6-21 No Remorse for loss Wealth/ The Lines

The city was still surrounded and the Khalsa continued to fight.  One day, Prabhoo ji got ready and had the Ranjit Nagara played.  The Paharis all came to attack.  The instruments all played from both sides.  The Ransinghas, Shehnais, Dhols, Turrees and Nagaras.  Kalgidhar ji was mounted on his horse and the Khalsa followed, ready with their weapons.  The Paharis had their posts set up far away.  Guru ji headed towards that direction.  The rifles and guns fired.  The Khalsa engaged in battle with the Paharis.  Because they had won many battles, they had become egotistical.  They went on ahead and fired bullets.  Heads from both sides exploded.  The Pahari Rajas all gathered and attacked.  They brought all of their men.  When the two sides collided, the bullets burst many bodies and limbs.  It was so fierce that it was hard to fight facing the front line.  Metal clashed with metal.  To destroy the ego of the Singhs, Guru ji turned away from the battle and headed back.  The Khalsa army began to lose.  They all retreated and came back.  As the Singhs turned back, the Paharis chased them.  They fired their rifles from the back.  Other than Guru Sahib, who could stay at the front with such a fierce charge?  The enemy came very close to the Singhs.  The Singhs ran back to where the storage of Guru ji was.  They couldn’t stay as the enemy came on strong with anger.  Many stables were looted.  Money, clothes and expensive items were looted.  The enemy stood there and the Singhs tried to hold them off.  The Sikhs cried out: “we have faced a great deal of loss.”  The Singhs fired their rifles and busted many of the enemy.  In this time, the enemy had looted a lot and turned back to their camps. 

Bhai Uday Singh ji and other great warriors came to Guru ji, leaving the battle.  They folded their hands and wanted Guru ji to hear them.  They all said: “a lot of things have been looted.  Clothes, horses, and many other things have been looted.  Maharaj, everything has been looted!  It’s hard to count how many thousands worth of things have been looted.  The enemy took it all.”  Guru ji saw the pain in everyone’s hearts.  He said to Bhai Aalam Singh ji: “draw lines on the ground.  Make some short and some long.”  Bhai Aalam Singh ji obeyed and drew lines on the earth.  The Singhs standing nearby, watched.  Sri Kalgidhar ji then said: “Aalam Singh, erase them all.”  Bhai Aalam Singh ji erased all of the lines on the earth that he drew.  None of the short or long lines remained.  Guru ji said to the Singhs: “do you all have some joys and pains in your hearts?  If you don’t, then tell me why you don’t.”  The Khalsa folded their hands and said: “they were only lines.  There is no joy or pain.  When you had them erased, we had no regrets.  Our feeling was the same.”  Guru ji heard the Singhs and said: “you didn’t see this as a matter of joy or pain.  The Guru is in that state.  The Guru is the same with loss and profit.  Things accumulate over time; money, jewels and other expensive things such as elephants, horses, diamonds, opals and other jewellery.  You saw them as your own but the Guru does not have any joy or ego while keeping them.  The wealth of Lakhs shines for a while and then it goes away or is destroyed at one point.  The Guru does not feel remorse of losing it.  It is destined to be destroyed or to separate one day.  Stay in the same state all the time.  Be in bliss.  Don’t let your mind wander with these big things.  In past, present or future, they never existed.  They were never yours so stay in the same state.  This body is the home of joy and pain.  It comes and goes in an instance.  Whoever is awake, that person is in bliss, otherwise the one who sleeps towards the myth of the world, they are in pain.  Do the Simran of the Naam.  Ponder the meanings of the Shabad everyday.  Without the teachings of Gurbani, the regrets will not go away.  If a woman bathes after scrubbing her body; does the 16 Shingaars of fashion and still her husband is not impressed, she only faces humiliation.  The Guru came to the earth to save the people by giving them Naam.  This kills the greed and ego of the people.  The Sikh is the one who accepts the will of the Guru.  The Sikh is always in the presence of the Guru then.”  Hearing the words of Sri Satguru ji, the Singhs were calm.  After eating, some Singhs went to sleep and some went back to stand on guard. 

