhs for protection.  You have been stained permanently.  Your descendants will hear about you and feel pain.  You don’t think before you sin.  You have hatred in your heart.  You will now go to the Turks and beg from them for help.”  Prithi Chand’s anger and jealousy grew.  He swore to Guru Arjan Dev ji, saying bad things and got up.  He did those actions which guaranteed his placement in Hell.  His sins were drowning him and his worries were burning him. 

3-19 Mahadev ji Speaks to Prithi Chand

As Prithi Chand was leaving, he turned around again and yelled: “everyone gives you money.  The money of the Sikhs comes to you.  I will not let you sleep in peace!  I will go to the emperor and tell him.  He will arrest you and your family.  I will make sure you are pain.  I will have you killed by the Turks.”  He wiped his moustaches in a show of dominance and said: “only then will I call myself “Prithi Chand.”  That is only when I will see you.  Remember my words.  We will meet in the Emperor’s court.”  Guru ji heard his words and said: “your words are damned.  Your actions are damned.  The reputation that you wish to make is damned.  Your face and your moustache are damned.  You are damned for not following the traditions of our family.  You will go to Hell and nobody will help you.  You have sinned because of your anger.  You fell under the spell of Kaliyuga.”  Prithi Chand left, swearing out loud.

Prithi Chand entered his house with a burning chest.  He started to think up many schemes: “I am not going to stay in this city.  Everyone is speaking bad about me.  The Sangat will come to me and talk bad about me to my face.  I won’t be able to tolerate this.  I will be arguing and fighting with everyone.  Guru Arjan Dev ji has many Sikhs who give him unlimited money.  I have only a few people coming to me.  My Sikhs will not be able to fight Guru Arjan Dev ji’s Sikhs if a fight breaks out.  I will be looted.  It is better to leave the place where your enemy lives.  Living with snakes or lions is a dangerous thing.  They will sooner or later kill you.  I will take my wife and son and go to Delhi.  I will meet my friend Sulhi.  I will take him to Jahangir and tell him my problems.  Wherever I go, my Sikhs will follow me.  I will make a living with that money.  My family will live there.”  Prithi Chand spoke to his wife: “let’s leave this place.  I got into a big fight.  It is not safe to live here anymore.  People will talk bad about us.  A big fight will happen here if we stay.  Quickly make preparations.  Otherwise our reputation will be destroyed.”  In this way Prithi Chand and Karmo decided to run away from Amritsar like thieves. 

The whole city found out and said: “Prithi Chand is running away with fear.  He tried to poison Sri Hargobind ji.  He has been exposed and wants to run away.  The Sahibzada saved himself with his own powers.”  Everyone in the city spoke to each other, behind closed doors.

Baba Mahadev ji, the middle son of Guru Ramdas ji, was sitting in his home and heard the whole story.  He rubbed his hands and head.  He thought to himself: “how did Prithi Chand do such an evil act?  He did this for money and wealth.  Everyone is talking bad about him.”  Baba Mahadev ji was worried and upset sitting in his home.  A person came to his home the next moment.  The person said to Baba Mahadev ji: “Prithi Chand is leaving with his family and will go to Delhi.  He will go and speak to the Emperor.”  Baba Mahadev was now really worried.  He didn’t want this problem going to Delhi.  He got up and tied his Pugri.  He put his shoes on and ran towards Prithi Chand’s home. 

Baba Mahadev ji had about 10 servants that came along with him.  They reached Prithi Chand’s home and saw that he was packing up and getting ready to leave.  Prithi Chand’s servants were packing up and loading the carts.  People in the market and on the street were watching as Prithi Chand packed his belongings.  The people watching all talked quietly amongst themselves: “Prithi Chand is a very aggressive person.  He fights all the time.  He has hatred in his heart all the time.  He is not afraid to sin.  Since Guru Arjan Dev ji has sat on the throne, Prithi Chand has been his enemy.  Guru ji has never done anything wrong to him.   Now that Prithi Chand has been exposed, he is causing more of a problem.  He is embarrassed now, so he can’t stay here.  The beautiful child, Sri Hargobind ji, his brother’s son, Prithi Chand wanted to kill him.  He is foolish.  First, he sent a nurse and then a snake.  When they both died, he paid money to the child’s babysitter to kill him.  Parmeshwar protects him.”  In this way everyone spoke to each other as they looked on. 

