Introduction to the short stories
The short stories are a collection of stories taken from the Aadh Guru Granth Bhagat Mala, which have been translated into simple English. The purpose of translating these stories is to provide understanding and the significance of these stories when reciting Gurbaani.
The Sikh Gurus and other Bhagats within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have made references to the various saints and disciples who existed at the time of the Hindu deities. By no means are these stories a form of praise or worship of the Hindu deities, but they are used as a reference to purely develop the meaning of Gurbaani.
The stories taken from Hindu mythology provide examples from the lives of the disciples and saints as parallels to understand the power and greatness of the One Lord, the righteous practise of faith and Dharma and how one is emancipated from sin and misfortune through meditating upon the Primal Lord.
~ Harjinder Singh Khalsa
The Story of Rishi Baalmeek
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kaahae n baalameekehi dhaekh || |
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Why do you not look at Baalmeek?
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(Siri Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1124)
In the Age of Treta and at the time of the Hindu deity, Ram Chandar, a Rishi was born. There was not a huge development of the human species at this time but it was a kingdom of mammals and animals. Many Rishis' used to live in the jungles and those who could perform various mantras would cause many battles to take place. There were many who used to kill people with no apparent reason.
One day some great Veda-mantra readers, Rishi Kashup, Atriya Bhardvaj, Vashisht, Gotam and Vishva Mitar went to attend a religious feast. Along their way they met a tribe member of central India with an axe in his hand. He was immensely enormous; he had large round eyes, fat lips and was very dark skinned. His name was Baalmeek. He roared out aloud, "Stop! Do not step any further!"
The Rishi's stopped. They were able to fight, as they were great warriors, but they did not wish to do so. Gotam asked, "Why?"
Baalmeek: "Whatever you have, leave it here. If you refuse to do so, I will kill you all!"
Gotam: "What do you think we have? All we have is a begging bowl, a deer's skin and a loincloth…these things have no worth. You won't be able to buy anything with these or buy anything to eat. The other things we have are worldly things."
Baalmeek: "You are helpless! You people are enemies! Leave your things or I will cut your heads off!"
On hearing this, Rishi Vishva Mitar smiled. He spoke: "Look brother, at the end of the day you are a human just like us. Sit down and listen to me. If you do not still agree with me then you may kill us all and take all our belongings."
Baalmeek: "What do you want me to listen to?"
Vishva Mitar: "Why do make such threats? Why do you kill? What is the reason and what is the reward you get from these actions?"
Baalmeek: "I don't care; I don't want to listen to you. I want to kill you!"
The Rishis' were not afraid, but they remained seated and found his stupidity rather amusing. They spoke together in Sanskrit and then said to Baalmeek, "Behead us then!"
Baalmeek got out his axe. As he went to raise the axe to behead one of the Rishi's, his arm stopped and he could not move it. The axe became extremely heavy and his arms became weak.
Vishva Mitar: "O brother! Why aren't you beheading us?"
Baalmeek: "I won't kill you." Baalmeek threw his axe on the floor and went towards Vishva Mitar.
Vishva Mitar asked him, "Why didn't you kill us?"
Baalmeek: "The axe became too heavy, I couldn't pick it up. You people are somewhat strange."
"Then explain to us, why do you kill people? Why do you steal? There are many birds and animals that you could easily kill and eat. What is the reason?" asked Gotam.
Baalmeek paused for a moment and then he spoke. "Listen O Rishis', at a young age my mother taught me to be a robber and to kill people. I was told that I am from a family of robbers and a tribe of central India, whose job is to commit such acts."
One day, when I killed someone I was given the title of a cannibal. I presented my mother with the dead body and she praised me. She took the dead body and bought fish. She said to me 'Look son! By killing someone, I bought all these fish. Now you can kill all these, they have life in them as well. When killing someone, do not flinch or be scared.' I continued doing this all my life. We kill people who come across our path. We see you all as enemies."
Vishva Mitar: "O brother, close your eyes and we will show you something."
Baalmeek closed his eyes. He was given a vision of hell. He saw thousands of sinners and faithless people being burned alive. Some were hung upside down. All Baalmeek could hear was screaming and these people shouting and crying out to Baalmeek, "Help! Help me please!"