In the morning, everyone bathed and got ready.  They recited a lot of Gurbani.  When the sun came up, the Singhs came to Guru ji.  The Singhs were not happy and had looks of sadness on their faces.  They were thinking: “one, we were looted by the enemy; two, we lost and retreated.”  They were filled with humiliation and their minds kept thinking of things.  Guru ji didn’t see any motivation or ambition in anyone.  The Singhs were upset as though their tasks were unfulfilled.  Guru ji saw this and was happy.  He wanted to test their love.  They head offered their heads to Guru ji.  Guru ji was compassionate and said: “I like the Sikh that fastens weapons and goes to battle; kills the enemy and does not step back.  They should see themselves as lions and look upon the enemy with anger.  Never fall to humility in front of the enemy.  Till you have strength, strike the enemy.  The ambitious one wins the effort.  Till motivation is there, keep applying the effort.  Let’s go Khalsa!  Let’s take revenge!  Attack the enemy and defeat them!”  After motivating the Singhs, Guru ji mounted his horse.  The Khalsa shouted out Jaikaras and followed Guru ji with a renewed eagerness to fight the Pahari Rajas.  The Turk army sat in their posts with fear in their hearts.

The Singhs came to fight the enemy.  They prepared their rifles.  Prabhoo ji headed towards the camps of the Pahari Rajas.  The rifles were fired.  A lot of gunpowder was used to fire the many bullets.  The big nagaras were played.  The warriors fought with strength and courage.  The two sides fought.  The enemy was destroyed.  Guru ji gave hope and courage to the Singhs.  The Singhs attacked at the front line.  The battle raged on.  The rifles were filed.  The heads and chests were pierced.  The warriors fell to the ground.  Receiving the power of Guru ji, the Singhs charged on ahead.  They pounced like hawks, grabbing their prey.  They were like hungry lions, seeing the deer.  They charged with a lot of power, which the enemy could not tolerate.  The enemy in the posts were cut by the Singhs.  The Paharis ran away, losing their courage.  The Singhs fought with swords and shields.  The enemy couldn’t handle them.  The warriors were big and strong.  They fought without fear and doubt.  The enemy with ego was cut to pieces.  The battle was won!  The enemy retreated, seeing the Singhs advancing.  The Singhs were overjoyed.  The Nagara of victory was played.  There was a lot of instruments playing.  The ones that did Guru ji’s Darshan were really happy.

6-22 Stopping the Enemy Water

The supply of water came trough a small stream towards Anandpur.  The Singhs drank from the stream and bathed with that water.  The Paharis had set up their camps upstream to that canal.  It was were Naini Devi was.  The minister of Bheem Chand said to him: “the water is going to Anandpur.  Why don’t we block the water stream?  This will give problems to the enemy.  There is nothing wrong with this strategy.”  The Pahari Raja heard this and set up a dam to the stream.  The stream dried up.  The Singhs figured out the Paharis work.  The Singhs came to Guru ji and said: “Prabhoo ji, they stopped the stream of water.  We needed that water to stay clean and quench our thirsts.  The whole Khalsa was easy with that water.”  Hearing the requests of his Sikhs, Kalgidhar ji said: “the Sutlej is flowing with its power.  It will send water for the Khalsa.  It will use its power.  It can’t be stopped by the enemy.  This seems like the work of the enemy.  Everyone will know of their sins.”  Guru ji commanded the river.  He took an arrow from his quiver and gave it to the Singhs.  He said: “go to the Sutlej and give it my message: “this is the time of war.  Lakhs of enemies have come upon us.  I have lived near your shores for a long time.  I have enjoyed many joys at your shores.  I have created a Panth in the world to destroy the sins and sinners.  I have come to save the Hindu Dharma.  I am fighting the Turks to take their radiance and kingdom away from them.  I fight them to take their strength.  I have made many Akharas to fight them.  I live on your shores for this reason.  I ask you to help us now.  Send us water.”  Go to the shore and say this.  Pull a line from the shores, all the way here.  Don’t look back when you do this.  Keep walking back to me.  The water will come to where you want it to.  Your tasks will be completed.”  The Singhs heard Kalgidhar ji’s words.  The Singh with faith accepted the words.  He took Guru ji’s arrow and headed to the shores of the Sutlej

The Singh gave Guru ji’s message to the Sutlej: “the Guru, the master of the universe is thinking of you, Sutlej.  Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, the purest one, he wishes to call you to him.  He gave me his arrow as a sign.  Recognize it.”  The Singh said this and turned around.  He drew a line from the shore with the arrow.  The Singh headed back to Anandpur.  The warrior pulled the line and walked forwards.  The Sutlej followed the line.  The water got deep and came into the city.  As the Singh came close to the city, he became doubtful in his mind.  He thought to himself: “I wonder if the water is following me or not.  Did it obey the command of Satguru ji?  Did it obey or not?”  The Singh twisted his neck to look back.  The river was indeed following the arrow from where it started.  It was like the stream of the Ganga.  It was clear, like milk.  The Singh saw the current as strong.  He was overwhelmed as he thought he would drown in it.  The stream was huge and deep.  He thought: “if I go into the city, the river will go in and destroy the city.  There will be water everywhere.  It will destroy the forts and homes.  Nobody will be able to stop this stream.  It is night.  Nobody will know what happened.  They will think that a flood has come of the Parlo.  The men and women won’t have time to think and save themselves.  They will be in trouble by the flood.  If I try to stop this river, I will be able to save the city of the Guru.  If I take the river to the city, I will be sinned as I would have caused people damage.”  The Singh folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, stop the flow of the river right here.”  As the Singh said this, the river stayed back and stopped, just before the city.  It is now known as the “Hamayati Nala.”  When the Singh didn’t see anything, he came back to Guru ji.

