3-21 Mahadev and Guru Arjan Dev ji have a Discussion

Prithi Chand heard the bitter truth and responded: “you are not understanding what I am saying.  People call you naïve because you have no sense of logic.  The things that I am saying, you don’t understand because you stay in your home all day long.  When smart people get together, you don’t know how to converse with them.  You don’t know what it is that I am going to do.  You don’t see precious gems sitting in front of you.  How would you describe the gems?  You have spent your whole life with unwise and foolish people.  You don’t know how smart people think.  It’s people like you who have been praising Guru Arjan Dev ji and gave him a big head full of ego.  If you don’t listen to me, I will have you arrested as well.  Then I’ll see your powers along with your Guru’s.  When the Turks arrest you, you will know who is big and who is small then.  Who would listen to you?  You don’t have wisdom.  Why should I listen to you?  I have friendships with powerful people.  Get up from here!  Leave me!  I don’t want to listen to you.  You are now my enemy like Guru Arjan Dev ji.  I was trying to be nice to you because you are my younger brother but you are not understanding anything.  It’s like giving expensive clothes to an animal.  The animal strikes the person giving him clothes with his horns.  This is how you are.” 

Mahadev responded: “I am on Guru Arjan Dev ji’s side because when Guru Ramdas ji gave him the Gurta Ghaddi, he commanded everyone to bow to his feet and do what he says.  I obeyed Pithaji’s command.  Pithaji Guru was the Avatar of Hari.  He was a saint.  I can’t disobey his words.  If a person releases an arrow towards the sky, it will hit the person back in his own face.  If a person bangs his forehead on to a mountain to break it, the mountain does not break but the forehead does.  If a person wants to put his hand in to the mouth of a lion or fire, he cannot be safe.  If a person carries rocks in his neck and wants to swim across a river, he will surely drown.  This is how you are.  Think hard about what you are doing.  Guru Pithaji’s words are irreversible.  He claimed Guru Arjan Dev ji as the Guru.  Wherever you go, you will be considered the wrong one.  The best thing for you to do is to stay here with your family.  You will be happy here.  Meet with the family and nobody will say anything bad to you.  Meeting the Emperor will have people saying bad things about you.  See Guru Arjan Dev ji like Pithaji.” 

Prithi Chand said: “you are naïve like children.  The things that give me pain, that is what you are saying.  You want me to be his servant?  I am not a fool.  I will take the great Gurta Ghaddi from him.  Both of you will be alone and I will make sure that you will be at a loss.”

Mahadev said: “don’t be stubborn.  Consider what is the best thing for you.  Bow to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet.  You are not listening to me because of your desire, anger, greed, attachment and ego.  You will be in a deep pain if you don’t listen to me.  The whole world will talk bad about you.  You will ruin it for yourself in this world and in the next.  You will regret this because this time won’t come back.  You won’t get your house back.” 

Prithi Chand was burning.  He said: “why are you bothering me still?  Leave!  Prithi Chand went quiet after yelling at Mahadev ji.  Baba Mahadev ji figured out that Prithi Chand’s destiny was going to take him to his fate.  Baba Mahadev ji cursed his brother: “may your mind swim in the sea of worry from now on!”  Mahadev ji got up and left.  He knew this situation was going to get worse.  He thought to himself: “our father’s name Guru Ramdas ji’s name will be used in Delhi.  The Emperors have all came to the Guru’s court to bow.  Now this fool is going to beg and ask them for justice.  He is going to show them his humility for his personal gains and misuse the family name.  I tried to show him the logic but he didn’t listen to me.  He doesn’t know what his destiny is.  He is stuck in his sin.  He tried to kill his own nephew.  He always thinks bad things.  He is getting older and still has issues with his ego.  He thinks he is the greatest.”  Baba Mahadev headed home and then rested.

