WHAT MERCY HAVE YOU ASKED FOR?

This ‘sakhi’’ is a tale from the era, during the times of the Gurus.

A king decided to attend the darbar of Guru Gobind Singhji. On completion of his diwan Guruji was leaving and stopped by the King and said " I am happy to see you here, ask what you want and your wish will be fulfilled." The king requested Guruji to shower HIS blessings (Kirpa) on him so that he could be progressive spiritually as well. Guru Gobind Singhji then looked at another person and asks the King "should I bless you being a devout like Nihal Singh who is standing over there." The King looked at Nihal Singh and thought very poorly of Gurus judgement. Nihal Singh calm composed was in tattered clothes, shabby, carrying a smelling spade. The King reacted and asked Guruji if he was showing mercy (Kirpa) or His anger (Kehar) by offering him to be a person like Nihal Singh an ordinary peasant.

Guruji then asked Nihal Singh "I am happy to see you here, ask what you want and your wish will be fulfilled." Nihal Singh asked Guru Gobind Singhji to shower HIS blessings & kirpa of Naam Simran on him. Guruji asked Nihal Singh "should I turn you like that King.” Nihal Singh humbly with folded hands requested Guruji he is good to be the peasant I am and only need to better my Naam Simran. This amazed the king as he thought Nihal Singh would be excited to accept King like blessings from the Guru.

Seeing the king confused Guruji explained "O King, you thought Nihal Singh to be an ordinary man, but he is nothing ordinary. He is a devout Sikh who has lots of Seva and Simran behind him and he is in a blissful state of being one with the Almighty. When you looked at Nihal Singh you saw his outer appearance, while when Nihal Singh saw your external state he declined to be a king as he got scared losing on his Seva and Simran. Pride often gets to the head and hence he did not wish to give up his state of blissfulness. In a state of blissfulness worldly wealth does not entice beyond one’s needs. The king felt sorry looking for materialistic values of wealth, status and power in Nihal Singh and apologized to Nihal Singh for missing to see his spiritual wealth. The king seeking forgiveness once again prayed to Guru Sahebji for HIS mercy and grace.

Gurbani guides us to consider our mercy prayers with the divine;

Aisi kirpa moh Karoh…..SGGS828 “Bless me with such mercy, Lord that my forehead may touch the feet of the saints and my eyes may behold the blessed vision of the darshan and my body may fall at the dust of their feet.

May the word of the Gurus shabad abide within my heart and the lords Name be enshrined within my mind. Bless me with such mercy, lord.

Drive out the five thieves, O my lord and master and let my doubts all burn like incense. Whatever you do, I accept as good, I have driven out the sense of duality.

You are Nanak’s God the great giver, in the congregation of the saints, emancipate me.

Bless me with such mercy my Lord.”

A true state is one when we renounce the intellectual wisdom of our mind

And whatever the Guru says should be good and sweet.