The Singh bowed to Guru ji and spoke with his hands folded: “Sri Prabhoo ji, forgive my mistake.  The river was coming but I got scared.  I stopped it.  When I pulled the line with your arrow, a huge stream followed me.  I got scared seeing the water and asked for it to stop there.  The river stopped but the signs can be seen.  The river went back.  I made a mistake in bringing the water here.”  Sri Guru ji said: “in time it will come here.  It will be called the Hamayati Nala.  Its waters will be pure and clear.  Ghats will be made around it.  The ones who bathe in it will receive many rewards.  Their sins will be destroyed.”  Guru ji went quiet after saying that. 

In this way, the city was still surrounded.  The food was finishing.  Everyone was in pain.  Satguru ji started a very difficult play.  Everyone was amazed to see or hear this.  Guru ji was heating the gold to rid the impurities of it.  Guru ji was making the gold pure like 24 kt gold.  The Khalsa was one with the Parmeshwar’s feet.  Sikhi is sharper than the edge of a Khanda.  It is hard and painful to walk on it.  You have to give your mind to take love.  One has to sacrifice the head to keep the love stable.  Whomever the Parmeshwar blesses, those people give their minds to the Guru’s feet.  They give their heads to their master.  One would not need to fear when the head is cut then.  One has given their sense of self to the Guru.  The ego does not remain then.  In this way, the Singhs gave their lives to the Guru.  They wanted to die for the Guru.  The Singhs spent their days in hunger.  They tied their wastes and fired at the enemy.  They received a quarter of food sometimes.  Whatever was made in the Guru’s home, they ate.  They came out to fight sometimes at night.  They would go into the dark of the night.  They would go to the enemy and loot food from them.  Some lived by the support of Naam. 

One day, the Singhs made a plan to get food from a village.  They decided to go at night.  They came far into the Doon of the mountains.  They saw a village in the mountains.  They came all of a sudden.  Whoever came in front, they killed them.  They took whatever food they could find.  They took the stuff on their horses.  They found ghee, flour and sugar.  They took whatever they could find.  They picked it all up.  The Singhs came back to Anandpur.  The people of the villages kept shouting.  They chased the Singhs with swords and shields.  They attacked the Singhs.  The Singhs with the food went forward.  The other Singhs defended the group.  They stopped whoever chased them.  The people got scared in the dark and turned back.  The Singhs had food for a few days.  They got food.  The Singhs came into the forts and said the Fateh to Guru ji.  The Singhs rested and prepared the food.  They rested after eating and felt at ease.  The Singhs spent many days like this.  The Sikhs were hungry again and became anxious.  They stripped the trees of its barks.  They grinded it and tried to make Rotis out of it.  Some people took the leaves and boiled them.  Some wandered and hunted animals.  Whatever fruit they found, they ate.  The Singhs tolerated hunger.  They fought battles.  They gave their heads and didn’t go anywhere.  They won’t think twice to give their heads.    

6-23 The Langars of the Khalsa Empty

The Sikhs were in pain from hunger but their faith and hope was high.  They were always ready for war.  They would fight for food and made plans to get it.  They came at one night at midnight.  The Singhs were really hungry.  They travelled many Kos and came across a village.  They came into the homes and scared the villagers.  They took the food from the homes of the Paharis.  They took as much as they needed.  They packed it up and picked up the bundles on their heads.  They picked up what they could.  They were alert and headed back.  Nobody fought them though.  Nobody stopped them.  They quickly came back to Anandpur with joy.  The Soobas and the Pahari Rajas were worried.  They said: “the Singhs manage to loot our villages and get food.  They go in different directions.  They bring food and eat it.”  The Pahari Rajas showed all the paths out to the Soobas.  They showed them: “they go from this way.”  They noticed how the Singhs would get out.  The Turks prepared their army for the Singhs.  Between 10 and 20 men were put on watch.  They kept an eye on all of the roads out.  They wanted to see what the Singhs’ secret was.  The Singhs didn’t know that they were being watched. 