After Baba Mahadev ji had some water, he went to visit Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He went to his home and met Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji folded his hands and bowed to Baba Mahadev ji.  Baba Mahadev ji also bowed to Guru ji.  Both of their personalities were calm and pure.  Both of them sat down.  Guru Arjan Dev ji had Sri Hargobind ji in his lap and was reciting Gurbani of protection known as “Rakhya de Shabad.”  There were praises of Parmeshwar and Guru Nanak Dev ji in those Shabads: “you came to protect your servant by giving your hand.  Just as parents protect their child and look over the child all the time, that is how you protected your servant.”  Guru ji wrote many Shabads like this.  There were praises of the Guru in them that gave rise to love inside the heart.  These Shabads were included in Guru Granth Sahib ji which were for the good of the Sikhs.  Sikhs would achieve Mukti by reading them.  The meanings of those Shabads were evident and they gave peace to the Sikhs.  Guru ji would speak them out loud to his Sikhs to give them peace and joy.  He would say to this Sikhs: “those who will recite these Shabads, they will be protected.  Akaal Purakh will be by their side.”  Baba Mahadev ji had come while Guru Arjan Dev ji was speaking to the Sikhs.  Baba Mahadev ji looked at Sri Hargobind ji and felt joy.  He thought to himself: “we are blessed to have such a child in our family.  Guru Ramdas ji’s family is the East, from where Guru Arjan Dev ji is a full moon, rising.  Just as moonlight spread, Sri Hargobind ji’s Sikhi will spread.  The Sikhs are like the twinkling stars.  The Sangat in the far away lands blossomed like the jungle flower seeing the moon.  The corrupt people are like flowers that wilt when the moon comes out.  Just as Surya Dev was born in the home of Kashyap Rishi, Guru Arjan Dev ji’s birth is like that.  The darkness of ignorance is gone.  The slanderer owls are blind seeing the sun.  The saints are blooming like the lotus flower seeing the sun.  The thieves and corrupt people are hiding now.  Guru ji can destroy the evil ones.”  In this way he praised Guru ji in his heart.  He picked up Sri Hargobind ji into his lap.  He said to Guru ji: “tell me what happened and how did Guru Nanak Dev ji save Sri Hargobind ji.  How did the Brahmin take Sri Hargobind ji to an empty room.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji pointed to the Brahmin sitting close by and said: “here is the Brahmin.  You can ask him the whole story.  He took Sri Hargobind ji upstairs.  It was happening very casually and nobody thought he would do such a thing.  He was going to give Sri Hargobind ji poisoned-yoghurt and Sri Hargobind ji yelled out loud and began to scream.  I called everyone downstairs then.  When I gave the yoghurt to my dog, he died right away.”  The Brahmin sitting by spoke: “Baba ji, your brother, Prithi Chand is bad.  He is going to Hell and he wanted to take me with him.  Guru ji’s son is powerful.  He knew what was the truth.  He didn’t eat the yoghurt.  He stopped me from going to Hell.  I am a sinner.  He has saved me.  I can’t fully sing his praises.  I am now in their protection. He is going to kill many sinners.  He is the Avatar of Akaal Purakh and is here to do great work.”  Baba Mahadev ji was shocked to hear all this.  He said to Guru ji: “I went to go and see brother Prithi Chand, but he doesn’t listen.  His own sins have clouded his logic.  He is going to Delhi to demand justice.  He will bow to them and beg.  He doesn’t recognize the greatness of our ancestors.  He will beg from them, who bowed to our elders.  He only likes to do bad things.  He is corrupt and has hatred in his heart.  He is egotistical and corrupt.  He is jealous of you and burning in his own fire.  He doesn’t listen.  He has all of the vices in his mind.  Even if Brahma comes to speak to him, Prithi Chand won’t listen to his wisdom.”  Guru ji spoke: “listen brother, I don’t understand why he hates me or is jealous of me.  Even if he hates me, that’s fine, why does he hate a child?  He has stained his face.  He slanders us and is embarrassed now.  I did not say anything bad to him or tell him to leave.”  Baba Mahadev ji had some discussions and then came to his home.

Mata Ganga ji took Sri Hargobind ji into her lap and hugged him.  She was happy that Guru Nanak Dev ji protected her son.  She felt as though her child had a second birth.  She would give money to the Bhatts and take their blessings.  Guru ji had Karah Prashaad prepared and did Ardaas: “Akaal Purakh ji protected Sri Hargobind ji.”  The Sangat was called and the Prashaad was distributed.  The Sangat shouted out loud “Jai, jai.”  They all sang the praises of Guru ji.  There was joy everywhere.  In this way the Sangat came to Guru ji’s home and did Shabad Keertan.  They all did Simran of Satnam.  They said: “Guru ji is great who helps his Sikhs where they are in trouble.  Guru ji is always by the side of his Sikhs.  They are never in trouble.” 

3-22 Prithi Chand meets Sulhi/ Haiher

A celebration took place in Guru ji’s home.  Karah Prashaad was made and distributed as Sri Hargobind ji was safe from danger.  The sounds of the Dhundhabs and Napheeryas were heard at the door of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  There was joy there as men and women all gathered.  They all expressed their well wishes to Guru ji for his son.  They were shocked to hear what Prithi Chand had done and cursed him: “he tried to give poison to Sri Hargobind ji through his babysitter.  Akaal Purakh ji protected him.  Prithi Chand has stained his face till the day he dies.  He has dropped his shame and is sitting in his home.  He has been exposed.  He’s a fool for being Guru ji’s enemy for no reason.  The Jot of Guru Nanak Dev ji lives inside Guru Arjan Dev ji who is generous and gracious.  He is complete and omnipotent.  Prithi Chand wanted to cheat Guru ji, who can never be cheated.  Guru ji thinks of others.”  The Sikhs would talk in this way and Prithi Chand’s Sikhs would hear them.  Prithi Chand’s Sikhs would come and tell Prithi Chand: “thousands of Sikhs are swearing at you.  They call you a sinner and corrupt person.  There are celebrations happening there.  There are instruments playing and there is a great crowd.  Karah Prashaad is being distributed.”  Prithi Chand heard the news and thought to himself: “my task didn’t go through and my chest still feels like it has a sharp object in it.  The opposite happened what I wanted.  People are talking bad about me.  They call me a bad person.  My face is stained.  The Brahmin that I paid was a fool.  He didn’t do my task.  He was going to give the boy poison in the morning.  He should have given the poison at night so nobody would know.  If my enemy would have died, I would have been happy.  My mind would have blossomed.  That child is fortunate that he survived three of my attempts.  Everyone is talking about me.  My enmity has gone really bad with Guru ji.  I can’t hear my disrespect everyday.”  Prithi Chand was worried and in pain.  He told his people to get ready to go: “pack everything.  Pack it all today.  We should be ready to leave first thing in the morning.  We won’t wait for the sun’s rays.  We will be on our way by then.  I don’t want anyone to see us leaving.  If people see us, they will swear at us.”  Preparations were made.  The belongings were packed and loaded on to the carts.  He said to his people: “I don’t want to hear anyone say mean things to us.  The people that hate us will fight with us, if they see us in the morning.  When our people hear those words, they may get into a fight with them.  We are fewer in numbers so we may suffer losses.”  Prithi Chand waited for the night to be spent.  He was worried now as Baba Mahadev ji had cursed him with a worried mind.  He didn’t eat anything.