On seeing this, Baalmeek was frightened. Vishva Mitar could see that Baalmeek was beginning to shake. He went and placed his hand on his head.
"What did I see?" Baalmeek asked.
"…you have seen a lot. You saw people being burned alive, hung upside down. They were in great pain."
"What was all this? Where is this place?"
"It's hell! Here is where one is punished for their bad deeds in life upon this earth. Whatever one sows, shall reap in the end."
"So those who eat people, won't they be rewarded for their actions?" asked Baalmeek.
"No. Go home and have a look. Ask them, will they be by your side when you are suffering in hell? Are they willing to be by your side during Judgment Day?"
Baalmeek began to think and Vishva Mitar's words seemed to have an effect on him. Vishva Mitar said, "Now go home. Ask your wife, your children and your mother, if they are willing to be by your side when you are sent to be judged by the Righteous Judge of Dharma? Whatever punishment you receive, will they share that punishment out between themselves? Have faith, we will be sitting here waiting for you."
Baalmeek went home and entered his hut. The first thing his family asked him was, "Have bought anything for us today or have you returned empty-handed?" Hearing his mother say this he then asked her, "O mother answer me this. For the sinful acts that I commit, I will be punished for this. Are you willing to share half the punishment with me? Speak now!"
"Which idiot told you this? Did not that person who told you this tell you that a mother keeps her child in her womb for nine months; she goes through so much pain when giving birth and she nurtures that child all his life? Does that child take half that pain away from her? These things you do are your own actions; therefore you take the rap for them! Why should I?" On saying this, his mother walked out.
Baalmeek then went to his wife and asked her the same question. Her response was similar to his mother's. "This is a rather strange question you have asked me. You may do all the hard work for us all but I also help you out. I too go hunting with you and I take on the same Karma as you. My mother and father helped you; they provided you with food and clothes. We have to earn our living somehow. Who told you this? Whoever it was, is a foolish person. Go and earn living!"
On seeing and hearing his answers, Baalmeek realised what the Rishis' had explained to him was exactly true. Not even family, the closet people will be able to help you when it comes to the time when you have to leave this world. Whatever actions you commit, you have to reap them yourself. Baalmeek made his way back to the Rishis'. He fell at their feet and said "O great men, what you told me was exactly true. Everyone is out for themselves. No-one really cares about you. I will not kill you. You have become my gurus'. If I have sinned please forgive me and put me on the right path!"
Vishva Mitar advised Baalmeek, "Start to chant the mantra 'Mra Mra' (Die, die). With this mantra I have given you, you will achieve eternal bliss and attain all riches you desire. Throw this axe away, you will not need it."
As time went by, Baalmeek began to recite the mantra that Rishi Vishva Mitar had given him. What Baalmeek was chanting 'Mra Mra' was actually 'Ram'- 'RamRamRamRam'.
'baalameek supachaaro thariou badhhik tharae bichaarae.'
Baalmeek the outcaste was saved, and the poor hunter was saved as well.
(Guru Arjan Dev Ji; GGSJ; Ang 999)
Baalmeek now became a Rishi, a Bhagat of the Lord and left his previous life as a cannibal.
Below is the story of Rishi Baalmeek as written in Vaaraan Bhai Gurdas:
੧੯ : ਬਾਲਮੀਕ ਬਟਵਾੜਾ
Vaar 10, Pauri 19 on Rishi Baalmeek
ਵਾਟੈ ਮਾਣਸ ਮਾਰਦਾ ਬੈਠਾ ਬਾਲਮੀਕ ਬਟਵਾੜਾ।
Vaatai Maanas Maaradaa Baitdaa Baalameek Vatavaarhaa.
वाटै माणस मारदा बैठा बालमीक वटवाड़ा ।
Valmeel was a highwayman Valmiki who would rob and kill travellers passing by.
ਪੂਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਮਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੋਆ ਖਿੰਜੋਤਾੜਾ।
Pooraa Satiguru Bhaytiaa Man Vichi Hoaa Khijo Taarhaa.
