Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji and the Brahman

[tuhintuhin]

Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji and the Brahman

While Guru Ji was at Panjokhara and mediating on God, a Sikh came and told him of a proud Brahman who was in the neighbourhood. The Brahman had asked the Guru’s name and learned that it was Satguru Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji. Hearing this the Brahman became very angry and said, ‘The poet of the Bhagavat Gita, whom no one can equal, called God merely Krishan, and the Guru calls himself Sri Har Krishan, as if he thinks himself superior to Krishan. If he be such a Guru let him come and translate the Gita with me’.

Guru Ji replied to this Sikh, ‘ The eyes of understanding are very good, but the cataract of pride so blindeth them that they cannot see God’s way. The proud think all persons beneath them.’

The Sikh however, prevailed on the Guru to allow the Brahman to come to him. When the Brahman came he did not salute the Guru, but unceremoniously sat down in his presence. He then said, ‘Thou who call thyself Sri Har Krishan, must be greater than the God Krishan. Translate the Gita for a little while with me’.

Guru Ji replied, ‘The Brahmans of the present day are not deeply read. They are great talkers and arguers, and are deteriorating everyday; and in the future they will have even less religion that they have now. What the Brahmans know is not real knowledge, and they are strangers to God. I have not read the Gita, and were I to translate it with you, you would say that I was some rich man’s son who had a private tutor, whereas I should translate by my spiritual power. Go and bring some ignorant rustic to discuss with you and when you have brought him, I will speak to you.’

The Brahman went and brought an ignorant water carrier called Chhajju from the nearest village. The Guru looked at him full in face and said, ‘Thou hast become a great divinity scholar. Now discuss the meaning of the Shastars with this Brahman’.

The Brahman and the water carrier began to discuss accordingly, and the water carrier gave such learned replies, that the Brahman stood in astonished silence. The questions and replies related to Hindu theology.

The pandit became convinced that Guru Ji had infused his supernatural power into the water carrier. He accordingly begged Guru Ji’s pardon for the unceremonious manner in which he had approached him. The Brahman added, ‘Thou art really the holy God, Krishan. Make me thy disciple’.

Dhan Dhan Satguru Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji Maharaj, the King of Kings, the Saint of Saints and the Healer of all.