In the house of the Guru, Dhundhabs, Shehnais and Napheeryas were playing.  Prithi Chand could hear them in his home.  They felt like spears in his heart.  The praises of the Guru felt like arrows in his chest.  He was afraid.  Night time came and Karmo brought food for Prithi Chand.  Karmo gave Prithi Chand hope: “why are you worried?  You are very smart.  You know the people who are close to the Emperor.  Your enemies should be worried.  You are friends with people like Sulhi.  Don’t worry.  Once we meet the Emperor, we will kick these people out of the city.  We will live here in peace.  They are kicking us out today, we will kick them out soon.  Have hope.  Let go of your worries.  It will be good for you to go.  Without effort, nothing is possible.  We will get the Gurta Ghaddi.  Take the arrows out of your chest.  Don’t be hurt.  Meet the Emperor and have him send his army.  They should be arrested and sent away from this place.  We will be respected here.  If the boy would have drunk the yoghurt, he would have died.  There wouldn’t have been this celebration.  We would have stayed here then.”  Karmo said many things to Prithi Chand but he was still worried.  He ate his food but thought to himself: “how will I meet Jahangir?  The people in his court will hear me and help me.  They will feel bad for me.  If people don’t listen to me, I will pay them and get them to do what I want.  I will send Guru Arjan Dev ji a letter from Delhi.”  Prithi Chand laid down to sleep but he did not sleep.  He was worried but wondered if his plan would be successful now.  He was always thinking of doing sins.  His eyelids did not close all night.  He spent the night in pain.  At around 2 am, he got up and had everyone board the carts.  The servants and maids got ready and got on top of the carts.  They all started off on their journey.

After travelling for 2 days, he got a message on his way: “Sulhi Khan is in Punjab.  He is not with the Emperor.”  Prithi Chand got happy that he could meet Sulhi in Punjab before going to the Emperor.  He reached the village of Haiher (currently in Lahore, Pakistan) which was under Sulhi Khan’s command.  He owned the Jageer of that village.  Sulhi was visiting Haiher to collect his taxes.  Prithi Chand had his carts turn towards Haiher.  He thought of many things as he turned towards Haiher.  He thought he was going to be successful now.  He had his carts move faster.  It was as though Sulhi was going to have the Gurta Ghaddi ready for him.  Prithi Chand spoke to his people: “my work will be done now.  My wishes will all be fulfilled.  Sulhi is close by.  He is a close friend of mine.  Our friendship is deep.  I will meet him and have my enemy arrested.  I will have his son arrested as well.  I will have them jailed in a dark jail so no one can have them released.  They will live in the jail and I will snatch their home and wealth.  Just as a big planet covers a smaller planet, I will cover him.  They won’t be able to do anything then.  They will have to listen to me to be happy.”  He kept telling his people that he was going to be the Guru soon and no one was going to stop him.  He only wanted to be the Guru because he wanted the money.  He gave hope to his people so they would trust him. 

