The Source Book On Sikhism

Guru Nanak And Babar

In the general turmoil that prevailed, both Mardana and the Guru were rounded up along with others and were huddled together in a prison camp to work at the heavy mill-stones. The Guru’s sensitive soul could not bear with equanimity the afflictions of his fellow prisoners. He said, “Mardana dear, this all is too painful to bear. I feel like giving vent to my pain at this cruel high-handedness of man with his brother men. Come, strike the chords of the rebeck!”

The Guru expressed in a moving song the anguish of his aggrieved heart. This plaintive outpouring of a Godlike soul touched the inmost fibres of the Emperor’s heart and he was full of remorse. He went to the Guru and said, “Holy Sir, you seem to be in sorrow. What can I do to cheer you!”

The Guru replied, “Great King, I want nothing for myself. But if you want to please a man of God, then let off these innocent souls!”

Babar not only ordered all the prisoners to be immediately released but also invited the Guru to his camp. The Guru told him that such wanton acts of cruelty on unarmed, helpless people ill-befitted a great king like Babar. Babar’s

conscience smarted under this mild reproof and he said to the Guru, “Bless me, O man of God, that I may establish a lasting empire in India.”

The Guru replied, “If you want your empire to last long, let justice be your watchword. Treat all your subjects alike whether they are Hindus or Muslims. Avoid wine, gambling and such other pursuits that corrupt the soul. Above all, remember God!” Babar promised to be a kind and just ruler.

Baba Budha

Even when he had grown old, Guru Nanak often went into the countryside around Kartarpur for preaching his mission. Once he happened to pass by Kathu Nangai - a place in between Batala and Amritsar. Here he met a boy of twelve named “Boortha” herding the cattle.

The boy asked Guru Nanak if he could teach him how effectively to meet the challenge of Death. The Guru said, “You are yet young, my boy! Such problems are for the old!”

The boy replied, “But, Sir, when the fire is lit, it engulfs in one big leap the straw and the log alike. Even so, death spares none, be he young or old!”

The Guru named this boy, “Budha” meaning old, for becoming more thoughtful than his years warranted. He developed a particular fondness for the Guru and, in order to bask perennially in the sunshine of the Guru’s gracious presence, he settled at Ramdas, a place close to Dera Baba Nanak where Guru Nanak lived.

Baba Budha occupies a place of pride in the hierarchy of the Sikh saints. It was his rare privilege to preside successively over the ceremony of installation to Gurudom right from Guru Angad to Guru Har Gobind. He acted as a preceptor to Guru Har Gobind, the son of Guru Arjan. To top all, he was appointed the first Head Priest of the Golden Temple at Amritsar.

When he passed away at a ripe old age in 1631, Guru Har Gobind personally visited Ramdas to perform the last rites of this revered old man.