One day, the Singhs came out to get food from a particular direction.  They travelled far to some villages they thought they would get food.  The Turks that kept watch saw the Singhs and told their officers where they went.  The Turks quickly brought a huge army to attack the Singhs.  They blocked the Ghatti of the mountain they were going to travel.  When the Singhs came back at night, they faced a huge battle with the Turks.  When the Singhs saw the enemy attacking them from both sides, behind and front, they became alert and fought.  Many rifles were fired.  Bullets and gunpowder were filled.  They took off the bundles from their heads and fought the enemy, head-on.  Many rifles were fired.  They fought them with swords and shields.  Where the enemy blocked the way, the Singhs came there and yelled at them.  They fought like lions.  They tried to find a way out but there was no way out.  They said to each other: “Singhs, listen, we can’t run now.  If we surrender, they won’t leave us alive.  They came to kill us.  They won’t leave us.  The best thing to do is to give our lives and become Shaheeds.  If we live after leaving our Dharma, we will still die one day.  Don’t ruin the life in both Loks.  Don’t become cowards at the time of death.  Where the enemy has set up a blockage, let’s cut them with our swords.  Let’s slice them in half.  Till we have Pranas in our bodies, keep swinging your swords.  Do the Simran of Sri Kalgidhar ji and die.  Our life will be a success.  Our births and deaths will be over.”  The Singhs pulled out their swords.  They were hungry and weak.  They fought with bravery.  The love of the Guru became their strength.  They fought with bravery and courage.  Some killed 2 and some killed 4.  They killed many before attaining Shaheedi.  Some killed 5, 7 and 8.  The Pranas were sacrificed.  Thousands of Turks were there.  The Singhs were just a handful.  How long could they fight for?  Hundreds of Turks were killed.  The warriors fought and died to martyrdom.  The Turks killed the Singhs by surrounding them.  They then came back. 

Satguru ji did not get news of the Singhs.  If he had known, he would have gone to help them.  The Singhs were stuck.  There was no way out.  The huge army of Turks attacked the Singhs.  The people of Anandpur waited for their brothers.  The Singhs didn’t come back.  The people became worried.  They were upset and came to Guru ji’s home.  They found out what happened and said to Guru ji: “the particular Singhs went out to get food but they faced a huge regiment of the enemy army.  They blocked the Ghatti and killed the Singhs.  Not one survived.  They all fought and died.  Oh Compassionate One, give those Singhs Mukti.  Bless them.  They fought Lakhs of them.  Protect the honour of your servants.”  Sri Guru ji heard this and said: “why did they go without permission?  They should have asked me before going.  I would have helped them in every way.  They still gave their lives like real men.  Of course I will bless them in Parlok.  I will keep them with me.  Where my Sangat lives, they will stay there with me forever.  They will receive Sameep Mukti.  They will be in Anand.  The Sikhs that keep their Sikhi and give their lives without delay; the ones with desires will receive kingdoms in their next birth.  They will rule the joyful kingdoms of earth.  They will them go to Satsang and receive mukti.  The ones without desires will receive Mukti.”  Guru ji then went quiet after saying that. 

The warriors in the city were hungry.  Parshaadi Hathi and other elephants; which were worth Lakhs, were dying of hunger.  Guru ji set up a drama that caused the whole wealth and possession to be destroyed.  Guru ji tested the faith of all.  Some Singhs were living only because of the Darshan of Guru ji.  The Singhs tightened their waists and were ready to fight.  Sometimes they got some food.  They recited Bani and chanted the Naam.  1 Rajitpun would only get a Ser of wheat.  It was really expensive.  That was hard to find.  The horses worth Lakhs were standing in the stables.  The ones that used to eat excellent foods, they didn’t even get grains now.  They became weak and their skins dried up.  The priceless elephants, that couldn’t be priced after paying Lakhs for; without grains and feed, they were all dying.  Their servants were hungry as well.  They were in pain.  Their bodies withered away.  How long could they stay hungry?  The Singhs were all in the same state.  They were all in pain with hunger.  They spent many days in such hunger. 

At one point, the Singhs came to Guru ji’s special stable of horses and elephants; where the shadow of death was passing over.  Guru ji came inside as well.  The horses saw Guru ji and got excited.  They wanted food.  They scratched their ground with their hoofs.  The elephants trumpeted, greeting Guru ji, by raising their trunks.  The servants and stablemen folded their hands and said: “Sri Prabhoo ji, they are dying.  Without food, we are all dying.  Give us food or contentment.  Give us hope.  You are the Compassionate One.  Prabhoo, give us your compassion.  We are all in your shelter in this surrounding.  This body is just a few bones.  We have no strength or skin left.  How long will we tolerate this pain?  We need food everyday.”  Guru ji didn’t respond to anything.  It was as though he didn’t hear them.  His awareness was on a very high level.  He was completely detached from the world.  He did not respond.  He looked at everyone once.  He remained quiet and left. 