There was a crowd around Prithi Chand’s home.  Baba Mahadev ji saw the crowd and entered the home of Prithi Chand.  He bowed to his brother.  Prithi Chand was burning with anger.  His eyes were blood red with tears in them.  He was thinking the worse things possible.  He wanted to kill everyone.  He commanded his servants to pack everything.  Baba Mahadev saw his brother in anger and knew it was going to be hard to speak to him.  He folded his hands and said: “where are you going with the family?  You’ve packed all the belongings and it seems as though you are never coming back.  What is the reason you are leaving your home and city?  What fear do you have here?”  Prithi Chand responded: “I am going to Delhi to speak to Jahangir.  I will tell him about the injustice that has happened to me.  The Turks will come with an army here and capture Guru Arjan Dev ji and his family.  They will torture them.  I will have them appear in the court by having them arrested.  I will get what I want then.”  Baba Mahadev ji folded his hands and said: “both of us are your younger brothers.  We are younger than you and less wise than you.  We are like your sons.  You are wiser and smarter.  You are older than us.  You should be looking after us, all the time.  This is the best thing.  You are like our father.  You should be raising us.  It is not good for you to go to the Emperor and take our family issues to him.  Don’t have hatred and jealousy in your mind.  Don’t be in pain.  Become like a father and be happy with us.  Pitha ji was happy with Guru Arjan Dev ji and gave him the Gurta Ghaddi.  You and I should bow to his feet, obeying Pithaji’s orders.  The Sangat and Masands should bow to him along with us.  He was our father and he was our Guru.  We should obey his command.  He told us to bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  We should become good sons of our father and listen to him.  Let’s both of us go and bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet.  Otherwise the world will laugh at you.  The Sangat will talk bad about you.  Remember this, the money that you are fighting for, it has never gone with anyone after death.  If you are doing this for your wife and child, they will not be with you after you die.  Their love is a myth.  Listen to what I am saying: leave your anger and leave your enmity.  You have done wrong, that will be forgiven.  When you die, you won’t be in pain or be in fear.  The jot of Guru Nanak Dev ji is inside Guru Arjan Dev ji.”  Prithi Chand heard his brother’s words and tried to convince him to take his side: “Mahadev!  Listen to what I am saying.  Come with me to Delhi.  I will make you the Guru.  Everyone will worship your feet and offer a lot of money.  Both of us brothers will live in peace and the younger will be alone and in pain.”  Mahadev ji responded: “how can I become the Guru?  I am not the elder brother nor was Pithaji happy with me.”  Prithi Chand said: “listen, I will tell you what is good for you.  I will speak to Jahangir and talk to him about the injustice that happened to us.  I will tell him to give us justice.  You don’t need to say or do anything.  I will tell him that the throne and belongings of the father should go to the elder son.  I will tell him to have the Gurta Ghaddi be given to me.  My younger brother took the throne form me by force.  The assets of the father should be evenly distributed to all the sons.  The throne should always go to the elder though.  I will tell the Emperor that I will forego the throne and want I would want Mahadev to have it.  I will have the Teeka of the Guru marked on your forehead in the Emperor’s court.  When you are pronounced the Guru in the court, the whole Sangat and world will worship your feet.  They will bow to you.  I am the eldest and Guru Arjan Dev ji is the youngest.  We are in a conflict.  If either one of us will be the Guru, the other will be jealous.  For this reason, I will tell the emperor to make you the Guru.  Mahadev is simple like Mahadev.  He does not know corruption or ego.  You should be the Guru.  Everyone will be happy if Mahadev is made the Guru.  I will say all this in the court.  I will make you the Guru in Delhi and bring you back here.  Both of us should be on one side.  It would be good.  You will get a big status.  I am like fire and you should be like the wind that strengthens the flames.  We will destroy Guru Arjan Dev ji.  There is nothing we won’t be able to do.”  Baba Mahadev ji heard this and smiled.  He said: “I came to convince you to not go to the Emperor, but you are trying to convince me to go to the Emperor.  I am without worries in my home.  I get food to eat and a lot of servants.  I have no worries or shortages.  You are trying to ruin my life.  I am already happy.  I will be in trouble if I go with you.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is the Guru.  I can’t hate him.  He sees friend and foe as the same.  He has no hatred or emotion.  Listen brother, I will tell you one thing of: this revenge that you want to take, if a house breaks, it is never a moment of joy.  This will only lead to trouble.  People laugh and talk bad about a family that breaks apart.  If you think about the strong kings of the past, when their houses broke, they were destroyed.  There is no greater joy than living together in harmony.  You are going to suck up to the Mughals and then you will have to bribe them to do your work.  Whenever brothers fought in the past, everyone was in pain.  Why don’t you bring forgiveness into your heart?  Baali and Sugreev got into a fight and it was Baali, the elder, who was destroyed.  Raavan and Bibheekhan argued.  Bibheekhan told Ram Chander ji the secret to killing Raavan.  If the brothers stayed together, Raavan would not have died.  The Kauravs and Pandavs were brothers.  The Kauravs got into a fight with the Pandavs and were eventually destroyed.  Such big and famous people were destroyed, what would happen to smaller people?  To announce your personal conflict to everyone, they will only make fun of you.  The lower people will talk bad about you.  You will have to spend money and you will be worried.  You will be in pain till you meet the Emperor.  You will have to beg for them to listen to you.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s praises are spread in the whole world.  The other Gurus praises are spread too.  Everyone respects the Gurus.  The kings all bowed to the Gurus.  If you go and tell Jahangir about your conflict, nobody will respect you.  They will see you as a greedy and angry person.  They won’t worship you.  Get rid of your anger and come with me to bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Stay happy with your family.  Guru Ramdas ji has done the Seva, that is why there is no shortage in our homes.  We are eating what he has sowed.  Everyone respects and praises us.  There are many benefits in staying together.  Everyone will praise you then.”  Baba Mahadev ji was wise.  He tried to tell the corrupt Prithi Chand what the truth was.  Prithi Chand’s heart was like a slippery dish on which nothing would stay.

