9-56 The Wisdom of Ram Rai ji/ The Badshah of Badshahs

Then one day, Baba Ram Rai ji came to the court of the Badshah.  He sat in a high seat.  His radiance overshadowed everyone.  He defeated everyone, every day.  The jealous ones were defeated.  They wanted to win Baba ji.  They tested his powers many times but Baba ji’s radiance was like the sun.  The radiance of the Turks was like the star light.  It was supressed.  Delhi followed Baba Ram Rai ji.  They all praised him.  Aurangzeb listened to him too.  The sinners were in pain seeing this.  They were all sitting in the court.  Some gifts of a king from a far away land came.  They were very expensive.  There were 2 golden bracelets among the gifts.  There were precious gems on the bracelets.  The diamonds shined.  They were sent for the Badshah for him to wear.  The whole court was amazed to see the bracelets.  Nauranga looked at the bracelets.  Baba Ram Rai ji saw them and said: “these bracelets are unique.  Give them to me to wear.  I will wear them.  These can’t be made here otherwise I would have gotten them made.  I like these bracelets.  I will wear them in my wrists.”  Nauranga thought to himself: “I wanted to keep them.  The Guru’s son has asked for them.  How can I avoid giving them to him?  He is omniscient.  He won’t be fooled.  These are expensive with many gems in them.  They are amazing.  The people are amazed seeing them.  If I don’t give them to him, he will be upset.  Our relationship will be ruined.  He gives me anything I want.  He gave me a lot of things.  He will think I am cheap.  There is nothing worse than being cheap with a small heart.  My honour will be ruined.”  He thought about all this and made his heart bigger.  He gave the bracelets to Baba Ram Rai ji.  Baba Ram Rai ji wore both of the bracelets.  He twisted his wrists to see them.  The jealous people were burning in anger.  The ones that loved Baba ji, were happy.  The court was adjourned.  Everyone went home.

The Qazis talked: “he took the bracelets.”  Baba ji wore the bracelets for a few days.  He came to the Badshah everyday.  Many people became Sikhs on a daily basis.  At Majnu Da Tilla, Keertan was always done.  Many new warriors enlisted with him.  They had many weapons and rifles.  They would go hunting.  Many Sikhs walked with Baba ji.  They all respected him and bowed to him.  They praised him. The Sangat grew around Delhi and other places.  People came with gifts when they met him.  They came on Shangrand, Massia and Pooranmaashi.  There was always a crowd.  They came on Diwali, Dushera, Holi and Vaisakhi.  The Mevras did the Ardaas for the Sangat.  The Masands and the Sangat were always there.  The Sangat grew.  The wealth grew.  Many elephants and many horses he had.  A lot of money gathered.  Baba Ram Rai ji spent a long time in Delhi.

One day, Baba ji went to the court.  The Naqeebs announced his arrival.  Many Sikhs followed him.  It was like a royal procession.  People from the markets would all bow as he passed.  There was a Benawa Fakir who saw the crowd with Baba Ram Rai ji.  He shouted out: “oh master of miracles, give me something, oh Badshah of Badshahs!  Oh son of Sri Satguru ji, you will be praised by giving me something.  There is no other court bigger than yours.  Give me a lot of donations.”  Baba Sri Ram Rai ji heard “Shah of Shahs,” and quickly took off his bracelets and threw them to the Fakir.  He gave the expensive shiny bracelets to the Fakir which the Shah didn’t want to give.  Baba ji did not delay in giving the bracelets away.  They were worth millions.  The Shah was given the gifts by another king or person.  They had diamonds on them.  The Shah had a hard time giving them.  Baba Ram Rai ji gave them away in a second.  The Turk spies heard the Fakir saying: “Shah of Shahs,” and were upset.  They decided to tell the Shah: “look what he is doing.  He is making everyone call him the Shah of Shahs.  The bracelets he took from the Shah, he gave them to the Benawa Fakir.  He is not afraid of the Badshah.  He seems to have a big heart with a lot of ego.  He calls himself the “Badshah of Badshahs.”  The Badshah doesn’t know about this.  We will go and tell the Shah.  He will be angry hearing this.” 

The Qazis and Ulamas came to the Badshah.  They said to him: “the bracelets you gave to Baba Ram Rai ji, he calls himself the Shah of Shahs now.  He gave the bracelets to a Benawa Fakir.  The Fakir called him the “Shah of Shahs.”  He does not fear you.  He sees himself greater than you.”  They spoke to the Shah.  The Shah got angry.