Prithi Chand reached Haiher and set up camp.  He got up in the morning and took a bath.  He wore expensive clothes.  He sent a servant to Sulhi to inform him of his arrival.  Sulhi got the message and sent a message back: “come meet me.”  Prithi Chand came to see Sulhi.  As soon as he entered Sulhi’s court he yelled out: “may your glory grow.  May you be victorious and may your enemies die.”  Prithi Chand came and sat next to Sulhi.  Sulhi Khan spoke: “my friend, what happened that you had to come yourself?  You must be in trouble that you came yourself.  I want to know why you had to come.  You didn’t send a servant.  My brother, I would have completed your task if you would have sent a servant.  I am your friend.  I am loyal to you.  I will do your task quickly.”  Prithi Chand heard Sulhi and responded as if he was the Guru: “the Guru will protect you!  I trust you fully.  You will see my task as your own.  You will do it quickly because you love me like a brother.  You are without corruption.  We will be friends forever.  My heart is without corruptions as well.  When you came before to help me, my enemy left the city.  He took his belongings, Sikhs and servants and went to another village.  I came to see you then.  My enemy stayed for 3 years in Vadaali.  He came back to Amritsar after 3 years.  I don’t know any hatred.  My enemy was showing me love along with his family and lived there.  They have been living there for 2 years in Amritsar.  I am the elder brother and it is my right to be the Guru.  My father was naïve and did not see my brother’s deception.  He did a bad thing by making my younger brother the Guru.  My brother does not give me any money.  He keeps all of the money of the Sangat.  He has ego in his mind.  His wealth is growing by the day.  He is not afraid of the Emperor or any other government official.  He is egotistical and thinks nobody is equal to him.  People from all four directions come to him in the thousands, brining him money and gifts.  They come and bow to him with many gifts.  He fights with me for no reason.  I don’t say anything bad to him.  Many people who come to the city, he says bad things about me to them.  Those people along with other Sikhs slander me.  He is ruining it for my Sikhs and servants.  He doesn’t let anyone worship me and says: “there is no other like me.”  Now, he had me kicked out of my home by force.  He is making himself look big without any fear.  I left my home as I had no support there.  I came to you for your support.  You are my best friend who helps me in my time of need.  I don’t trust anyone else.  There is no other close friend of mine other than you.  I bless you everyday so that you prosper and grow.  I only give you blessings.  The throne of my father is really high.  It is the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Please help me get it.  Only you can help me get it.  Help me take it from both of my brothers.”  Sulhi, the Pathaan, heard this and became angry.  He said to Prithi Chand: “is your brother still fighting with you?  Doesn’t he know that I came before?  Looks like he doesn’t know how strong I am.  The owner of our country, he doesn’t fear him either?  When I came for the first time, I came for you.  Didn’t your brother know that I am your friend?  Did he forget this?  He left the city because of my arrival.  I will punish him with my power.  I can punish him right now but the best thing to do is to go to the Emperor and tell him the whole situation.  After that, we can come and arrest your brother.  You will be the Guru and no one would argue this.  The Emperor sent me to the region of Majha for an important task.  I am sitting in Haiher to collect taxes of this region.  I have been for a while.  I still have a while to go.  I will take all the money and go to Delhi.  I will take you with me to Delhi.  I will tell the Emperor and then he will call you.  He will give you justice.  He will clear your troubles and make all the Sikhs bow to you.  He will make you the Guru in his city.  You are my friend.  I will help you and the whole world will know of our friendship.  The Sikhs will then all come to you then and bring you money and gifts.  You will be happy and take the money.  They will see you as the Guru.  You will have no enemies.  This will be your reward for being my friend.  You will live in wealth and you will be happy.  Live in my village for a few days.  You can go to Delhi when I go.  The Emperor signed this village of Haiher to me.  I will give it to you so you can live here in joy.  You can make your life and living here.  The Sangat will come here and worship you.  Nobody else will be worshiped here.”  Prithi Chand heard this and became very happy.  He said to Sulhi: “listen Sulhi, I bless you with peace and joy.  Your glory will grow and your wishes will all be fulfilled.  You will be praised for the rest of your days.  The Guru will be by your side and wash your troubles away.  You have done a great thing by giving me this village.  You will live forever.  You gave me this village and so I will make my house here.  I will bless you all day and all night long.  One more thing, my brother made a great Sarovar in Amritsar.  The Sikh Sangat comes there and bathes.  I wish to make a Sarovar here.  This is a good thing that I wish to do.  If you are happy with me, I will make a Sarovar with pure water here.  It will be beautiful.  I will make a Mandir in the middle of the Sarovar.  The people will come here then instead of Amritsar.”  Sulhi responded: “this is a very good thing that you wish to do.  This will give many people joy.  This is good for all.  Many people will come to bathe here and drink the Sarovar’s water.  Animals and birds can come and drink its water.  Make it how you want to.  I will help you.  Your Sangat will come and bathe in the Sarovar.  Your praises will grow.”  Sulhi then gave a lot of money to Prithi Chand and said: “this will be my donation.  Take this money as my contribution.”  Prithi Chand then said: “sign over the village to me.”  The registration was done and then Prithi Chand constructed his new home.  After a while, he spent money and had many brick kilns set up.  He wanted to copy Sri Amritsar Sarovar.  He said: “many gifts will come.  People will bring money.  Celebrations will happen at my Teerath. 

Prithi Chand started the construction of his Sarovar with great enthusiasm.  He spent a lot of money.  He had hatred and jealousy towards Guru Arjan Dev ji and tried to be his equal.  Where was the power, wisdom and Gyaan going to come from?

3-23 Prithi Chand digs a Sarovar in Haiher

Prithi Chand had deep jealousy towards Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He was trying to copy Guru Arjan Dev ji and so he started to have a new Sarovar dug up.  He would praise the Sarovar to everyone as the people dug.  He spent a lot of money to dig the Sarovar, thinking that a lot of people will come and bring money.  Many labourers were working to dig the Sarovar.  They dug a great amount in a matter of a few days.  The Sarovar was levelled.  Prithi Chand would sit all day and direct the work.  The workers would be paid by him in the evening.  The next day he would call the workers and have them work on the Sarovar.  He had craftsmen work on the Sarovar in the same way that the Amritsar Sarovar was built.  He was happy to see the Sarovar being built.  He copied the Amritsar Sarovar.  He had a Mandir built in the middle of the Sarovar.  Just as Harmandir Sahib had 4 doors, Prithi Chand had 4 doors built in his Mandir as well.  He would direct the workers himself and pay them a lot of money.  There is no other Mandir like Sach Khand Sri Harmandir Sahib.  Just as swans live at the Mansarovar, Harmandir Sahib houses the saints who perform Keertan.  Mansarovar has many Lotus flowers.  Keertan of Satnam, Hari and Ram are the flowers in Amritsar.  The centre is filled with bliss.  The petals are the Sat, Santokh, Daya, Dharam and Dheeraj.  The smell of faith and devotion is always present in Amritsar.  The stem of the Lotus is the love of the Guru’s feet in Amritsar.  The saints are the swans who get the Mukti as pearls (swans are known to eat pearls).  The swans meet at the Mansarovar and rejoice.  The Sikhs, Sadhoos and saints gathered in the Harmandhir and rejoiced. 

Prithi Chand was a flamingo who wanted to copy the swans.  Prithi Chand was trying to take a marsh and make it into the Mansarovar like Amritsar.  There is only mud in the marsh.  He felt happy as the marsh was dug.  He was leading the people astray with his foolishness.  His Sarovar had the frogs of vices.  He had jealousy, desire, hatred and anger.  Prithi Chand wanted to scam people out of their money.  The wise people were not enticed by Prithi Chand.  They had faith in the real Guru. 