Listen listeners (Bhai Ram Koer ji continues), I was outside of Anandpur at that time but managed to come in.  I did the Darshan of Guru ji and bowed to his feet.  Sri Guru ji the Master was really happy to see me.  I went to my place and rested.  When the Singhs heard of my arrival, they all came to see me.  They were really hungry and had no hope to live on.  They said: “please go to Satguru ji and make a request to him.  Ask him to keep his people in joy so we can kill the enemy.  This is what he wanted us to do.  That time has come for the Singhs to be protected.  Keep us from dying.  Give us food so we can be saved.  We can’t tolerate the pain of hunger.”  I saw their pain.  It was like crops wilting without water.  After one day, I went to Guru ji and did an Ardaas with my hands folded: “Guru ji, I fold my hands and say this: listen Prabhoo master Bhagwant; why are you not looking at your family?  Their death is standing in front of them.  Without food, one day is hard.  A person’s wisdom stops working.  Many months have passed for these Singhs with hunger.  Little food has become scarce.  They have to fight by tightening their waists.  They are without food.  They can’t rest.  They stay awake all night.  During the day, they are in their posts and fight.  Elephants, horses and the Singhs are weak because of hunger.  The servants are hungry.  They only have hope of your Darshan.  That’s how they pass their days with contentment.  They don’t know how long they will live for.  They focus on you but their Pranas do not leave.  We are limited and we can’t figure out your ways.  Only you know your ways.  It is not long for the Singhs to die.  They can’t talk out of weakness from hunger.  The Turks have us surrounded in every direction.  The pain is huge.”   

6-24 A Sikh Brings a Paras

The request that I said to the Compassionate One; the Wisest One; Satguru ji then began to give food to the Singhs after testing them strictly.  The food came with his power and blessing.  He had created the scenario of problems for them to make their hearts pure.  He gave joy to their hearts.  Everyone was happy to get food.  They were satiated.  The elephants and horses received feed.  The ones who died went to the realm of the Guru and received bliss.  The ones that were alive and fighting, they fought with their waists tied.  The Singhs were happy for a few days.

After a few days, Sangat came from some land.  They saw the blockages by the Turks, surrounding Anandpur.  They stopped and tried to make efforts to see Guru ji, as they had travelled a long distance to see Guru ji.  They set up camp and tried to figure out a way in.  They ended up bribing one of the guards and entered Anandpur.  They did Guru ji’s Darshan and were happy.  They brought many types of gifts for Guru ji.  They brought horses, weapons and food.  One Sikh was very skilled.  He brought a Paras stone that he kept hidden with him.  The Turks and other Rajas, he was afraid of them as he didn’t want this stone to be with them.  The Paras was able to make any metal into gold.  He saw the state of the Singhs; how everything was depleted in Anandpur.  Everyone was in pain and they didn’t get enough to eat.  He thought to himself: “I will give this Paras to Guru ji so the poverty in Anandpur could be destroyed.  The Singhs would be in joy and my Paras would be used for a great cause.  Prabhoo ji will be really happy with me.”  He thought of this and took the Paras out.  He placed the Paras near the feet of Guru ji.  He had ego in his mind as he placed the stone.  He thought he was doing a great thing.  He folded his hands and said: “Prabhoo ji, I am giving you this Paras by which everyone’s hunger will be satiated.  It will solve the problems to all of the shortages.  Guru ji, it will solve a lot of issues.  Your armies won’t lose from the Turks.  You can generate as much wealth as you wish.  It will destroy all of the pains.”  He placed the stone with a lot of ego.  He thought to himself: “I am doing a great favour for Guru ji.”  The omniscient Guru knew what was in the Sikh’s heart.  Guru ji picked up the Paras and started to analyse it.  He was the creator who made them all.  Guru ji threw it into a nearby pond.  The stone couldn’t be found; it went so deep.  The Sikh who gave the Paras was speechless.  He was surprised and kept staring at Guru ji’s face.  The item was a priceless and rare item.  He thought: “Many kings and Jogis had been dying for this.  Nobody has ever found it.  Guru ji didn’t consider it valuable.  Guru ji doesn’t know its value.  He threw it like a stone!  Why did I give it to him?”  He was really worried, like a prisoner in jai.  Prabhoo ji wanted to break his pain and so he said: “where did your wealth go?  Your face is depressed and you are worried.  You gave me a stone with faith.  (I accepted it.  It’s mine now) I thought it was a useless thing and so I threw it away.”  The Sikh folded his hands and said: “oh Guru ji of mine, that was not a stone.  It can’t be found anywhere on earth.  This was a Paras.  A very valuable thing.  Horses, elephants and your armies; I see them hungry and battling with pain.  They are fighting the Turks.  I can see the shortages and the pain of hunger and poverty.  I wanted to give this to you so you can create wealth with it.  You could have kept a bigger army and fought more battles with it.  The whole universe depends on power and wealth.  You could have saved or killed anyone you wished.  Guru ji, you did this thing though.  You threw it like it was a stone.”  Guru ji spoke in a light and carefree way: “I didn’t think it was a Paras.  If it was a priceless thing, why would I have thrown it into the water?  Don’t worry about it now.  My body is the Paras.  Think about it: whose command is obeyed by Maya, he can give or take anything he wishes.”  The Sikh went quiet and thought to himself: “how would I know his whole body is the Paras?  If he is the Master of the whole universe, then he should show me the Paras.  Just like the Paras can change things to gold, can his body do the same thing?  I want to see him make something into gold.  Only then can my mind be convinced.  Without seeing this, how can I believe him?  Without seeing this, my mind cannot believe.”  The Sikh thought about this and sat down in worry. 