When the court was in session, everyone came.  Baba Ram Rai ji came and sat in his seat.  After a while the Shah said: “you didn’t wear the bracelets today?  Why didn’t you wear them today?  You took them off today.”  Baba Ram Rai ji said: “a Benawa Fakir asked for them from me.  I gave both of them to him.  You are being praised because of this.  You gave them to me; I gave them to the Fakir.  He was really happy to get them.  They were unique for him.”  Nauranga was angry and said: “that pair of bracelets was really expensive.  The diamonds were rare.  I gave them to you with love.  You gave them ahead.  You didn’t fear me!  Give me my bracelets back!  Don’t delay this.  I want them back now!  They are good for me to wear.  You could have worn them too.  Nobody else is deserving to wear them.  They were expensive.  Nobody can have it.”  Baba Ram Rai ji heard this and said: “what are you wishing for now?  They are gone.  I gave them as a donation.  How can you take back what you gave?  If someone else took it, I would have brought them back.  It was the Benawa Fakir.  We won’t get them back even if we tried.  Leave them.  It will look bad if we take them back.  This is not a good thing for you.”  The Shah said: “I don’t care for these things.  I want my bracelets back.  You can wear them, or I can wear them.  Give them back to me.  Do it any way you can.  I won’t be happy till then.  They were really expensive.  I don’t know anything else.  Call them back now!”  Seeing Nauranga’s mood, Baba ji used his powers.  Where the bracelets were placed, they were hidden.  There were people watching them.  Baba ji brought them back and placed the bracelets in front of Nauranga.  He did this while sitting there.  The Shah saw them and was amazed.  His anger was calm.  Now that he had his bracelets back, he wanted to address the other issue.  He said: “why did you call yourself Shahensha- the Shah of Shahs?  The Fakir said this to you and you gave him donations.  You want to be referred to as the Badshah.  You hear this and give people money.  How can you be the Shahensha?  I am the Badshah.  Answer me.”  Baba Ram Rai ji then said: “you didn’t understand the meaning of this.  The breath that leaves your body, can you be sure it will come back?  I don’t hope for the next breath, the Sa.  I am called the Shah-n-shah because it means: breath or no breath.  I don’t hope for more life.  Death can come any time.  This is my belief.”  Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: “seeing the Badshah’s mood, everyone went home.” 

9-57 “Mitti Mussalman ki”

Then one day, Baba Ram Rai ji came to the court, the son of Guru Har Rai ji.  He sat on a high seat among the Qazis and Umraavs.  The Qazis said to the Shah: “Guru Nanak Dev ji has opposed the ideology of Turks in his Gurbani.  He promoted the Hindu ideology.  He says: “when Muslims die and are buried in the grave, they are eventually burned as well.”  You should ask Ram Rai ji when he comes.  Ask what he thinks about this.”  In this way, they spoke to the Shah to cause a conflict.  When Baba Ram Rai ji came, many discussions happened.  The Qazis and Ulamas spoke with many examples.  They showed off to the Shah to make him happy.  Within the conversation, the Badshah said: “Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji has said:

Sri Mukhvaak

The soil from the (grave of) Mussalman, is used by the potter..

He makes clay pots by shaping them, the clay is burnt (in the kiln)..

It burns and cries, poor thing, the sparks from the fire fall into it..

Nanak says, the Karta that has made the world, only knows why and how the world is made..2..

(SGGS 466)