पूरा सतिगुरु भेटिआ मन विचि होआ खिੴजो ताड़ा ।
Then he began serving the true Guru, Now his mind became diffident about his work.
ਮਾਰਨ ਨੋ ਲੋਚੈ ਘਣਾ ਕਢਿ ਨ ਹੰਘ ਹਥੁ ਉਘਾੜਾ।
Maaran No Lochai Ghanaa Kaddhi N Hanghai Hadu Oughaarhaa.
मारन नो लोचै घणा कढि न हंघै हथु उघाड़ा ।
His mind still urged to kill people but his hands would not obey.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਨੂਆ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਉਛੋਹਾੜਾ।
Satigur Manooaa Raakhiaa Hoi N Aavai Ouchhayhaarhaa.
सतिगुर मनूआ राखिआ होइ न आवै उछेहाड़ा ।
The true Guru made his mind tranquil and all the volition of mind came to an end.
ਅਉਗੁਣੁ ਸਭ ਪਰਗਾਸਿਅਨੁ ਰੋਜਗਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਏਹੁ ਅਸਾੜਾ।
Aougounu Sabh Paragaasianu Rojagaaru Hai Ayhu Asaarhaa.
अउगुणु सभ परगासिअनु रोजगारु है एहु असाड़ा ।
He unfolded all the evils of mind before the Guru and said, ‘O Lord, this is a profession for me.’
ਘਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਪੁਛਣ ਘਲਿਆ ਅੰਤਕਾਲ ਹੈ ਕੋਇ ਅਸਾੜਾ।
Ghar Vichi Pouchhan Ghaliaa Antikaal Hai Koi Asaarhaa.
घर विचि पुछण घलिआ अंतिकाल है कोइ असाड़ा ।
The Guru asked him to enquire at home as to which family members would be co-partner him of his evil deeds at death.
ਕੋੜਮੜਾ ਚਉਖੰਨੀਐ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਬੇਲੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਝਾੜਾ।
Korhamarhaa Chaoukhanneeai Koi N Baylee Karaday Jhaarhaa.
कोड़मड़ा चउखंनीऐ कोइ न बेली करदे झाड़ा ।
But although his family were always ready to be sacrifice unto him, none of them were ready to accept responsibility.
ਸਚੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਇ ਉਧਾਰਿਅਨੁ ਟਪਿ ਨਿਕਥਾ ਉਪਰ ਵਾੜਾ।
Sachu Drirhaai Udhaarianu Tapi Nikadaa Oupar Vaarhaa.
सचु द्रिड़ाइ उधारिअनु टपि निकथा उपर वाड़ा ।
On returning, the Guru placed the sermon of truth within his heart and made him a liberated one. With a single leap he was released from the net of worldliness.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲੰਘੇ ਪਾਪ ਪਹਾੜਾ ॥੧੯॥
Guramoukhi Laghay Paap Pahaarhaa ॥19॥
गुरमुखि लघे पाप पहाड़ा ॥१९॥
Becoming gurmukh, one becomes capable of jumping across mountains of sins.
Related Articles:
Part II: Bhagat Angra ji and Bhagat Bidar
Part III: Sri Dhru Bhagat & Sri Prahladh Bhagat ji
Part V: The Story of Bhagat Sudama
Part VI: The story of Gotam Muni & Ahalia
Part VII: The Story of Raja Janak
Part VIII: The Story of Raja Bali
Part IX: The Story of Ajraja-Akrur
Part X:The Story of Bhisham Pitaama
Part XI: The Story of Chandar Hans
Part XII: The stories of Durbaasha Rishi and Gajinder (the Elephant)
Part XIII:The Stories of Kubija Maalan and Oudhar
Part XIV:The Story of Sarvan Bhagat
Part XV: The Story of Rishi Balmeek
Part XVI: The Stories of Sankaadik and Rukmaangudh
Part XVII: The Story of Sukdev Muni
Part XVIII: Madhusudan Demon Destroyer
Part XXI: Sulhi & Sulbi Khan's Evil Conspiracy
Part XXII: The Story Raja Hari Chand