Satguru ji knew what was in the Sikh’s heart.  The Satguru can see the whole universe.  He wanted to erase the doubt of the Sikh.  Guru ji got up to urinate.  He got up and went a little distance.  Guru ji crouched and urinated.  When he got up, he told the Sikh, who gave the Paras, to come over to him.  He told him: “bring water so I can wash my hands.”  The Sikh brought water for Guru ji.  He stood and washed Guru ji’s hands.  The Sikh noticed where Guru ji had urinated.  Wherever there was urine on the ground, the ground had become gold.  He saw the gold shining bright.  He thought for some time.  He stood there still.  He wondered what he was looking at.  He looked carefully and was convinced that was in fact real 24 Karat gold.  He was upset and sat down near Guru ji.  He understood Guru ji’s greatness and regretted his doing.  He thought to himself: “why did I give him the Paras.  He threw it away.  It’s like I was looted in the jungle.  I was always thinking about the Paras.”  To destroy the Sikh’s worry, the Gem of the Sodhis, Sri Guru ji said: “if you wish for the Paras then go into the water without laziness.  Take a dip and find the Paras.  Keep it with you and be happy.”  The Sikh was really embarrassed.  He couldn’t get up in shame.  He couldn’t leave it either.  It was a great task for him.  After a few moments, Guru ji spoke again: “go into the water and get the Paras.”  The Sikh still couldn’t get up in shame, although he wanted to.  He didn’t want to look like a greedy person in front of everyone.  He eventually gathered his courage and slowly got up.  He went into the water.  He held his nose and closed his eyes.  He took a dip and noticed a great drama.  There were piles of Paras and gems in the water.  He saw mountains of diamonds and rubies.  They were shining bright.  There were multi-coloured Manis and powerful stones.  The Sikh saw this and was amazed.  His mind was awakened.  He saw diamonds, pearls, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and gold.  They were priceless.  There were mountains of them.  Sarf Manis, Nag Manis, Chander Manis; there was unlimited wealth there.  Some Manis and stones were unknown to humankind.  The light of the gems was really bright, making the sun look dark.  He saw the hidden treasures of 9 Niddhis belonging to Guru ji.  He saw the unlimited wealth of the Guru.  The Sikh came out of the water right away.  His doubt was destroyed.  The Sikh had become pure-minded.  He grabbed Guru ji’s lotus feet and said: “forgive me!  Forgive me!  I am your servant oh Master.  I was unwise.  I didn’t know of your greatness.  I have come to know it with your compassion and blessing.  I didn’t know your secret.  What kind of drama are you playing?  Billions of Kalapbrishes and billions of Kamdhenus; billions of Paras lie at your feet like grains of sand.  The sand near your feet is greater.  I was a fool to come into a little ego.  Prabhoo, I didn’t know of your wealth.  The whole world begs from you and you are the one true giver.  Your donations are received and consumed by Devatas, Daynts, humans and animals.  When the Paras touches other metals, it becomes gold.  If your spit touches the earth, the soil becomes gold.  If you wish, you can give your servants the 9 Niddhis and 18 Siddhis.  You can take Inder’s kingdom and turn him into a beggar.  You are omnipotent and capable of everything.  You are the giver of joy.  I have partially understood your greatness.”  Kalgidhar ji heard this and said: “I wanted to destroy the doubt in your heart.  I destroyed it.  Going forward, understand this: if you go to a great being in the future, don’t take the ego of your greatness to them.  Don’t have ego in your heart.  See yourself as lower in every way.  The Turk kings and the other Rajas, they are in the Lakhs.  If there by Lakhs times more, they are less than the kill of my one arrow.  I can destroy the whole world to dust with one arrow.  These people are nothing in front of me.  The Devatas and Daynts fear me.  Having understood this, in Kaliyuga, I am acting like a human in this era.  This is my own law.  I act and behave according to the world.  The horses, elephants and Singhs that you see being hungry, they have tolerated it for many months.  This is making their souls pure.  When they die, their Sanchit Karma is going to all burn away.  They will receive Sameep Mukti and stay with me forever.  Whoever wishes to be kings out of them, they will become kings.  The 4 Padarthas are on the palm of the Khalsa.  Without Tapp though, they can’t be obtained in hand.  I will do good for them in every way.  Whoever becomes a Sikh of mines once, I will help them and bless them.  I will destroy the pains of many lives.  There are other reasons for this.  The great Sikhs know this.”  The Sikh said: “you are playing a game!  Only you know your characteristics.  We are limited people.  How can we know your greatness?  You do dramas that are good.”  Guru ji was happy to hear this.  Guru ji said: “ask for a boon that you wish for.”  The Sikh folded his hands and said: “your Darshan gave me everything.  Oh Guru of mine, if you really wish to give me something; then erase my rounds on this earth.  Erase my cycles of births of deaths.  When your Katha is said, my story will be told as well.  Whoever hears my history with you once, may they receive the devotion of the Guru.  May they immerse into your feet.”  Guru ji said: “Tathastu,” so it shall be!”  The Sikh stayed with Guru ji after that.  He received the love of the Guru and he was focused on Guru ji’s form.  He became deserving of Mukti.

