A poor carpenter named Bhai Lalo one day invited Guru Nanak Devji for lunch. Guru Nanak, who never differentiated between the high and the low, the rich and the poor, willingly accepted the invitation.
It so happened that a rich landlord named Malik Bhago also happened to invite Guru Nanak for lunch on the same day. As Guru Nanak did not have the heart to turn down the offer from either, he decided to call Bhai Lalo to Malik Bhago'shouse, thinking that the rich landlord would not object to feeding a poor man as he could easily afford to feed any number of people.
Bhai Lalo did as told but as he did not want to have his meal with Malik Bhago knowing well enough that he was not up to the rich landlord'sstandard. As usual, his wife packed his lunch comprising makke-di-roti which he took along with him to eat at the landlord'shouse. When he reached Malik Bhago'shouse, he greeted Guru Nanak, who with his quick sense of perception had noticed that the poor carpenter had brought his own lunch. Meanwhile Malik Bhago emerged from within the house and greeted both the guests. Guru Nanak turned to Bhai Lalo and asked, ?What are you carrying in that small bundle of yours? Is there anything to eat in it??
Bhai Lalo replied, ?There is only makke-di-roti in it, which my wife packed in this cloth for me. I have nothing interesting for you to eat.?
Guru Nanak replied, ?Oh,I love makke-di-roti! Give the bundle to me as it has been very long since I ate makke-di-roti prepared by my mother. I would love to eat it.?
Guru Nanak took the bundle, opened it out on his lap and began to eat the roti. In the meantime, the landlord'scook had laid out a full meal for the revered guest. The landlord was surprised to see Guru Nanak relishing the roti brought by the carpenter and felt very humiliated to find that Guru Nanak did not touch a piece from the lavish feast which had been so carefully prepared by his cook. He looked derisively at the carpenter and could not help asking, ?Guruji, I got a special meal prepared for you but you have not touched a thing. Instead you are eating the roti brought out by this carpenter. Why is it so??
Guru Nanak took a puri in one hand and makke-di-roti in the other and squeezed them. As a result of squeezing, drops of blood began to flow out from the puri while milk oozed out from the makke-di-roti. On seeing the shocked expression on Bhago Malik'sface, Guru Nanak said to him, ?Malik Bhago, you exploit the poor labourers who toil and slog for you while the carpenter here earns his day'smeal by working hard the whole day. If you too were to toil with your own hands and if you did not oppress the poor, your food too would have been rich and nutritious as the poor carpenter'shere. All your wealth and position will get you nowhere. Learn to help the poor and you will prosper and be happy.?
Malik Bhago did as told by Guru Nanak and gave away his riches and began to toil hard. As days passed, he too learned to lead a happy life.
Leave a Comment