Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, while traveling along…

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, while traveling along the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal region, reached the Badrinath temple. There was already a large crowd of devotees present for the darshan. Many among them had already received Guru Ji’s introduction in Haridwar. Most of them were dressed in saffron robes. They requested Guru Ji to sing kirtan.

Guru Ji saw an empty space at some distance from the temple, sat down, and began kirtan:

**"Mith rasu khāī su rogī bharījai kand mūl sukh nāhī. Nām visārī chalahī an mārag ant kāl pachutāhī.

Tīrath bharmai rog na chhutas parhiā bibād bhaiā. Duvidhā rog su adhik vadeṛā māiā kā muhtāj bhaiā.

Gurmukh sāchā sabad salāhai man sāchā tis rog gaiā. Nānak harijan anadin nirmal jin kau karami nīsāṇ paiā."**

(Raag Asa)

After the kirtan, Guru Ji explained its meaning, saying: "True bliss is attained by enshrining the Lord’s Name in the heart. Those who wander from pilgrimage to pilgrimage without remembering the Lord, or those who pretend to renounce worldly attachments by consuming only roots and fruits and consider themselves blessed for doing so, ultimately lose both this world and the next due to their doubts."

After listening to the kirtan and discourse, some devotees shared their bitter experiences from their encounters with the temple priests. They mentioned that all devotees were bringing offerings according to their capacity. However, the priests were categorizing the devotees based on the value of their offerings.

Those who brought expensive gems or large amounts of wealth were given priority and seated in the front rows with honor. In contrast, common people, who brought only fruits and flowers, were placed in the second row and asked to wait.

As soon as the second quarter of the day arrived, the temple doors were closed, and it was announced that the deity was resting. The doors would reopen in the fourth quarter for the second-tier devotees to have darshan.

Hearing all this, Guru Ji said: "The Lord is neither hungry for wealth nor does He ever sleep or rest. He is hungry for the love of His devotees and, being the Supreme Divine Light, is beyond physical limitations."