Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji set out on his first…

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji set out on his first preaching journey (First Udasi) to spread divine wisdom. After traveling a long distance from Sultanpur Lodhi, Guru Ji reached the town of Saidpur. There, he met a carpenter in the marketplace who was selling wooden items and was devoted to serving saints and sages. His name was Bhai Lalo. He invited Guru Nanak Dev Ji to stay at his house. Guru Ji accepted the invitation and, along with Bhai Mardana, went to his home.

Bhai Lalo was a middle-class man whose earnings were very low despite his hard work. According to the Hindu caste system, he was considered a Shudra—a person of low caste. This poor man served Guru Ji to the best of his ability by offering simple coarse grain food, bajra (millet) bread, and cooked greens. To Bhai Mardana, these plain and simple foods tasted like delicious dishes.

Bhai Mardana then asked Guru Ji, "Why does this food, which appears so plain, taste so delicious?"

Guru Ji replied, "This man has love in his heart. He earns his livelihood through hard work, and that is why it has the blessings of God's grace."

Hearing this, Bhai Mardana was satisfied. Guru Ji continued staying at Bhai Lalo’s house. At that time, it was considered disgraceful for a high-caste man to stay at a Shudra's house and eat his food. However, Guru Ji did not care about such societal norms.

One day, a wealthy jagirdar (landowner) of the town named Malik Bhago organized a grand religious feast called Brahm Bhoj. He invited all saints, sages, and fakirs (mendicants) of the town, including Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The food for this Brahm Bhoj was forcefully collected from poor farmers and other impoverished people. However, since it was being held under Malik Bhago’s name, Guru Ji refused to attend. Meanwhile, all the other saints and fakirs ate to their heart’s content.

History states that Guru Ji was eventually forced to attend the Brahm Bhoj.

An arrogant Malik Bhago asked Guru Ji, "Why did you not come to the Brahm Bhoj when all the saints from different sects have eaten? Why are you eating the dry bread of a Shudra instead of the grand feast of puri and halwa?"

Guru Ji replied, "Bring me some puri and halwa, and I will show you why I did not come."

Meanwhile, Guru Ji also sent for the dry bread from Bhai Lalo’s house.

Guru Ji took a handful of Malik Bhago’s puri and halwa in one hand and Bhai Lalo’s dry bread in the other. When he squeezed them, blood oozed out from the puri and halwa, while milk flowed from the dry bread. Thousands of people who witnessed this scene were astonished.

Guru Ji then said, "Brothers, this is the earning of righteousness—streams of milk, and this is the earning of sin—streams of blood."

Hearing this, Malik Bhago fell at Guru Ji’s feet, repented for his past sins, and started earning his livelihood righteously.