6-25 Mata ji’s Referral

Many days past.  It was getting quite difficult.  Food and water were finished.  Everyone was hungry.  Nobody was satiated.  The roads to Anandpur were all blocked.  There was a strict guard everywhere.  Since the Singhs that went out to get food had died, Satguru ji told the Singhs not to go out.  The Singhs did not go out to get food then on.  They stayed in the surrounding.  They went out to fight everyday.  They fought in grave hunger.  They took off the bark from trees, boiled it and ate it.  If they got grass or any other plant, they would get really happy.  That saved their Pranas.  Some only recited Gurbani and lived on.  They stayed by the support of Gurbani.  It was like Munnis who were Pavan Ahaari.  The Khalsa was doing the same Tapp.  They took their attention inwards.  They denounced the ego of their bodies.  Hunger did not waiver them. 

One day, Satguru ji came to a tree and saw the bark stripped.  He asked the Singhs close by: “who stripped the bark from the trees?”  The servant heard him and said: “becoming anxious from the pain of hunger, the Singhs have ate it by boiling it.”  Guru ji said: “stop them from doing that.  This food will make them sick.”  Everyone was stopped from eating bark.  The enemy had everyone surrounded. 

Many people without faith would go to Mata ji and say to her: “Guru ji says unorthodox things.  You should do something to save everyone.  Otherwise everyone will die.”  They became humble and cried in front of Mata ji: “why don’t you save the people?  The ones who wish for war all the time, they need food to fight.  If he wishes to leave the battle, we can leave Anandpur.  If we stay, we will be left with nothing but bones.  We are just skeletons.  There is no flesh left on our bodies.  You need to give everyone the gift of life.  Protect us, seeing us as your own.”  In this way, these people convinced Mata ji.

