J.S. Neki

After the departure of Mansukh, King Shivnaubh eagerly looked forward to a visit by Guru Nanak. The king’s concern soon became public. Many sadhus started coming to the palace posing as Guru Nanak and desiring to annexe the king’s faith to themselves. But all they failed to establish the veracity of their claim.

The king shared his concern with his queen as none of the claimants could convince him that he was Guru Nanak. He was sure that when Nanak would come, his longing would automatically cease and he would instantly recognise him.
A pundit who had been the king’s schoolmate counselled him to stick to his age-old faith and “not wait for someone whom you know not, nor even his faith”. His pleadings, however, could not dissuade the king from his quest, but only deepened his desire to meet Guru Nanak.
A few weeks later, a holy man, along with a companion, came to camp in a desolate garden in the kingdom. Reportedly, the garden blossomed in his presence. When the king’s minister came to know about this incident, he wanted to make sure that the holy man was not an imposter. So he sent a group of dancing girls to the garden to test him. The dance of the girls could not disturb the holy man’s meditation. After the dance had stopped, the holy man opened his eyes and commanded to the girls, “Sing you the divine song; recite you the divine name!” And the girls just sat down to meditate.
The minister then went to the king and informed him of the holy man in the garden. He also told him how at the man’s command the dancing girls simply sat down to meditate.
The king felt convinced that he was none other than Guru Nanak. His eyes suddenly became moist with love. He immediately went over to the park to meet him. After paying obeisance, the holy man returned the king a smile of recognition and dismissed the king’s doubt about his identity as Guru Nanak. The king requested the Guru to grace his palace. But the Guru said, “I am already living in my Lord’s palace.”
The king said, “Is there no way you may graciously oblige me?”
The Guru said, “Have a dharamsala constructed, and I shall visit you there.”
An army of artisans was engaged at once at the king’s order and a dharamsala was made ready within hours for the Guru’s visit. The king and the queen went to the park to welcome the Guru and his companion to the dharamsala. As the Guru entered, a peaceful silence dawned on all those who were assembled there, and all heads spontaneously bowed in reverence.
The Guru blessed them all and took his seat. He then asked Mardana to play his rebec and began to sing:
“Our body indulges in vice, Lord,
So we fall apart from You.
Yet, we know, there is hope always
To reunite with You”
The Guru blessed the congregation once again and told them to remember their creator with love and to dwell on His holy name. He then rose to depart.

J.S. Neki was director of PGIMER, Chandigarh