After constructing the Mandir, water was filled in the Sarovar.  Prithi Chand set up a seat inside the Mandir and started to sit like the Guru.  He thought people would come and worship him like people come to Harmandir Sahib.  Both Sulhi and Prithi Chand looked at the construction and were very happy.  They would praise their work to the people around them: “Lakhs of people will come here to bathe.  This will be a great Teerath.  The praise of this Teerath will spread to many men and women around the world.  This place will be greater than Sri Amritsar Sahib.  I have made this Teerath in a very good place.  Great people live here.”  The fool did not know his destiny.  His place was going to be abandoned.  The Sarovar was going to dry up and the Mandir was going to be levelled like a sandcastle.  He had no powers.  Who was going to worship him?  He had no Gyaan.  He was in pain.  Only some Sikhs came to his place, once in a while.  The few people that would come, he would respect them and say: “there is a lot of rewards for bathing in the Sarovar.  All your wishes will be fulfilled and your sins will be washed away.”  The people would come and Prithi Chand praised his Sarovar.  He tried hard to have people come to his Teerath.  There were no crowds gathering at his Sarovar.

In Sri Amritsar, there was a growing crowd everyday.  Sikhs bathed in the Sarovar with faith and would have their wishes fulfilled.  On days of significance, there would be no place to stand.  People from every direction would come and bring gifts and money.  Prithi Chand would hear news of Amritsar and be shocked that no one would come to his Teerath.  He praised and praised about his own place but eventually he got tired as no one came.  His Sikhs were like beggars that would come once in a while to take a bath in his Sarovar.  They did not have any faith or devotion.  Their wishes were not fulfilled. 

The Sikhs of Guru Arjan Dev ji would come to Harmandir Sahib with faith and devotion.  Their wishes were fulfilled seeing Guru ji and bathing in the Sarovar of Amritsar.  The dhundhabs and napheeryas would play.  In the Harmandir Sahib, mridangs, rababs and other instruments were played.  The Rababis would sing Keertan in various Raags, Sri, Bilawal, Gauri, Tilang and others.  The court was in session from Amritvela till night.  Guru Arjan Dev ji would sit from Amritvela to noon.  The Sikhs would bring money and gifts.  The Rababis would sing the Raags with skill and cleverness.  The Sikhs would stand up and do Ardaas to Guru ji’s feet.  They would have all their wishes fulfilled.  There was a great celebration, filled with joy, everyday.  They would jaikaras of Guru ji.  New Sangat would come everyday from far away lands.  They were filled with love, that would overflow when they would see Guru ji. 

Some of Prithi Chand’s people would come to spy upon Guru ji.  They would go back and tell Prithi Chand about the great crowds in Amritsar: “so much money comes that cannot be counted.  Guru Arjan Dev ji donates a lot to everyone.  Sangat from far away lands come.  How many praises can we talk about?  Some come and some go everyday.  Some people start living there.  They give a lot of money.  Some come to listen to Keertan in Raags and some sing.  Some keep doing the Parkarma and some bathe in the Sarovar.  Some sing Guru Arjan Dev ji’s praises.  Some do Seva of water or brooming the place.  Some come to thank Guru ji for their wishes being fulfilled.  There are jaikaras everywhere of Guru ji.  His praises are growing and spreading.  Powerful and wealthy men come and bow.”  Prithi Chand would be upset after hearing this: “all my efforts went to waist.  Nobody is coming to my Teerath.  I spent Lakhs of Rupees which will not come back.  There is no celebration and no one comes.  I am not being praised and nobody has faith towards me.  I spent a lot of money here.  In a few days I had a lot of people hired to build this Teerath.  My Sarovar is great but nobody understands its value.  No Sangat came and nobody had devotion towards this place.  The Lakhs I have spent; I won’t be able to recover in 50 years.”  Prithi Chand was worried everyday.  He would here his brother’s praises and be upset.  He was not in peace. 

Prithi Chand would go to his friend, Sulhi Khan, to tell him his pain: “when we go to Delhi, then my task will be complete.  When I go, I will get the Gurta Ghaddi of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  I won’t be worshiped or praised till then.  The powers will come when I get the Gurta Ghaddi.  People only bow to the powers.  Nobody will come here otherwise.  If you do me this favor of telling the Emperor, the Sikhs will then come and praise me.  We need to go to Delhi and have Guru Arjan Dev ji arrested.  I won’t be in peace tell then.  I will be worried till then.  This Sarovar was made because of your glory.  Your glory has grown in the Guru’s home.  You will be saved in both worlds.  Jumms won’t bother you.  There is no other Turk greater than you.  Your mother and father are great that gave you birth.  They are blessed.”  Sulhi’s chest got inflated with pride.  He said: “don’t worry Prithi Chand.  I will do your task in Delhi.  We will go in a few days and meet the Emperor.  I will tell him the whole situation.  He will give you the Gurta Ghaddi when I praise you.  I will arrest Guru Arjan Dev ji.  No one will be able to save him.  I only have a few more days here to collect the taxes.  I think about your task day and night.  Till I don’t fulfill your task, it will be a matter of worry for me.”  Sulhi Khan and Prithi Chand would have many such discussions.  Listening to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s praises, Prithi Chand would be in pain.