3-20 Mahadev and Prithi Chand Argue

When Prithi Chand heard Mahadev’s word, he thought to himself: “Mahadev is naïve.  He is lazy and wants to enjoy life sitting at home.  He doesn’t like leaving his home.”  Prithi Chand said to Mahadev ji: “listen my brother, Mahadev, if I don’t do something now, my enemy will take everything.  What will my generations eat and how will they make a living?  If I can’t take the Gurta Ghaddi, my children won’t be able to take it.  I have all the power to get the Gurta Ghaddi.  As soon as I get to Delhi, I will get the Gurta Ghaddi.  Nothing bad will come to me if you praise him.  He is getting money from every direction.  He is fighting with me now, when he becomes a prisoner, people will come to know that he is the one that fights.  Nobody will give him money or gifts then.  This task will be complete in a few days.  Both of us are older and we are poor.  The younger has all the money and the Gurta Ghaddi.  The Sikhs all come and give Guru Arjan Dev ji all the money.  How can we tolerate all this?  We are all sons of the same father.  One is the master and the others have nothing.  I will go to the Emperor and take the Gurta Ghaddi very quickly.  I won’t let him live in peace.  He will be in pain.  Mahadev you are naïve.  You don’t know about profit or loss.  If you don’t listen to me now, you will regret it.  Sri Arjan is the clever one.  You are naïve.  You don’t know how to be clever.  He makes you happy by folding his hands to you and bowing to you.  He has taken everything that we deserve.  He has diverted the Masands to him.  They give him all the money they collect.  You need to focus and come with me.  Your radiance will grow if you go with me.  You will be bigger than me.  I am happy with you.  If you become the Guru, I will be happy with you.  The Sangat from every direction will worship you and bring you money.  Sri Arjan ji is smart.  I don’t like his clever ways.  His form pierces my eyes like thorns.  I don’t like him at all.  Every time someone praises him, the praises pierce my heart.  My heart gets stabbed.  Mahadev, our fight will give you a lot of advantages.  I will get you the Gurta Ghaddi from the Emperor.  I will spend all the money.  I will make all the arguments.  You only need to sit next to me.  I will speak.” 

Baba Mahadev ji folded his hands and said: “you are my elder brother.  Please listen to my request: let go of this enmity and meet your family.  This is nothing better than this.  Remember what our father did.  He already gave the Gurta Ghaddi to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did not use any form of trickery or manipulation to take the Gurta Ghaddi.  He didn’t take it.  It was given to him because he continually did Seva of Pithaji.  He was happy in his will and did what Pithaji said.  He has many qualities.  He was extremely obedient.  He did not do anything for his personal gains or wanted to be praised.  He was like the servant of servants.  He was able to tolerate the intolerable.  He did a lot of Simran and Seva.  He did Seva of Pithaji.  You spoke then too and there is nothing that will come out of it.  Give rise to virtues in your heart.  Be happy when you see your brother grow.  When you see his wealth grow, you should feel happy.  When you see others in pain, you should have compassion.  You should see everyone as equal.  This is the path of Gurmukhs.  It is the way of saints.  Follow this and you will be respected in the court of Akaal Purakh.  Let go of the way of Bemukh slanderers and don’t look that way again.  The person who feels pain after hearing someone else’s praises, that person is always worried.  You are suffering for no reason seeing others happy.  You are happy when you see others in pain and ruin.  You see enemy and friend getting wealthier, this makes you angry.  You speak bad words and make people hurt.  Looking at the praises of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, seeing his son, joy and wealth, you are burning with jealousy.  You should tolerate all this.  Guru Arjan Dev ji has the ability to tolerate the intolerable.  He has all the powers.  Even after all of this conflict, he still didn’t show what powers he has.  He is our brother, born from the same mother.  We should be proud of his powers and great qualities.  Listen to what I am saying and let go of your hatred and enmity.  Go and meet Guru Arjan Dev ji.  You won’t be able to take the Gurta Ghaddi.”

