After taking leave from the congregation in…

After taking leave from the congregation in Sabarmati, Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, along with his companions, proceeded southward and reached the city of Baroda. This place was a highly developed city in the region. However, the gap between the rich and the poor was so vast that wealthy individuals misused their wealth to enslave the poor, living a life of luxury. In contrast, the poor struggled even to arrange two full meals a day. In some places, the poor were even forced to die of hunger.

When Guru Ji saw the miserable condition of the common people, he became deeply distressed. A person informed him that there were many reasons for poverty, the foremost being the unequal distribution of wealth. Another major reason was that the local moneylender lent money to the poor at high interest rates during difficult times, which they could never repay. As a result, their property gradually became mortgaged and was eventually seized by the moneylender. Despite this, the moneylender pretended to be very religious and even staged charitable feasts during festivals.

To address this problem, Guru Ji devised a plan. The next morning, he started singing hymns in front of the moneylender’s house and sang in a loud voice:

"Because of this wealth, there is great suffering, This wealth has led many astray. Without sin, it cannot be obtained, And it does not accompany one after death." — Raga Asa, Ang 417

Its meaning is given below.

At that time, the moneylender was sleeping on a cot in a place where he had buried his wealth in the ground. As soon as the sweet hymns reached his ears, he woke up, performed his morning ablutions, and approached Guru Ji with flowers in his hands. Guru Ji gestured for him to sit. The moneylender himself used to burn incense and chant hymns before idols at home every day, but today, after listening to the Guru’s hymns in the company of saints, he realized the wrongful means behind his wealth. He understood that Guru Ji was speaking the truth and knew that he had been exploiting the poor and accumulating wealth through dishonest practices while pretending to be religious.

After the completion of the kirtan, Guru Ji began his sermon, explaining that if a person desires peace of mind, truth must be present in all their actions. Otherwise, all religious deeds will be in vain because deceit resides in their heart. Hurting the hearts of the poor and oppressed leads to their cries, which cause God to turn away, as the Divine resides within every being. Therefore, true religion is compassion. If a person wishes to attain God's pleasure, they must selflessly assist the lower and suffering classes of society as much as possible. In reality, wealth and property accumulated through wrongful and sinful means will be left behind at the time of death.

Upon hearing this, the moneylender could no longer hold back. He fell at Guru Ji’s feet and said, "Guru Ji, please forgive me. I have exploited many poor people. I have numerous small farmers’ lands and jewelry mortgaged with me. Having received your teachings, I wish to return them, as my mind is always restless, and I am unable to sleep at night."

Guru Ji said, "If you do so, you will receive immense grace from the Almighty, and you will be able to live the rest of your life in peace and joy."

Receiving Guru Ji’s command, the moneylender returned all the land and jewelry and, as per Guru Ji’s instructions, built a Dharamshala (place of worship) and started listening to divine hymns in the company of saints. As the congregation grew, most of the people in that area became followers of Guru Ji and came to be known as Nanakpanthis.