The Badshah said: “tell us the translation.  What does it mean?”  Baba Ram Rai ji knew that the Qazis had influenced the Badshah.  He thought to himself: “these Qazis keep influencing him.  If I tell him the correct meaning, they will keep arguing.  I don’t want to argue.  The Badshah will get upset, hearing the correct translations.  My relationship will be ruined with him.  Guru ji has called out their hypocrisy in his Bani where they wish to not burn their dead but eventually, they are burned in the potter’s kiln.  The Kartar has made this world and does as he pleases.  They will argue back.  The Badshah is tied to the Shariya.  He will have hate and jealousy.  My relation and status will be ruined.  It won’t be fixed then.  The Qazis keep plotting against me.  I used my power to save my honour.  The Shah gives my Lakhs of money everyday.  If I tell him the truth, the Badshah will no longer like me.”  In this way Baba Ram Rai ji thought of his honour and wealth over the respect for Gurbani.  He spoke to the Shah.  He changed the words of Gurbani to make the Shah happy: “it is the soil of the Be-imaan (without dignity/shameless).  It is not spoken of all Turks.  It’s only referring to the shameless corrupt ones.  The corrupt people are always slandered, by everyone.  Your Quran speaks bad about the people without honour and dignity.  What doubt is there in this?  It speaks of the Be-imaan.  Both of our religions speak down about people who let go of their dignity.  They are dishonest people.  Every wise person says this.  One should follow ones Dharma, in any way you can.  The root of all the religions is to be truthful.  This is how wisdom comes.  Only Dharma saves the world and keeps the balance.  Dharam gives peace and joy.  Dharam is the field where truth and contentment should be planted along with staying the same in joy and sorrow, purity, happiness, forgiveness, devotion and compassion.  Till the person stays alive, this is what they should live on.  Dharma would then protect the person when they die.  They will go on the long path.  Only the Dharma is their support.  It gives joy in the afterlife.  For this reason, truthfulness and dignity should never be discarded.  The Be-imaan is in pain in both worlds.  The Be-imaan is always in sorrow and goes to Hell.  The Be-imaan’s grave is burnt.”  In this way, the son of the Guru spoke to make the Badshah happy.  He forgot about his unlimited powers.  He changed the words of the Satguru (in Gurbani).  He did not understand the respect of the first Guru.  His desire was corrupted.  He wanted to keep good relations with the Badshah as he gave him Lakhs everyday.  From this day onwards, he was broken away from the Guru’s vision.  He changed the words of Gurbani to make the Badshah happy.  Many other discussions happened in the court.  Baba Ram Rai ji answered the questions.  When the court adjourned, Baba Ram Rai ji came back to his Dhera.

Baba Ram Rai ji ate and rested.  Whatever miracles he had shown before, that was written and sent to his father, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib ji.  Some Sikh wrote about today’s event as well.  He wrote about everything and the discussion with the Shah.  The reference of changing the Gurbani was always written.

The Sikh brought the letter to Kiratpur.  Sitting on the Throne of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, was the master of the universe, Sri Guru Har Rai ji Sahib ji.  His radiance was great.  The Sikh from Delhi came to Guru Har Rai Sahib ji and bowed to him.  He told Guru ji of the news from Delhi along with the latest news.  The omniscient Guru already knew everything.  The Sikh said: “Guru ji, you are omniscient and know everything without being told.”  The Sangat near Guru ji was all sitting down.  The Sikh was told by Guru ji: “I already know, but the Sangat needs to hear what happened in Delhi.  How does the Emperor behave?  He meets Ram Rai ji.  What happened there?  What discussions happened?  What were the answers?  How is the give and take?  How does the Langar happen?  How does the Shah respect?  How often does Ram Rai ji go?  How many miracles does he show him?  How is the greatness of the Guru’s home shown?  Does the Badshah argue?  I have heard the news before but the Sangat wishes to hear it today.  Say it to them.  You stay near him.  You know everything, big or small.  Since he went to Delhi, tell the Sangat everything.”  When the Sikh was commanded, he folded his hands and spoke: “since Baba Ram Rai ji went to Delhi, he is in joy.  He is respected a lot.  The Shah wishes to see miracles and Baba Ram Rai ji shows him.  13,000 Rajitpuns are given to him daily for the Dhera.  Whatever is needed, is given.  There are many elephants and horses.  The Sangat is growing.  Thousands of new Sikhs come.  The radiance has grown.  He goes to see Nauranga everyday.  The Shah respects him and gives him expensive gifts.  He has faith after seeing his powers.  He takes Baba ji with him when he goes hunting.  He speaks a lot to Baba ji.  He goes hunting with him everyday.  They ride palanquins, horses or elephants.  Just as the honour of Guru Arjan Dev ji and Guru Hargobind Sahib ji’s was, that’s how Baba Ram Rai ji’s radiance is.  He lives in the same way.  The Shah respects him.  Bhai Behlo ji’s descendant, Bhai Gurdas ji and other Sikhs stay with him.  There is always a crowd with him.  They do his Darshan with faith.  A lot of money and gifts come to him.  They fear his curse.  Everyone does Jaikaras of Guru ji.  They bow and do their Ardaas.  You already know what is happening.  I will still speak of the miracles that were shown.  He resurrected the goat; sat on a well; got the fruits of Mecca; spoke of the favourite Begum; brought the Padmani; showed the second moon in the sky; showed where the Toshakhana was and counted everything in it; hunted the lion; spoke of the Baaz’s last birth; brought the fruits of the Kalapbrish; made the Shah’s hair black; walked on the Jumana; defeated the Badshah in Chauper and won money; cured the Cholera; gave the shade of clouds to the Shah; relieved the pain of labour; the child was born; had an Uzbek wrestler lose from an ordinary person; spoke of Alaavdheen’s death; told the Shah his dream; connected a broken ferry; gave the Shah the Sulaiman Surma; resurrected the cow; found the Tasbih; gave a good pearl; told the Badshah what he ate; collected the fruits of the 6 seasons; showed the garden above the fire; went into Samadhi; gave a Dariya horse to the Shah; made the wind cool in Jeth; raised the ground; and other things.”  Kavi Santokh Singh ji mentions this all.  The Sikh continued: “he took the pages out from underneath the stool sheet; opened the locks; made meat and alcohol into vegetables and milk; rode his palanquin without carriers; called the golden bracelets and gave them to Nauranga; he surprised the whole world.  Everyone would be happy hearing about his miracles.  Everyone was amazed.  He showed many miracles.  The Turks still argued with him.  They are jealous of him.  The fools are stuck in the Shariya.  Baba Ram Rai ji supressed them all with his powers.  He made them quiet in the court.  His praises spread many fold.  Your son has achieved a lot of praise.” 

