Author Topic: A True Bargain (Read 927 times)

Sardar_Ji · « **on:** June 20, 2010, 10:44:02 AM »

When Guru Nanak attained the age of eighteen, his father Mehta Kalu thought of engaging him in trade, thinking that it would be a good profitable profession and secondly his son would be happy all day talking to his clients about his business. Thinking this way and choosing an auspicious day, he called Bhai Bala to be Guru Nanak's companion. He gave twenty rupees to Bhai Bala and said, "Go with Nanak. Buy and bring some genuine goods by selling of which we may save a lot. In this way if you make a profitable transaction, next time I will send you with more money to buy goods."

Guru Nanak and Bhai Bala started from Talwandi towards Chuharkana to purchase some merchandise. They had hardly gone ten or twelve miles from the village when they saw a group of hermits sitting in the jungle. Guru Nanak said to Bhai Bala, "Father has asked us to carry out some profitable transaction. No bargain can be more trully profitable than to feed and clothe these naked and hungry hermits. I cannot leave this true bargain. It is seldom that we get an opportunity to carry out some profitable transaction like this." Guru Nanak took all the money from Bhai Bala, placed it before the head of the hermits and said, "I offer this in your service."

The head of the hermits said, "Son, this money is of no use to us. We do not go to places where people live. We stay in the jungle. If you get meals prepared with this money, we will accept it." Guru Nanak and Bhai Bala went to the village nearby. They got meals prepared with that money and brought them to the hermits and distributed among them. They also brought clothes for the naked hermits with the money that was left. Taking leave of the head of the hermits, they started back empty-handed.

When both reached near Talwandi, Guru Nanak said to Bhai Bala, 'You go to the village alone, I shall sit at this well." Bhai Bala went to the village and narrated the whole story to Mehta Kalu. He told him where Guru Nanak was sitting. Mehta Kalu was very angry that they had wasted money on hermits in this way. Putting aside all work he took Bhai Bala along and started towards the well. Reaching the well, he caught hold of Guru Nanak and slapped him three or four times. Bhai Bala was telling Mehta Kalu at that time too, 'You told us when we started out to make a good bargain. You may or may not agree, Nanak has made a true bargain."

For Mehta Kalu, amassing of wealth was the only true bargain because in this world it is money which is the mark of nobility, it is the wealthy who is wise, only the rich are considered gentle, honest. pious and lovers of mankind. The means by which the money has been earned are of no consideration. Only those who make true transaction think about the ways and means.

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Article taken from . "Bedtime Stories" written by Santokh Singh Jagdev.

Author Topic: A True Bargain (Read 927 times)

Sardar_Ji

A True Bargain

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