3-24 Bhai Gurdas ji and Prithi Chand

Prithi Chand and Sulhi Khan were both corrupt and were cooking up bad schemes.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was calm and serene.  Guru ji thought to himself: “Prithi Chand is my father’s son.  He is my older brother.  He has left our city and went far away.  He is in pain, being away from his city.  There has been a lot of negative talk about him.  He couldn’t tolerate his disrespect and left after not being able to do anything about it.  Prabhoo Kartar is our protector.  When Akaal Purakh protects you, nobody can do bad to you.  I will call him back here and have him live here again.  I will give him respect and give him the greatness of being the elder brother.  I will have him praised so he is happy.  He is wandering from place to place.  This looks bad on our family.  People will say that I didn’t want to see my brother.  They will say that “the father gave the younger the Gurta Ghaddi and the younger kicked the older brother out of the city.  He couldn’t see his brother happy.  The younger brother didn’t respect the older brother.  The Guru was greedy for money.”  This is what people will say.  The Bedis, Trehans and Bhallas may say these things as well.  They will accuse me of these things and not know the real story.  It is better to call Baba Prithi Chand ji back to Amritsar.”  The ocean of compassion was thinking these thoughts.  There was absolutely no hatred in his heart.  He wanted his brother to be happy.  He was worried about his brother and his family being in pain.  Guru ji also thought about Prithi Chand going to the Mughals and asking for justice: “the Turks are looking for an excuse to come to here.  This is not good if he goes to the Turks.”  For all these reasons, Guru ji wanted to reach out to his brother. 

Guru ji called Bhai Gurdas ji to him and had him sit next to him.  He told him everything: “Brother Prithi Chand ji is in Haiher.  I want you to go and meet him.  Speak to him with respect and bring him back to Amritsar.  Tell him that all of the gifts and money that is offered to the house of the Guru, he can use it all.  It shall all be given to him.  Tell him to let go of his anger and hatred.  Tell him I have no enmity or hatred towards him.  I have always seen him as my elder brother.  Tell him I will do whatever he says and that he should be without hatred and corruption.  I will give him all the wealth but he should be good with us.  He should have well wishes for everyone and be happy.  He will be peaceful and joyful then.  He should be greater than me and be calm.  He shouldn’t see the vices of the younger.  He should forgive the younger and protect them.  We will all obey his commands but he should be clean too.  Conflict in the family is never good.  Ask him to think about this.  When a person loses in the family conflict, it is good.  Winning in these conflicts is never good.  People will talk bad about him if he doesn’t come back.  The Ghaddi of the Satguru is too big.  If he wants the Ghaddi, he needs to be deserving of it.  If he makes the effort to be deserving, he will have the Ghaddi.  The Sikhs are wise.  They will surely worship him if he is deserving.  He will be in peace in Heaven because of his virtues.  He will be happy on earth as well.  He won’t have any pain if he does what I say.”  Guru ji said all these things to Bhai Gurdas ji.  “Go to Prithi Chand ji and bring him back.” 

Bhai Gurdas ji folded his hands and said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, I will go and obey your command.  I don’t think he will come though.  He doesn’t like me.  He is full of corruption.  If someone tries to tell him what’s good for him, he thinks it’s the wrong thing.  His heart is not pure and he is not wise.”  Bhai Gurdas ji bowed and came out of Guru ji’s court. 