9-58 Sri Guru Har Rai ji Renounces his son

“The Qazis and the Ulamas were always jealous and presented many arguments.  They tried to prove their points.  When they argued, Baba Ram Rai ji showed them a second moon along with starts in the day.  He showed them many miracles for these reasons.  The Sahibzada showed a lot of miracles because they argued.  One day the Qazis said a Shabad of Guru Nanak Dev ji where “Mitti Mussalman ki” is written.  They asked Baba ji to define the Shabad.  The Qazis, stuck in the Shariya, told the Badshah to say this.  This discussion happened in the court.  Your son thought about this: that if he spoke the actual translations, then the Shah will get upset, who was a stickler for the Shariya.  The conflict with the Hindus would grow.  He was already strict with them.  So Baba Ram Rai ji didn’t say the correct translation to keep good relations with the Badshah.  The Shah gave a lot of money everyday which was used to run the Dhera.  The Dhera is huge.  For the aim of keeping the honour of the Badshah, and to avoid an argument, he altered the meanings.  Seeing the mood of the court along with the Shah, he said the Shabad in a different way.  He kept his relation with the Badshah.  He spoke so the Shah was not upset and so he wouldn’t get angry.  He said: “Mitti Be-imaan,” is what is meant, not all Mussalmans.”  He then praised the importance of keeping the Imaan (honesty/honour).  He destroyed their arguments in this way.” 

Sri Satguru Har Rai ji heard this and then became angry towards his son.  He did not find his son deserving for the Gurta Ghaddi.  He said: “he is not deserving.  He didn’t have patience.  He kept the honour of the Emperor of the Turks and changed a word of the Gurbani Shabad.  These words were the words of the first Paatshaah.  Which beggar would dare to change the ideology of the First Guru?  Guru ji’s words are arrows which cannot return.  They never miss.  Nobody can avoid them.  They are like the Brahmastar which never misses.  This arrow has the complete power.  The Peers, kings, Sidhs, Sadhoos, of the greatest calibre; the ones with great powers; they all accepted the worlds of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Which fool would try to change his words?  They will be punished.  He will see the pain of pains in every place.  Just as the command of the Chakravarti King is everywhere; whoever doesn’t obey and become a criminal, the Badshah can catch the culprit; they see him as a fool and punish him; in the same way, Guru Nanak Dev ji’s command is over all of the lands.  The Sumer Mountain, the water and land, he commands all.  The oceans and the islands, counting them all, many powerful kings and peers, whoever argued with Guru ji, Guru ji defeated the egotistical ones with his Shabads.  Who can stop his words?  For his own advantage, he changed the words.  When I sent him to Delhi, I made him fearless in every way.  I told him: “your words will not be fruitless.  Whatever you wish for, that will be created.  Don’t serve or butter up the Badshah.  Say what is true and how it is.”  The soil of the Mussalman is what the potter takes and makes bricks and pots out of it.  He then bakes them in a kiln.  The fire heats them up.  What was so difficult to understand in this?  Why did he need to change the words?  He didn’t respect the honour of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  He spoke a lie to keep the honour of the Turk.  This was a grave sin.  He is not eligible to sit on the Gurta Ghaddi.  Since he has gone to Delhi, he kept showing miracles upon miracles.  He showed miracles when they were not needed.  I figured from there that as a person borrows something, they misuse the borrowed item; this is how he misused the powers.  He didn’t see the powers as his own.  He tried to take as much advantage of them as he could.  He didn’t have patience.  He thought that they were not going to stay with him so he wanted to spend them as much as he could.  Such a person got the powers.  The Gurta Ghaddi will go to the one who will give his head instead of showing his powers. 

Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji was the Guru who stayed in the home of an ordinary person and was tortured.  He tolerated the pain and didn’t show his powers.  He remained like this till the end of his body.  He had the greatest powers but was patient and did not show any of his powers.  He kept his powers hidden.  There will be a future Guru who will give his head but won’t lose his patience.  That is who will get the Gurta Ghaddi, who keeps himself hidden.  Listen to another thing: as he had showed everyone, since he left Kiratpur, he didn’t even come back.  I noticed this.  He thought that what he had, I was going to take it away from him if he came to meet me.  He kept wandering around with Nauranga.  He went on his path where he went.  He could have come home to rest and then gone back to Delhi.  He stayed there.  His mind is coloured with wealth.  He saw his greatness growing and became egotistical.  He forgot the way of the Guru’s home.  Go and tell him not to face me from now on.  He can remain friends with the Badshah.  I will not meet him from today onwards.  He can live in joy with his wealth.  He should not meet me.  I won’t give him my Darshan either.  He can meet the Lakshmi of the Turks.  Tell him not to face my Desh.  He can live there for the rest of his life.  He is guilty of changing Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Bani.  He can’t meet me now.  I have rejected him from my mind.  He is not eligible for being the Guru.  Whoever will be blessed by Akaal Purakh, that person will become the Guru and tolerate the powers.  Whoever can tolerate the intolerable, only he will be the Guru.  No one else.  Their heart should be deep and with patience.  They should have the virtues of forgiveness and others.  That will be the pure pot for the Gurta Ghaddi.  This status is really high.  Only the deserving will get it.  Other pots will not be able to tolerate it.  The milk of the lioness cannot be placed in any other pot except for a golden one.  Any other pot is broken by the milk of a lioness.  The one with the purest heart will be eligible for the Gurta Ghaddi.  There is only one like that.  Not many.  The one who tolerates the intolerable, doesn’t show his powers, will protect his honour and give his head.  The one who does not have patience, will fall from the wind, even being like the Sumer.” 

Guru ji found his son guilty and renounced him.  There was no bigger punishment than this, that he could no longer have his father’s Darshan.  The eldest son was his father’s most beloved, whose praise spread to many lands.  He increased the wealth and was known as powerful among the Turks.  He certainly left a mark on the Turks where they understood that they could not defeat the Guru.  He made many Sikhs and increased his radiance.  He was really wise.  How many virtues of his can we count?  His determination was fragile.  His faith was weak.  He was fond of pleasing the ego of his body.  His mind wandered in this thought.  He did not please the Satguru.  His mind was attached to the finer and expensive things in life.  He saw the worldly items as good.  Guru ji saw him as weak.  He renounced his son like a piece of grass.  His son changed the Shabad.  Guru ji did not like this.

9-59 How The Two Sons Were Tested

Guru ji had previously tested his two sons with great detail.  He wanted to see who would be the next Guru and bless the Sikhs.  The listeners heard this and asked: “how were the two sons tested?  You are omniscient.  You know everything.  Who was complete and who was not?  We ask you this question, please tell us.”  Sri Gurbaksh Singh ji (Bhai Ram Koer ji) heard this and continued the Katha as it happened:

Sri Gurbaksh Singh Uvaach

Listen to the Katha which fulfills all of the desires.  Sri Satguru is the capital of faith.  This Katha cuts the bonds of birth and death.  That person achieves the ultimate, still and infinite status.  There was a time that near Satguru ji, a wise Sikh came from a far away land.  Many Sikhs came along with him to do the Darshan of Guru ji.  They brought a lot of gifts.  They had faith on the feet of the Guru, which destroyed their sins.  Their hearts blossomed like a lotus seeing the sun.  Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib ji was like the moon and the Sikhs were like Chakors.  They kept staring at Guru ji.  Guru ji’s feet were beautiful.  They were like bees, hovering over his lotus feet.  Their desire for the Darshan and to hear Guru ji speak was very deep.  They stayed with Guru ji for many days.  They came to do the Darshan of Guru ji, everyday. 

