Book: Sat Granth Sahib
Topic: Tale of Sukhdev Rishi
Page: 399 - 403
Author: Saint Garibdas Ji

Sukhdev Rishi used to do sadhna after taking Karm Sanyas. As a result of the influence of previous bhakti, he also had the supernatural power of flying in the sky because of which he had become quite arrogant. He did not use to consider any other sadhak (yogi/worshipper) equivalent to himself. He used to consider householders to be inferior and used to regard sadhna performed by them as incorrect and as that which does not lead to salvation. Because after acquiring the supernatural power of flying in the sky, he had believed that nobody has an achievement like me. I am the greatest yogi. All the demi-gods (of Indralok) used to respect him regarding him as a highly eminent sage. To an extent that once a beautiful Urvashi came to Sukhdev. Sukhdev did not even touch her. That Apsara (nymph) left defeated. As a result of this, it was natural for Rishi Sukhdev to become proud. He used to fly and go in all the three loks. On this very subject Sant Garibdas Ji Maharaj has said: -

Gorakh se gyaani ghaney, Sukhdev jati jihaan |
Sita si bahut bhaarya, sant door asthaan ||

One day Sukhdev Ji reached Vishnu Ji’s lok and wished to live in the heaven (restaurant) there. On this the guards asked him, “Who is your respected gurudev? Please tell his good name so that we will check in our list (in which names of all the distinguished gurus of that time were written) that whether he is authorised to give initiation (updesh) or not.” On this Rishi Ji said, “I have not made any guru, nor did I feel any need of it. Because those who have acquired gurus, they can not even budge two feet from the ground and I have reached here. What is the need of a guru?” Sukhdev Ji kept speaking. On this the guards of heaven told him that we will not let you in. This is God Vishnu Ji’s order that a living being without a guru can not live in heaven. On hearing this, Rishi Sukhdev thought that this ignorant being (guard) is not aware of my grandeur. He said, “Take me to God Vishnu; otherwise, I will not go back. One Paarkhad (servant of heaven) narrated the whole account to God Vishnu. Then God Vishnu came out of his palace and asked Sukhdev, “Rishi Ji, what have you come for?” On this Sukhdev Rishi greeted and said, “Lord, I have come with the desire to live in heaven. Your servants are not allowing me to enter.” God Vishnu, even when knowing everything, asks, “Why, servants (Paarkhads), what is the matter? Why have you stopped Rishi Ji?” On this the servants (Paarkhads) said, “Parwardigar (Lord)! Rishi is devoid of a guru. He has not acquired any guru. Your order is that a worshipper without a guru is prohibited from entry in the heaven, let alone living in it.” On hearing this from Paarkhad’s mouth, Shri Vishnu Ji interrogatively asked, “Rishi Ji, are you devoid of a Guru?” Expressing astonishment said, “You have not acquired a guru?” On hearing this, Sukhdev Ji said, “No.” Then Vishnu Ji said, “You must acquire a Guru. And after doing sadhna according to his directions, by living within his bounds, and after acquiring your bhakti earnings, then come to heaven.” Then Sukhdev said, “Lord! I can not see any saint equivalent to me on earth.” On this God Vishnu Ji said, “Take naam from King Janak.”

Kabir, guru ko kiye bina, laaga hari ki sev |
Kah Kabir baikunth se, pher diya sukhdev ||