Bhai Gurdas ji took a few servants and headed towards Haiher.  After a while, Bhai Gurdas ji reached the village and set up camp in the evening.  The next morning, he bathed and got ready.  Bhai Gurdas ji went to the Mandir that Prithi Chand had constructed.  He folded his hands and bowed to Prithi Chand.  Prithi Chand did not get up to respect his uncle (Bhai Gurdas ji was Guru Amardas ji’s nephew).  Bhai Gurdas ji stated the message that Guru Arjan Dev ji had sent: “Sri Satguru Ramdas ji was the house of virtues.  The whole world came to worship him and had faith in him.  You were his eldest son, born in the great family of the Sodhis.  There is no throne greater than Guru Nanak Dev ji’s throne.  Never was, never will be.  Satguru Amar ji was omnipotent and complete.  He was great and wise.  There was no one wiser.  He was your mother’s father.  He gave the Gurta Ghaddi of Guru Nanak Dev ji to your father.  You are blessed from your father’s and your mother’s side.  Both families are great and well-reputed.  You should keep that in mind and be respective of the families’ reputations.  You should do things that have people praise you.  You are a Kshatriya born in the house of Sodhis.  Going to the Turks and pleading for justice is not a befitting task for you.  Your respect will go down.  Because of your ill-intentioned actions, Guru Arjan Dev ji sent me with great respect.  He respectfully calls you back to Amritsar to live there in peace.”  Bhai Gurdas ji gave Prithi Chand the whole message.  Bhai Gurdas ji continued: “what has happened is in the past.  Do good things now.  Go and meet your family with love.  If you stay alone, you will be in trouble.  You should be the owner of the wealth of the Guru’s home.  Go and make donations yourself.  We will all stand with you.”  After Bhai Gurdas ji spoke, Prithi Chand got angry and arched his eyebrows.  His eyes were red and his lips quivered.  He was so angry that he didn’t know what to say.  He took deep breaths, swore at Bhai Gurdas ji and said mean things.  He said: “first I was disrespected by having bad things done to me.  Next, I was slandered. I was wrongly accused and then slandered in the whole area.  Everyone was told to swear at me.  Now he sent you to convince me.  This is a new scheme of his.  First, he had me kicked out of the city with eagerness, now he sent you to convince me.  You haven’t been touched by hot air yet.  He is sitting in his home with ego.  He inflates his chest.  I am Prithi Chand!  He disrespected me.  The disrespect was the earth.  My meeting with Sulhi Khan is the seed.  Making the Sarovar in Haiher was me watering that seed.  When I go to Delhi, the seed will grow into a plant.  When I meet Jahangir, the plant will become a tree.  When I speak to the Emperor, the flowers on the tree will bloom.  Then, when Jahangir will listen to me and takes actions, the flowers will release their fragrance.  When I capture Guru Arjan Dev ji the tree will have fruits.  I will take the Gurta Ghaddi.  That will be the ripening of the fruit.  The Sangat will come to me from every direction and give me money.  I will be praised in the whole world.  This is the fruit I want.  You will know when I have the fruit in my hand.  I haven’t even met the Emperor yet, you are already afraid.  He wants to stay the Guru and this is why he sent you to me.  This is your new scheme.  I will go to the Emperor to get the Gurta Ghaddi.  When you are all in pain, then I will be happy.  I will be happy when you are in pain.  You won’t be able to stop me.  I will take the Gurta Ghaddi by capturing Guru Arjan Dev ji.”  Bhai Gurdas ji folded his hands and said: “you are the son of Guru Ramdas ji.  If all three of you brothers live in peace, there will be happiness.  There is enough for all three of you to live in abundance.  There is no shortage.  If one brother is in pain, all three will feel it.  You do all have compassion for each other.  Let bygones be bygones.  Forget about who did what.  Clean your heart and come back.  Meet the Sangat and take the offerings from the Sangat.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is without hatred and corruption.  He is humble.  He has compassion, forgiveness, wisdom and all the other great virtues.”  Prithi Chand heard Guru ji’s praises and began to burn.  He yelled: “get out of here!  Be quiet and leave!  Get up and leave!  I will forget that you are my uncle and have you burned.  You say my brother is calm and serene; he is corrupt.  He is my arch enemy.  I will have him killed along with his son.  I will be happy after taking the Gurta Ghaddi.  I don’t care what you say.  I think about this day and night.  I will be happy when he dies.”  Bhai Gurdas ji got angry and said: “Guru Arjan Dev ji is like the sun.  Foolish owls like you don’t know what the sun is.  The saints bloom like lotus flowers when they see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Foolish slanders like you are in pain.  You slander Guru ji but nothing of his will be in loss.  Your name is “Prithi Chand,” when the sun comes up, the moon (Chand) is dimmed.  Your Sikhs are like stars who are also dimmed.  If you don’t listen to me now, you will regret it later.  Try your hardest, you won’t be able to do what you want to.  Guru Arjan Dev ji can tolerate the intolerable.  He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.  He never shows his powers.  If he looks at the world with the slightest anger, he can destroy the whole universe.  His heart his great.  After having so much power, he lives like a common man and hides his power.  He was looking out for you and wanted you to be happy.  Begging from the Mughals for justice will ruin your own reputation.  You would have become Guru by sitting in your home.  Everyone would have worshipped you.  You would have been happy.  Your “tree” that you have so-called “planted,” Guru ji can cut your tree with one word.  He can burn it to ashes.  You see him as your brother.  You don’t know his powers.  You are ruining it for yourself.  You will be in trouble after you die as well.”  In this way, Bhai Gurdas ji tried to talk sense into Prithi Chand, his nephew, but Prithi Chand was in love with his corrupt ways.  He was going to be embracing pain.  He could not trust Guru Arjan Dev ji or Bhai Gurdas ji. 

3-25 Bhai Gurdas ji Comes Back

Prithi Chand got angry listening to Bhai Gurdas ji.  He said: “You came to give me wisdom?  Don’t try to be smart.  When my brother found out that I am going to the Emperor and he was going to be disrespected, he sent you to convince me.  He wants to keep his reputation and that I not go to the Emperor.  Look how scared he is.  You are talking about his powers?  Don’t you think I know him?  I’ve known him since childhood.  I know what he’s all about.  I won’t go to him or listen to him.  I will meet him when I am the Guru and make him look lower.  He made me look like a sinner in the world.  He told everyone that I was trying to kill his son.  I am stubborn like a petrified wood piece.  I will die but never bow to him.  I will not meet him.  Don’t make up stuff.  Go back to your home.  Those two brothers are one.  I am alone.  Watch my powers now.  You will see how big I am.  I spent a lot of money to make this Sarovar.  I have made a Sarovar equal to his.  Many people will come here.  Its glory will grow and Jor melas will happen here.  People like Sulhi Khan bow to me.  What else can I say?  When I meet Jahangir, I will be powerful.  I will use my power and make Guru Arjan Dev ji small.  I will show you how powerful I am.  I do not lie.  I do what I say.  My Sarovar will be the greatest.  I will own everything.  Many Umraavs bow to me.  I will show them my glory and make them bow to my feet.  I will show you what power means.  I will show it when the time comes.  I will make my brother bow to me.  I am not like my brother who sits on our father’s seat.  He made the Sarovar and became the Guru.  Where did he show his powers?  Pithaji was naïve and gave my brother the Gurta Ghaddi.  I was left with nothing.”  Bhai Gurdas ji said: “you don’t know what you’re saying.  This is the Jot of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji which was given to Guru Angad Dev ji.  Guru Amardas ji did Seva of Guru Angad Dev ji for 12 years.  He got the Jot after so much Seva.  He then sat on the Ghaddi.  When Guru Ramdas ji sat on the throne, he got the Jot.  You saw how many Sikhs came to your father.  They got what they wanted.  That Jot is in Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Even if obstacles come, he will not show his powers.  Even if his head falls, he will always stay humble and not show his powers.  He knows the will of Akaal Purakh and is happy with it.  You should let go of anger and greed.  Come with me.  Guru Arjan Dev ji will come forward to meet you with respect.  He will give you respect.  If he is younger and you are older, he has the Jot of the Guru inside of him.  Whoever bows, is the greatest.  That’s why your younger brother is so great.  I came to give you wisdom for your own good.  Talk to your mind if you want to come.  If you come, you will be happy.  If you don’t come, you will be ruined.  Don’t think you will be powerful and make your brother lower.  Your brother is the most powerful.  You won’t be able to do anything to him.  Once you are separated from your brother, you will never be able to join him.  Conflict is bad.  Conflict for the Gurta Ghaddi is bad.  Going to the Turks is very bad.  Once your reputation is stained, it will never come off.  Even the Turks know this.”  Prithi Chand said: “I already know everything.  When everything comes out, you will know everything.  Don’t hope that I will go to my brother.  I will have my brother arrested and killed.  I will be the Guru.  I will have his son arrested as well.  I will be happy then.”  Bhai Gurdas ji figured that Prithi Chand is too stubborn.  He is unwise and hard as a rock.  Just as Neem is bitter since it sprouts, that’s how Prithi Chand is.  He was born in the Guru’s house and stayed with his father but he’s still corrupt.  A rock will remain a rock even if it is in the water for 10 years.  He stayed in the Guru’s home and is still corrupt.  He has no compassion.  His personality will not change.  Bhai Gurdas ji was upset and got up.  He thought to himself: “the stain that he had put on, it has gotten deeper.  He will be in pain and loss.  He didn’t listen to anyone.  This is the criteria for going to Hell, being talked bad about.  He wants to be Guru but he has no virtues.  He is unwise.  He doesn’t listen to wise people.”  Bhai Gurdas ji got up.  Prithi Chand swore at him and got up.  Bhai Gurdas ji said to Prithi Chand: “Guru Ramdas ji was omniscient and for this reason he didn’t give you any powers.  He knew you were corrupt.  You didn’t know what it means to tolerate the intolerable.  You don’t know how to accept Akaal Purakh’s will.  The Guru can do all this.  He knew you were going to do bad things.  Guru Ramdas ji kept you empty for this reason.  He knew your personality.  He did the best thing.  The whole world knows.”  Prithi Chand just kept swearing and Bhai Gurdas ji left.

