Gur Ka Bachan - The story of Bhai Mona

"Dhanaasaree Mehalaa 5 ghar 8 dhupadhae
Dhanaasaree, Fifth Mehla, Eighth House, Du-Paday:

Ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

Simaro simar simar sukh paavo saas saas samaalae
Remembering, remembering, remembering Him in meditation, I find peace; with each and

every breath, I dwell upon Him.

Eih lok paralok sa(n)g sehaaee jath kath mohi rakhavaalae
In this world, and in the world beyond, He is with me, as my help and support; wherever I go, He protects me.

Gur kaa bachan basai jeea naalae
The Guru's Word abides with my soul.

Jal nehee ddoobai thasakar nehee laevai bhaahi n saakai jaalae .rehaao

It does not sink in water; thieves cannot steal it, and fire cannot burn it. Pause

Niradhhan ko dhhan a(n)dhhulae ko ttik maath dhoodhh jaisae baalae
It is like wealth to the poor, a cane for the blind, and mother's milk for the infant

Saagar mehi bohithh paaeiou har naanak karee kirapaa kirapaalae
In the ocean of the world, I have found the boat of the Lord; the Merciful Lord has bestowed His Mercy upon Nanak."

There was a sikh called Bhai Mona who was serving in the langar of Guru Angad Dev Ji Maharaj. Mona was extremely arrogant and greedy. Some people complanied to the Guru the insulting behaviour Bhai Mona displayed whilst serving langar. The Guru called him for an explanation. Bhai Mona said that he was the servant of the Guru and would do anything for him and that he was not a servant of the others.

The Guru than asked him to go to the nearby forest, chop some wood, make a pyre and cremate himself. Without understanding the consequences of the Guru’s orders he went to the forest, cut the wood, makes a pyre and lit it. On seeing the blazing fire he became scared and was reluctant to jump in the fire. Meanwhile a thief arrived and asked Bhai Mona what he was going to do. Bhai Mona told him the whole story. The thief thought that he had an opportunity of wiping out the sins of his past life. He accordingly said to Bhai Mona that he would give him a bag of jewels if he would let him die on the pyre and get salvation. Bhai Mona happily agreed.

The thief jumped in the fire and was taken to the heavens by the Guru himself. Bhai Mona on the other hand was arrested for the theft of the jewels and was hanged. On hearing this the Guru said that a sinner could get salvation by believing in and obeying Guru’s orders no matter where he had lived; whereas the pride and vices like anger and greed would destroy the result of all the service, even if one had lived near the Guru.

If someone just clings onto the word of the Guru they will be saved, through the Guru's grace ... Gur Ka Bachan....