Guru Nanak And True Bargain

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was sent by his father Bhai Mehta Kalu Ji to the city to do business when he reached eighteen years of age.

His father was disappointed that Guru Nanak’s interest was not in farming and otherworldly matters. Therefore, he thought perhaps engaging him in trade would be a good decision and it could be a profitable profession, and secondly, his son would be happy all day talking to his clients about the business.

Thinking thus he chooses an auspicious day and called Bhai Mardana Ji to accompany Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

 Kalu Ji gave twenty rupees ( a big amount in those times ) to Bhai Mardana Ji and said, “Go with Nanak and buy and bring some genuine goods by selling of which we may make a profit. In this way, if you make a good transaction, next time I will send you more money to buy goods.”

Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji started from Talwandi towards Choohar-khaana to purchase some goods.

They had traveled some miles from the village when they came across a village, where the people were thirsty, hungry, and sick due to lack of food and water and there was an outbreak of disease.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji said to Bhai Mardana Ji that his father had asked them to carry out some profitable transactions. However, no bargain can be more truly profitable than feeding and giving clothes to these naked and hungry children and adults. He could not leave this true bargain. It is seldom that one gets an opportunity to carry out some truly good transaction like this.

Saying so, Guru Nanak Dev Ji took all the money from Bhai Mardana Ji and went to the next nearest village dwelling, where he bought sufficient food and brought water for the disease-ridden village. Guru Nanak Dev Ji invested the twenty rupees into what we call today “Langar.”

Bhai Mardana Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji also brought clothes for the villagers with the money that was left. After helping the villagers, they took leave from them and started back empty-handed.

When they reached near Talwandi, Guru Nanak Dev Ji said to Mardana Ji to go to the village alone, while he sat at the well. Bhai Mardana Ji went to the village and narrated the whole story to Pita Mehta Kalu Ji. He told him where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was sitting.

Mehta Kalu Ji was very angry that they had wasted all the money on feeding, clothing, and taking care of needy people. Leaving all work he took Bhai Mardana Ji along and started towards the well. Reaching the well, he caught hold of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and scolded him. However, he calmed down when Guru Nanak Dev Ji explained the situation in which he had helped the villagers!

Moral of the story:

The true bargain of life is helping the needy in whatever way we can.