Bhai Gurdas ji knew that Prithi Chand was a bad person.  Bhai Gurdas ji let go of his personal anger and started his way back to Amritsar.  He sang the praises of Guru Arjan Dev ji, who’s heart is deeper than the ocean, on his way back.  Guru ji was calm, cool and serene; he was without desire, anger, greed or pain.  These vices don’t even touch him.  He is always in bliss.  Bhai Gurdas ji was drenched in love as he walked back.  His eyes shed tears as he thought about the Guru.  He had the form of the Guru’s feet in his mind.  As he reached Amritsar, he wanted to see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He walked faster towards Guru ji’s home.  As soon as he reached, he bowed to Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet.  He was in bliss to see Guru ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji saw Bhai Gurdas ji and asked: “tell me how the discussion with my brother was.  How is he?  What is his intention?  Does he want to come back?  Did he let go of his corruption?  Did he agree to what I said?”  Bhai Gurdas ji folded his hands and said: “your Maya is powerful.  Your Maya has made slaves of Jogis, Munis and many others.  You know what is going to happen.  You know that it won’t happen in any other way.  Only you can save everyone.  Whoever you have love for, you save by extending your hand.  Slanderers and corrupt people drown, but you can save them.  They drown in poison everyday.  They don’t have a ship to board.  Only the ones that you save are saved.  Your brother’s speech and ways are bad.  He puts on a show.  He is corrupt.  He is full of greed.  He feels bad to see someone else’s glory and wealth.  His mind is full of sin.  I wrote this Vaar on the way home.  This is how corrupt people are.  Please listen to my Vaar.  People who have no good virtues; those who are filled with ego.”  The 6^th Vaar of Bhai Gurdas ji, he said to Guru ji:

The face of the Meenas is stained, they have earned falseness.  He is like a peacock but eats insects.  Those are unwise people.  They have no virtues of the Guru.  Their company is bad, the Meenas slander the Guru.  Their mind is corrupt and live their whole life like this.  The Jumms beat them when they die.  He is corrupt and without reputation.  He will be in pain.

“Guru ji, I said this to him to but he didn’t listen.  A person cannot take oil out of white sand; there is no hair on a turtle’s back; the donkey has no horns; the corrupt person has no virtues.  The snakes are never with compassion.  The corrupt people have poison in their mind.  If Brahma would try to convince them, they will not listen.  There is not even one virtue.  They are never happy.  I pleaded with your brother many times.  I bowed to him and spoke nicely.  I told him to let go of hatred, but he didn’t listen to me.  He swore at me and spoke bad things.  He spoke very bad things.  I tried to give him what he wanted but he didn’t listen.  I tried to tell him that he will get all the respect he wanted but he didn’t want it.  I have sent this Vaar to your brother.  He doesn’t think about him.  He will read this Vaar and think about it.  This is all I can do for him.”  Guru ji said: “the person who is corrupt, if you bow to such a person, it fuels the fire of their vices.  Understand this, they are always in pain.  It is not good to do bad to others.  I called him seeing him as my brother.  He is egotistical and says I am afraid of him.  If he calls you, you stay quiet.  What Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji will do, only that will happen.  He will be humble and beg from the Turks.  He didn’t see the greatness of the elders.  He is a fool and ruined his Dharma.  He will get nothing in his hand.  He will filter only sand.”  Guru Ji said this and went quiet.  It was after all, the will of Akaal Purakh for a corrupt person to be corrupt.