Guru Nanak & Duni Chand

Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana were at Sultanpur Lodhi with her sister. Guru ji decided to take long tours to preach the message of truth. He accordingly prepared Mardana for the hazardous journey. But before proceeding on his long tours, he decided to visit Talwandi to meet his parents. They left Sultanpur Lodhi. Those days, the means of transport were scarce. Mostly the distances were covered by walks, which used to take months together. Somehow they reached at the outskirt of Lahore and preferred to take rest for a while under a shady tree.

In the evening a rich man named Duni Chand passed that way. When he saw Guru Nanak, he approached him and requested that he was observing Sharadhs for his grand parents the next day. He said that he had invited a number of Brahmins and wished that Guruji might also visit his house and grace the occasion by joining the Brahm Bhoj.

Saints are very frank. They do not hesitate to call a spade, a spade. Guruji told Duni Chand that all this is nothing but superstition. These are not the ways to send cloths and food to one’s forefathers passed away long ago. He said that if he was hungry or thirsty and Duni Chand eats or drinks water, will his hunger or thirst be satisfied! Similarly the charities given to the priests seldom help the forefathers. In fact such priests befool people for their own self interests.

Guruji added that many people do not care for their parents when they are alive. They even ill treat them and consider them a burden forgetting all their sacrifices. But after their death, their Sharadhs are observed with great dignity. This is not fare. Duni Chand had no reply.

Finally Duni Chand accepting Guruji’s point of view said, “No one told us like that before, you have opened my eyes. Really these rituals have made us blind.” He however requested him to visit his house. He said that he will be obliged and his family will be fortunate to hear him.

So before going to Talwandi they visited Duni Chand’s house. His house was like a palace and there were so many flags. Mardana was curious to know about the flags. So Guruji asked Duni Chand. why he had fixed so many flags? Duni Chand said that he was the richest person of this town and each flag was an indication of his richness. Guruji further asked, ‘That’s nice but how much time do you you devote to the service of the Sangat and meditation?’ Duni Chand replied that though he wished to do so but due to his engagements in business and social activities, he hardly found time for meditation.

While taking leave from Duni Chand Guruji gave him a needle and said, ‘Keep this needle and I will take it from you in the next world.’

Duni Chand took the needle smilingly. His wife at once whispered something in his ear. Duni Chand approached Guruji and said with folded hands, ‘How can he take anything in the other world. When someone dies nothing goes with him, even the body is cremated here. How can he take the needle along?’

If one cannot take even a needle while leaving this world, then why people are mad collecting riches at the cost of their meditation and other comforts, said Guruji to all present there. This was the message Guruji wanted to give to all of us.