Mata ji came to Guru ji and began to speak the words slowly with fear in her heart: “the hunger has become fierce.  Their bodies have become weak.”  Sri Mata Goojri ji continued: “do this: give them food and then have them fight.  If you don’t want to listen, then we should leave Anandpur.  Without one of these two things, nobody will survive.  Look at the state of these warriors.  The strong have become weak.  If they stay alive, they can fight.  We can then come back to take Anandpur from them again.  If we die, we can’t come back.  We will become dirt.  Till there is life, then there is everything.  You can do the tasks of the world then.  The Singhs are saying that they are bound to your command.  They want you to command them to fight a battle.  They will kill the thousands of enemies.  They will kill or die fighting.  They don’t want to die with hunger.  Destroy their problems.  This is your whole family.  Give them the gift of life.”  The Sikhs sitting around heard this too.  When Mata ji was done, Guru ji said out loud: “the money in the treasury is the money of Pooja.  Giving them this wealth is not good.  I consider that as poison.  I made the Panth by giving them the Pahul of the Khanda.  If they eat that money, their radiance will decrease.  They won’t be able to kill the enemy.  They will stay in the world as poor.  They won’t be able to grow.  After dying they will go to Hell.  They will become lazy and poor.  The Mughal and Pathaans that rule the world, how will they fight them if they eat money from Pooja?  Viziers, armies, forts, treasuries, and land; these are the signs of a king.  The Khalsa will kill them and reduce them to dust.  They will kill them by rifles, arrows and sailays.  They are doing Tapp now.  (This will give them Jageers) This will give them power.  One Singh will overpower Lakhs.  Kharagkhet will be by their side.  He will help them like his sons.  I have put them into the Lap of Mata Devi.  She will be by their side everyday and help them.  The great pains like hunger and thirst will come to the Panth.  They will tolerate it all.”  Mata ji and Guru ji talked about this for many days, on and off.  The hunger got worse by the day.

The Pahari Rajas were upset at the length of their siege.  It had been about 9 months for them to be living in tents.  Lakhs were spent on the battle.  Many died.  The Turks were making the Rajas spend the money.  Their siege was still going on.  Sri Guru ji was determined.  The expense of the army was in the Lakhs.  They needed wood, feed, grass and food.  They couldn’t find any fields around Anandpur.  The Pahari areas were in problems.  The Paharis wrote letters to Guru ji.  They said: “listen to us once and leave.  The Turks will come and leave.  You can come back into Anandpur again.”  The letter was sent to Guru ji.  Guru ji read the letter and rejected it.  He said: “the Pahari people are deceitful.  They worship stones and so their wisdom is also stone.  They are never sensitive.”  The letter was never discussed with the Singhs.  Many times, a letter was sent with the same message. 

One day, A Divaan was held with all the Singhs when a letter came for Guru ji.  The minister of the Paharis, Pamma, came.  He came and sworn an oath and spoke: “the Rajas have no deceit in their minds.  They want the battle to end.”  The Letter was read out in the court.  Everyone heard it: “we write this letter swearing upon the Dharma.  Whatever possessions and wealth you have, you can take it all and leave.  You can go wherever you wish to go.  Don’t be suspicious with the Turks or us.  We will give you way, wherever you want to go.  We will open your way.  You can leave with your family.”  The warriors heard this and had hope.  They came to Mata Sri Goojri ji’s home and told her of the letter: “Sri Prabhoo ji will not accept the terms of the letter.  Nobody can say anything to him, other than you.”  After saying this, they brought Mata Goojri ji to convince Guru ji.  They all wanted to leave Anandpur. 

Sri Mata Goojri ji came to the court, where Pamma and other Singhs were.  The whole Khalsa had gathered.  Sri Mata Goojri ji said to her son: “this is a good thing.  The enemy swore upon their Dharma.  Let’s go and save everyone’s lives.  Come out in peace and live in joy.  Listen to your mother’s words.  Let’s leave Anandpur.  Let’s not waste time.  Give everyone the gift of life.  If there was money and food here, you could have fought for a long time.  It’s better to fight form the outside.  Many types of problems are faced inside.  It’s good to let go of Anandpur.  They only want the land.  They won’t cheat or deceive us in any way.  It is good to leave now.  If we lose this opportunity, it won’t come again.  Look how many days have been spent in hunger.  They fight day and night, fearlessly.  The Paharis and Shahs are swearing upon their faiths.  Look how their army have grown.  Kwaja Mahmood Ali has come as well.  He has picked up a Beera (pile of betelnut) in Aurangzeb’s court.  He was sworn to kill you or arrest you.  Now is the time to save everyone.  Don’t lost this chance.  There is nothing better than life.  With life, everything can be done.  With life, thousands of efforts can be made.”  Guru ji heard his mother, the Masands and the Singhs.  He was listening with no interest.  He then spoke in a little anger: “the Paharis are Dogras, they are nothing but rocks.  They worship rocks everyday.  Their wisdom is like rocks.  They are all trash and showing their lies.  This liar, Pamma, keeps making rounds here.  He has come many times.  The Khalsa will keep growing.  They don’t know this.  The Khalsa will come and take the revenge.  They won’t trust this till they see the radiance of the Khalsa.  There’s no trusting the Paharis.  Chavgatha is a fool.  His wisdom is foolish.  He along with the Pahari Rajas are stuck in garbage pleasures.  Their mind is not still.  Their wisdom is full of deception.  Their lies will destroy them.”