Prithi Chand heard this and said: “I am strong and powerful.  You don’t know how much power I have.  I will show you my power.  I will go to Delhi and meet my brother-like friend, Sulhi Khan.  He is my friend and is really strong.  He does whatever I say.  He will complete my wishes by telling Jahangir.  He sees my tasks as his own.  He came here to meet me before.  He came here because of me.  He had no other task here.  You know what happened before.  When he came here before, Guru Arjan Dev ji left Amritsar and went to live in Vadaali.  I told Sulhi to go back because he was no longer needed.  I didn’t tell Sulhi my reason for calling him before, but now I will tell him everything.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is my enemy now.  He will tell the Emperor and call me.  I will tell Jahangir and he will arrest Guru Arjan Dev ji.  I will fulfil my wishes then and come back here to live in peace.  That’s why I’m telling you to come with me.  You will get the great throne.  If you don’t believe me, I am ready to promise that I will make you the Guru.  Come with me.  Laxmi is coming to your home without your effort.  You are closing the door on her.  You will be a great king by sitting at home.  Why aren’t you accepting it?  The Sangat from every direction will come to worship you.  They will bring money and gifts to you.  Why don’t you understand what I am saying?  Get ready and come with me.”

Mahadev ji said: “if one of us becomes the Guru, how will we know what the wishes of the Sikhs are?  The Sangat bows to the omniscient and omnipotent one.  We don’t have those powers.  We will sit on the throne but no one will come to us.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Sri Guru Angad Dev ji and Sri Guru Amardas ji were all powerful and complete.  Our father, Guru Ramdas ji was the same.  They all had the same Jot.  That supreme Jot is now inside of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  The Sangat will not leave him and come to us.  He is omniscient and omnipotent.  Guru Ramdas ji made Guru Arjan Dev ji the Guru while he was on earth.  He has the full Jot.  He has the power to do anything but he still doesn’t show it.  Even if he was to give his life, he won’t show his powers.  This is the greatness of being the Guru.  The Guru does not waiver even if he faces danger.  The wise people understand this quality of the Guru and worship his feet.  For me or you to be Guru, this is not possible.  Let go of your ego and anger.  Come and meet Guru Arjan Dev ji.  You will live in peace and joy.  Why are you leaving your home?  If you have hatred with Guru ji, the whole world will speak bad about you.  Destroy your bad intellect.  Do Simran of Ram and make your mind pure.” 

Prithi Chand responded: “I will never meet him!  We are enemies now.  If will not bow to him.  He will be punished to be my enemy.  He will soon find out what it means to have enmity with me.  Come with me Mahadev.  I can’t do what you say.” 

Mahadev said: “I don’t want to be the Guru.  I am not in pain to see Guru Arjan Dev ji happy.  I do not have the ability to be the Guru.  You see him and are in pain.  You are a sinner.  I don’t want to be a part of this.  I can’t do bad to anyone else.  You can do as you wish.  I can’t go with you and be a part of your plot.” 

Prithi Chand was really angry and said: “you don’t know what is going on.  You don’t know what I am saying.  I have figured out that you are Guru Arjan Dev ji’s servant.  You follow him.  You won’t listen to me.  You are always praising him.  You are always talking about my bad qualities.” 

Baba Mahadev ji said: “that’s fine!  I am his servant.  He is younger but greater than me in qualities.  I follow him.  It is Pitha ji’s command to follow him.  Who can reverse the command of Guru Ramdas ji?  Listen to what I have to say: the good son listens to the father’s command.  Only the bad son doesn’t listen to the father.  You are full of anger and corruption.  You are ungrateful, cowardly, uncompassionate, foolish, a sinner and evil-minded.  What other things can I say to you?  You love to do the wrong things.  You will be called all these things.  I tried to speak to you with love but if I see all your bad qualities versus the whole worlds, they would be equal.  Sri Nanak Dev ji’s saintly form saw everyone as the same.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is the form of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  He is wise.  He sees joy and sorrow as the same.  He is the Master of the universe who blesses everyone.  He is the Avatar of Ishwar who blessed thousands.  He is the treasure of virtues.  Our Pitha ji made him sit on his seat.  How can I go against Pithaji?  You are a sinner for not listening to him.  You slander the person on our father’s throne.  You are a sinner.  You are like the flamingo trying to defeat the swan; the fish trying to defeat Garud; you are trying to scare the lion.  You can’t cover the sun.  You are trying to defeat Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He is the master.  He is omnipotent, complete, patient, tolerant and forgiving.  You have no powers or patience, not even a little bit.  You are light and Guru ji is heavy.  You are dirty.  He is calm and compassionate.  You are harder than a rock and egotistical.  You can’t compare to him.”  Prithi Chand was burning with anger.  He couldn’t handle the truth.  His eyes were red, his lips quivered and his eyebrows were raised to their capacity.