Time passed

Time passed. Now, Nanak Ji befriended a Mirasi youth named Bhai Mardana, who had performed music at his wedding. This young man was about nine years older than Nanak Ji. Mardana was an expert in playing a stringed instrument called Rabab and was well-versed in classical music. Every morning, he would visit Nanak Ji. Nanak Ji would sing hymns, and Bhai Mardana would accompany him in musical compositions.

The sweetness of the hymns mesmerized everyone, and all enjoyed the glory of the Lord. This brought a sense of mental concentration, which everyone yearned to experience. They wished that the morning hours would never end, and thus, they eagerly awaited the next morning. Gradually, the number of members in Nanak Ji's hymn-singing group began to increase.

As the hymn group expanded, Nanak Ji could not focus properly on his business. Everyone was content, but his father, Kalu Ji, felt disappointed in his heart. This often led to tensions between father and son. With increasing restrictions, Nanak Ji lost interest in his business. He started devoting more time to devotional singing. Slowly, his shop remained almost closed.

Now, Nanak Ji was about 20 years old. His father found it difficult to say anything to his young son. He became distressed, thinking that his only son had no interest in any work and seemed to be inclining toward renunciation. Seeing all this, his parents tried to make him understand worldly matters. Kalu Ji also remained worried and restless.

He thought that if Nanak could be distanced from the saints and hymn groups, he might refocus on his business, and the shop could flourish again. So, he imposed strict restrictions on Nanak Ji, prohibiting him from going to the forests and associating with the singing Mirasis. Due to these restrictions, Nanak Ji’s daily routine came to a standstill.

The entire town of Talwandi started discussing this: “Nanak Ji neither eats nor talks to anyone; he just remains confined to his bed.” As this news spread among the neighbors, people began coming to see Nanak Ji. However, he did not speak to anyone and remained still and calm. A physician was called, but he said, “He is completely healthy. But what has happened to his body?”

In reality, what was the matter? At that moment, Nanak Ji expressed his inner feelings through the following verse:

"The physician was called, and he examined my pulse by holding my arm. But the innocent physician does not know where the real ailment lies. Oh physician, with all your medical knowledge, first identify the true disease. Find me a remedy that will cure all my ailments."

(From Raag Malhar, Page 1279)

Meaning: The physician checked my pulse by holding my arm, but the naive physician does not know where my affliction lies. I have no physical ailment; my heart is in pain because I have been separated from singing the praises of the Lord. I am thirsty for the divine hymns, and my thirst remains unquenched. So, I will consider you a worthy physician only if you first diagnose my real ailment and then find a cure that heals both my physical and mental suffering.

The physician then turned to Kalu Ji and said, “Your son has no physical illness. So what treatment can I give him? He is suffering from a mental condition, and the only remedy is to keep him happy. Let him do as he wishes; otherwise, you will lose him.”

This made Kalu Ji deeply reflect on the situation. Meanwhile, the news of Nanak Ji’s illness reached Rai Sahib. He himself came to see Nanak Ji. Upon learning that the physician had only suggested keeping Nanak Ji happy because there was no visible physical ailment, Rai Sahib became very angry at Kalu Ji.

He said, “You yourself are responsible for this situation. You only care about wealth, not your son’s happiness. I have told you many times before—take as much wealth from me as you want, but do not obstruct Nanak Ji’s work. But do you ever listen to me?”