One day, as Satguru ji was sitting, many Sikhs came with joy and sat down.  A discussion started and the Sikh from the far away land folded his hands and asked: “both of your Sahibzadas are handsome.  Seeing them gives us joy.  They are both full of virtues and their forms are handsome.  They are fortunate.  One can only see them if one’s Karma is great.  Who is eligible for the Gurta Ghaddi?  They are equal in every way.  To tolerate the intolerable, can both of them do it or just one of them?  Do they have the patience?  Who will achieve the greatest greatness?  Bless us and tell us.  We come from a far away land and can only come sometimes.  When I hear it from you, I will be determined.  If you want to keep this as a secret, then see me as a foreigner and tell me.  I won’t tell anyone.  I will keep this secret like a sack of Manis.  We are the servants of your home.  We do your Simran with faith.  You are benevolent and compassionate.  You help us in every dimension.  You save us from the pain of the world.  Who will be the Guru out of your two sons?  Whom will we love more?  We will do his Simran with faith.  We will know this.  You save us from all of the obstacles.  Your son will save us as well.”  Sri Guru Har Rai ji heard this and smiled from his handsome face.  He said: “if you wish to know this, you will get your answer in the morning.”  The Sikh heard this and bowed his head.  He went back to his Dhera and slept the night.  He kept thinking the whole night. 

The Sikh got up at Amritvela and bathed.  He got dressed.  He was the leader of his Sangat.  He took 2 Sikhs with him and went to see Guru ji.  His heart was like a fish in the ocean of the Guru’s faith.  The Sikhs bowed to Guru ji with devotion.  Guru ji saw their faith and said to them: “the two Sahibzadas are reciting Gurbani of Guru Granth Sahib ji.  Take a pin in your hand and do their Darshan.  Bow and sit down there to listen to the Gurbani.  Listen to the Gurbani that the Sahibzadas recite.  Under the two Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib ji, there are pangooras (stools).  The legs of the stools, stick the pin in them.  Whichever leg the pin goes in smoothly, that means it has been made smooth by reciting the Gurbani with love.  The one who can make rocks as soft as wax by reciting Gurbani, that Sahibzada is eligible for the Gurta Ghaddi.”  The wise Sikh heard this and was filled with joy.  The Sikh left to see the Sahibzadas.

The Sikh went to where Sri Baba Ram Rai ji was reciting Gurbani from Guru Granth Sahib ji first.  The Sikh bowed his head and sat down.  He listened to the Gurbani with his full focus.  The Gurbani was recited with love.  Gurbani has Bhagti, Vairagya and Gyaan.  When the Sikh poked the leg of the stool with a pin, the pin did not go into the leg of the stool.  He tried many times and tried for a while.  He then understood that he was not going to be the next Guru.  He bowed and left.

The Sikh then went to where the younger Sahibzada, Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji, was reciting Gurbani.  His heart was soft.  He was omnipotent and the Gyaani.  The Sikh bowed and sat down.  He listened to the Gurbani which gave joy.  He then poked the pin into the leg of the stool on which Guru Granth Sahib ji was seated.  He poked the point of the pin and felt the leg to be as soft as wax.  The pin went inside easily.  It went in and didn’t come out.  The Sikh remained quiet and said nothing.  He realised that he was going to be the next Guru.  He had faith in his heart and folded his hands.  He bowed his head with great devotion and humility towards Sri Guru Har Krishan ji.  He thought to himself: “Sri Har Krishan ji is the Avatar of Sri Krishan ji.  He will be able to tolerate the weight of the Gurta Ghaddi.” 

The Sikh came back to Sri Guru Har Rai ji and told him what he found: “the wood was like wax where Sri Har Krishan ji was.  I got to know this by your compassion.  Thank you for telling me.  The one whose speech has so much power, will be able to tame the strongest of minds.  How many soft hearts can we count?  The rock-hard hearts will be saved as well.  The Sikhs will be saved by their requests.”  He made his decision and determined who was going to be the next Guru.  He knew what Guru ji was going to do.  He didn’t say anything to anyone.  Only he knew.  He was happy to know this.  He spent some days in Kiratpur and then left to his home land.  In this way, the sons were tested by Guru ji.  He showed that only the fortunate one was going to become the Guru.  It was already determined by Akaal Purakh. 

