After completing his education, Nanak Ji…
After completing his education, Nanak Ji started spending time either at home or wandering among saints and sages. Due to his generous nature, he would give away things from home to the needy, which sometimes made his father, Kalu Ji, upset. He would say, "What kind of son are you? Other people's sons engage in some work, but you simply give away household items to people. How long will this continue?"
However, Nanak Ji, being kind-hearted, was not affected by his father’s words. He would often go far away with his fellow children in search of holy men, engage in spiritual discussions with them, and give away whatever he had with him.
Seeing this, his father, Kalu Ji, became somewhat displeased with Nanak. However, since Nanak was his only son, he couldn’t say much. Moreover, Nanak Ji was only 12 years old at the time, so he couldn't be assigned any work or job. The family was wealthy and lacked nothing.
One day, however, Nanak Ji gave away a silver vessel from home to an ascetic. This incident deeply troubled his father, Kalu Ji. When Nawab Rai Bular Ji learned about this, he advised Kalu Ji, "Instead of letting the child wander aimlessly, it would be better to send him to Maulvi Qutubuddin to learn Persian. There, he will focus on studies, gain knowledge, and your problem will also be solved."
Kalu Ji found this advice very appealing.
The very next day, he sent Nanak Ji to the Maulvi's school. And what happened then? Nanak Ji began learning Persian with great enthusiasm. Maulvi Ji was amazed by Nanak Ji's brilliant mind. He found Nanak Ji exactly as he had heard about him. As a result, he started paying special attention to Nanak Ji. Soon, Nanak Ji began reading one book after another.
Within a year, Nanak Ji mastered everything that other students couldn't achieve in years. One day, Maulvi Ji decided to test Nanak Ji. He asked him to compose a couplet.
And then, what happened?
Nanak Ji wrote a couplet, which was as follows:
"Yak Arz Guftam Pesi To Dar Gos Kun Kartar. Haka Kabir Karim Tu Beaib Parvardigar." Raag Tilang, Page 721
Its meaning:
"O my Master, O my Lord, I have one prayer before You. You are the Creator of all. Humans are filled with vices, but You are flawless, infinite, the giver of sustenance to all, and apart from You, I see no one else."
Hearing this couplet, Maulvi Ji was stunned. He thought that perhaps Nanak had memorized it from somewhere. So, he asked again, "Nanak, recite another couplet."
Then Nanak Ji recited another couplet, which meant:
"This world is perishable, so whom should I express my heart's sorrow to? The angel of death has captured everyone in his grip; no one knows when he may take someone away."
Upon hearing this, Maulvi Ji was completely amazed by Nanak Ji’s wisdom and began to admire him.
He then called Kalu Ji and said, "I considered Nanak my best student, but he is actually my teacher. Therefore, I am not capable of teaching him."
Mehta Kalu Ji couldn’t understand the deeper truth behind this. Disappointed, he told Nanak Ji to stay at home.
A few days passed in this manner. Now, Nanak Ji remained at home. He didn't even go out to play with children his age. He stayed silent and calm all the time. Slowly, he started becoming melancholic.
Then, Nanaki Ji, his sister, lovingly asked, "Brother, what is troubling you? Tell me something."
Nanak Ji replied, "I am not troubled; it is the world that is troubled. I am only worried about how to alleviate its suffering."
Nanaki Ji started to sense that her brother, Nanak, was a divine being sent by God. However, she could not express this to their father.
Instead, to convince their father, she said, "Father, if you engage Nanak in some work to keep him occupied, everything will be fine."
Mehta Kalu Ji thought, "That is a good idea, but what work can I give a 13-year-old boy?"
The next day, Mehta Kalu Ji called Guru Ji and said, "From today, you will take our cattle to the pasture for grazing."
Nanak Ji responded, "Father, I will do as you command."
Thus, Nanak Ji took the cattle from the cowshed and went to the grazing fields.