While leaving Talwandi, Nanak Ji convinced…
While leaving Talwandi, Nanak Ji convinced his dear friend Mardana to accompany him, and together they reached Sultanpur. Now, with Mardana's company once again, Nanak Ji resumed his daily practice of Kirtan after finishing his government work. Gradually, devotees from distant places started coming to listen to the Kirtan. Nanak Ji fixed both morning and evening times for Kirtan. Whenever he was free from his work, he would take Mardana along to a special serene place, where he would compose hymns in praise of the Lord, and Mardana would accompany him with the melodious tunes of his Rabab.
Soon, music lovers also started joining Nanak Ji’s gathering. One day, the village headman of Mallsiha, Bhai Bhagirath, came to listen to his Kirtan. In reality, he was a devotee of Goddess Durga, and he used to compose Bhents (devotional songs) in her praise. However, he never experienced spiritual bliss through these compositions because they were all self-conceived. But Nanak Ji’s divine words were not based on imagination or assumption; rather, they carried an experience of unity with the Almighty, which deeply influenced the mind and soul, captivating the listener and embedding itself in their hearts.
When Bhagirath Ji listened to Nanak Ji’s blissful Kirtan, he found his own compositions to be dull, as they clearly lacked spiritual wisdom. Overwhelmed, he fell at Nanak Ji’s feet and humbly pleaded, "Please accept me as your disciple so that I may attain spiritual wisdom from you. Until today, I have only wandered aimlessly, but now, after coming to your refuge and listening to your divine words, I have found true spiritual bliss."
Hearing this, Nanak Ji lifted Bhagirath and embraced him, advising him that he should always worship the formless divine light, which exists in all visible forms but itself is beyond the cycle of birth and death.
Doja Kahe Simriye Janmai Te Mari Jaye. Eko Simrai Nanaka Jo Jal Thal Rahia Samai. — Janam Sakhi
Meaning: Why should we worship others when they too are created by the Almighty and go through the cycle of birth and death? We should only meditate on that Supreme Being who pervades every particle of water and land.
Hearing this, Bhagirath Ji said, "From today, from this very moment, I have accepted you as my spiritual Guru. Please accept me as your disciple and bless me with initiation."
Then, Nanak Ji accepted him as his first disciple and initiated him by giving Charanamrit (Charan Pahul).
Bhai Bhagirath then said, "O Gurudev! You have shown me the path of truth. I will always follow this path and inspire others to walk on it as well."