Sri Satguru Har Rai ji, the omniscient one, when he spoke the words declaring his renunciation of his son, Baba Ram Rai ji, Baba Ram Rai ji remained in Delhi.  He didn’t wish to go home.  He was upset towards his father.  He wanted to be the next Guru.  He thought to himself: “I was deserving in every way.  Thousands of rich Sikhs have become my Sikhs.  I made the Sangat and wealth grow to new heights.  The army has gotten bigger.  They have a lot of weapons.  There is no shortage of wealth that I have.  More money will come.  I have a good relationship with the Badshah.  He gives me what I want.  I will stay here.  So what if I don’t go to Pithaji?  I am omnipotent and able in every way.  I can do whatever I want to.  I have unlimited powers.  I have a lot of followers.  The Shah loves me.  The Shah asks for my advice.  I have everything I need.  My wealth grows by the day.”  He thought to himself in this way.  He stayed in Delhi.  A lot of money came to him everyday.  The Sangat brought a lot of gifts.  As were the traditions of the Satguru’s home, Baba Ram Rai ji’s Dhera continued them.  He stayed as the Guru in the Delhi.  Many new Masands and Mevras had joined in Delhi.  A lot of wealth was collected.  Seeing his new miracles, new people came to become his Sikhs.  The Rababis sang Shabads all the time.  Asa Vaar and Aarti, along with Keertan and Katha were done everyday.  Baba Ram Rai ji dressed well and sat on a Manjhi as the Guru.  The Mevras stood and did the Ardaas.  The Sangat was happy to see him.  He was the son of the Guru.  Baba Ram Rai ji called himself the Guru by showing off his powers.  The Sangat and wealth grew.  His praises spread throughout many lands.  He stayed with Nauranga for a long time.  He went to his court.  The Shah respected him a lot.  Baba Ram Rai ji defeated the jealous Qazis.  The Qazis tried to be his equals but they failed.  Baba ji’s power was too much for them.  Just as the Soobas came to the court as kings sitting in a palanquin, that’s how Baba Ram Rai ji came to the court.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: “the son of the Satguru made the Sangat and wealth grow.” 

9-60 Sri Ram Rai goes towards Lahore

Many days passed.  Baba Ram Rai ji’s stubbornness calmed down.  He remembered is father’s greatness and wished to see him again.  He was upset knowing that his Satguru father was angry at him.  He thought to himself: “what has happened?  I made a mistake.  What should I do?”  He couldn’t speak to anyone about this.  He regretted his actions everyday.  He thought to himself: “I should go to Pithaji and ask for forgiveness with my hands folded.”  He decided to go see his father.  The son of the Guru was now in regret for his doing.  He said to Nauranga: “give me leave.  I need to go back.”  The Shah didn’t accept.  He said: “I wish for your Darshans all the time.  Stay here for a few days.  Give me more joy.”  After four or five days, Baba ji asked for leave again.  The Shah didn’t let him go.  Baba Ram Rai ji got anxious.  He thought to himself: “it’s important for me to go.”

One day when the Shah went hunting, he called Baba ji to go with him.  Where the hunt was happening, they were looking for hunts.  Baba Ram Rai ji got angry and showed a miracle.  He brought many black clouds.  He made the wind blow hard.  A lot of dust flew into the Badshah’s eyes.  He made it hail, really thick ones.  They hit the soldiers and the Shah.  They hurt a lot.  The Badshah got hit with the big hail and got worried.  The army ran away along with the horses.  The Shah couldn’t hide.  The dust and wind came into the Shah’s eyes.  Everyone was dirty with the dust.  Where Baba Ram Rai ji was standing, there were no hail or dust there.  He was standing with patience on his horse.  The Shah came to Baba Ram Rai ji.  The Shah thought to himself: “he is angry with me because I won’t let him go.  He did this to me because of that.”  The Shah became humble and said: “I really like to have your Darshan.  That’s why I didn’t want to let you leave.  I don’t want you to be upset though.  You can do as you wish, but come back quickly.  Go to your home and meet your parents.”  Baba Ram Rai ji smiled and said: “you are egotistical.  The army that you are proud of, where are they now?  You are alone.  They left you.  Everything is in Khuddah’s hands.  This wealth and army are nothing.  It is false.  The strength is a myth.  I am going to my Pitha Satguru ji’s home.  I will get his Darshan and bow my head to his feet.  He is the giver of my breaths and food.  He is omnipotent in every way.  He is the supreme.  He is Khuddah.”  Baba Ram Rai ji came to Delhi.

Nauranga give expensive clothes and precious gems to Baba Ram Rai ji as parting gifts.  He gave money and horses.  Baba Ram Rai ji came back to his Dhera.  He was upset.  He was not happy.  He didn’t smile much.  He left his wealth and belongings in Delhi.  He only took a few things with him to go to Kiratpur.  He took a few Servants and left the army and Sikhs at Majnu Da Tilla.  He told them to take care of the Dhera.  He left Delhi with sorrow in his heart.

Baba Ram Rai ji kept thinking as he travelled.  He travelled towards Kiratpur.  He kept thinking of the Satguru.  As he approached Ropar, he set up a Dhera.  It was about 30 km away from Kiratpur.  He began to think of the Guru’s words: “don’t show me your face again!”  He then decided not to go to Kiratpur as to not to disobey his father.  He thought of many things in his mind.  He wrote a Request letter to his father: “if it be your command, I will do as you say.  I won’t come close to you without your wish.  My heart longs for your Darshan.  Whatever is your command, I will do.  I take responsibility for my mistake and will accept any punishment.”  In this way, Baba Ram Rai ji wrote a letter to his father.  It was sent to Satguru Har Rai ji.

The Mevra brought the letter to Guru Har Rai Sahib ji.  When Guru ji read the letter.  He sensed his son’s state.  The Sikh that brought the letter, Guru ji sent a verbal message with him: “why does he wish to see me now?  His mistake was too big.  He crossed a command he shouldn’t have.  What type of Sadhoo does he want to be now?  I gave him instructions when he left but he didn’t understand it.  He showed many miracles without any need.  He kept the Emperor happy and made a mistake.  Guru Nanak Dev ji, who is the Master of the 14 Loks, the Salok from Asa Vaar, the correct meaning was not mentioned.  He hid the correct message of the Salok and said something else.  Why was he afraid of Aurangzeb?  He saw the Emperor as bigger.  I have always been by his side.  He could have done anything he wanted to without delay.  He should have showed the soil of Mussalmans burning inside the kiln.  He could have used his powers to show this miracle.  He should have shown him the burning soil from the graves.  This is known to all.  There was no need to fear the Turks even if they would have argued.  For this reason, I don’t wish to see him.  Ram Rai, go towards the direction your face is facing.  Don’t come here.”  The Mevra heard Guru ji’s anger-filled words and came back to Baba Ram Rai ji.

The Mevra came back to Baba Ram Rai ji, where he was standing.  He was really worried.  He thought to himself: “Sri Satguru ji is omnipotent and all-powerful.  I wonder what command Pitha ji will give.  I wonder if he will forgive my mistake.  I can’t see or sense his vast heart.”  The Mevra Sikh came and said the message of Satguru ji to Baba Ram Rai ji: “which ever direction your face is facing now, go there.  Don’t come to my home.  Don’t give me your Darshan.”  When Baba Ram Rai ji heard this command, Baba Ram Rai ji was facing towards Lahore at that time.  He folded his hands and bowed his head onto the ground towards Kiratpur.  He obeyed the command of his Satguru father with love.  He got on to his horse and got ready to leave.  He and his men set off towards Lahore.

Baba Ram Rai ji stopped along the way and regretted his mistake.  Everyone heard the news of Guru ji’s renouncing of Baba Ram Rai ji and commanding him to go to Lahore.  Guru Har Rai ji sent a Hukamnama to all: “whoever calls themselves my Sikh, any Paisa or Kodi for the Guru’s home, given with devotion, do not give it to Ram Rai when he comes to Lahore.”  When the Hukamnama was read by the people of Lahore, they were shocked.  They all said: “the way of the Guru cannot be known.  He stopped the Pooja of his beloved son.  Baba Ram Rai ji is powerful and deserving.  Anything he said would happen.  He took an Avatar in the Satguru’s family.”  Thousands of Sikhs got together and said: “if we don’t go to do his Darshan, he may get angry and destroy us.  We will need to take gifts for him.  We also have Guru ji’s command stopping us.  This is a conundrum for us.”  The Sangat got together and thought hard about this.  They wanted to be well from both sides.  They then decided: “he has written “Paisa or Kodi” in the Hukamnama.  He didn’t say anything about gold coins.  We will take that for Baba Ram Rai ji.  We won’t take Paisas or Kodis.”  They collected golden coins and brought them to Baba Ram Rai ji.  They bowed with their hands folded.  They were happy to do his Darshan.

Satguru ji heard about this event and laughed out loud.  He laughed a lot and said: “the Sangat of Lahore didn’t fully obey my command.  They used deceit in a big way.  I told them not to go but they didn’t listen.  They will remain deceitful from the inside and say sweet words with their mouths.  The Sikh obeys the Guru’s command.  Don’t take wisdom from these people.”  Satguru ji went quiet after saying that.  He renounced his beloved son.  He didn’t let him come near him.  He found him guilty for the mistake he did.

The 9th Raas is now complete.  Sri Guru Har Rai ji’s beautiful Katha; It was been written after careful readings.  It has the great glory of Satguru ji in it.  It destroys all of the sins.  Just as the pure waters of Ganga washes the sins, that’s who the Katha removes the sins.  I bow to the feet of the Satguru, by whose grace this Raas has been completed.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji has grabbed the feet of the Satguru and said the Katha according to his wisdom.  The glory of the Guru makes one pure.  It is infinite.  Whoever received it, has said it.

Thus ends the 9^th Raas.