On hearing this from Vishnu Ji’s mouth Sukhdev came to heaven (Indralok). That day Sukhdev Ji had a disconcerted face. There was no brightness like before. On seeing signs of disappointment on Sukhdev Ji’s face, the gods living in heaven asked, “What is the matter, Rishi Ji? You look sad today.” Then Sukhdev Ji narrated his whole story that I had gone to Vishnu lok and requested to stay in heaven there and God refused. On hearing this, all the gods said, “God Vishnu does not act like this. Rather, he becomes delighted on seeing sages and embraces them. Tell us the actual reason. What mistake have you made?” Sukhdev told, “God said, you have not made a Guru. First of all, make a guru; after acquiring earnings of naam obtained from guru, you can come here.” All the gods present there unanimously expressing astonishment said, “What? You do not have a guru?” On this Sukhdev did not say anything. Gods said, “This is your sheer ignorance. We used to regard you as a highly eminent saint. You have turned out to be ignorant of all. You must acquire a guru as soon as possible; otherwise, 84 lakh births of various life-forms are ready. This (supernatural) power of previous meritorious acts and austerity is with you, based on which you fly in the sky. The day this battery will get discharged, your former supernatural power (siddhi) will finish. Because your new earnings (sadhna) being against the injunctions of the scriptures are not being made. Therefore you will go to hell, and thereafter will bear hardships in 84 lakh births of various life-forms. Hearing all these genuine advices from mouths of gods, Sukhdev Ji said, “I do not see any Baal-Brahmchaari (one who practices celibacy), ascetic saint like me on the earth, after taking initiation from whom, I can attain wellbeing, and Vishnu Ji has advised me to take naam (Updesh mantra) from King Janak.” Sukhdev said – Oh gods! You only tell me how do I bow before that householder who has ten thousand queens? I am a Baal-Brahmchaari and have not even seen face of a woman. From the sacred speech of Maharaj Garibdas Ji of Chhudani – Sukhdev said –

Kaise sheesh navaaoon jaai, janak videhi raja bhaai | 
Sukhdev bole shabd viveka, humne stri ka much nahin dekha ||

All the gods present there said, “Sukhdev, when God himself has told you to make King Janak your guru, then why are you making a delay. The Protector of living beings, one who becomes distressed in the suffering of others, that God has no self-interest. Go quickly and take naam from King Janak. You will attain well-being.” After this Rishi Sukhdev Ji went to his father, Shri Vedvyas Ji, and narrated the whole story. Then the connoisseur of Holy Scriptures, Shri God Vedvyas Ji said, “Fool, you have not acquired a Guru. This is your biggest mistake. I was very happy that my son is a brilliant lover of God and will make my name famous and will bring well-being to himself. By doing yog sadhna opposite to the injunctions of holy scriptures you have made all the arrangements for youself to go to hell and in 84 lakh births. Go and quickly do as God has advised. Acquire King Janak as Guru and become eligible for attainment of heaven.” God Kabir (Purna Brahm) says that –

Kabir, guru bin maala ferte, guru bin dete daan |
Guru bin dono nishfal hain, poochho ved puraan ||

Excerpt from Guru Granth Sahib, page no. 946 (Siri Raag Mehla Pehla)

Bin Satguru sevein jog na hoii |bin Satguru bhetein mukti na koii ||
Bin Satguru bhete naam paaiya na jaai |bin Satguru bhete maha dukh paai || 
Bin Satguru bhete maha garab gubaari |Nanak bin guru muaa janm haari ||70||

In this Paudi no. 70, it has been clarified that no bhakti is complete without a Guru and naam (Satnaam) can not be obtained without a Guru and a living being’s conceit can not be eliminated. Nanak Ji says that without a Guru, this living being looses his life i.e. ends it in vain.

Then Sukhdev Ji, abandoning his whimsical perception, went to King Janak with an intense desire of obtaining naam.

“Garib, maana vachan kalpna chhaadi, Sukhdev lagi lagan jad gaadi”

When Rishi Sukhdev reached King Janak with the intention of obtaining naam, at that time, King Janak was getting ready for a bath. King Janak told the servants, “We are very fortunate that a highly eminent, a great man, yogi, Baal-Brahmchari Mahatma Sukhdev has come to our house. Prepare a nicely raised seat covered with a clean cloth.” The servants did the same. King Janak said to Sukhdev, “Take a seat, Rishiwar.” On this Sukhdev Ji said, “I will sit on the ground. I have come to make you my guru. Save me, Sant Ji.” On hearing this from Sukhdev Ji’s mouth, King Janak said, “Rishiwar, why are you making fun of me? You, yourself a spiritually successful man, are asking a beggar to give naam. On hearing this Sukhdev Ji narrated the tale of his own experience and said that even God has ordered me to make you my guru.

Then King Janak said, “Sukhdev Ji, let me take a bath. Then I will give you updesh (spiritual instruction).” King Janak told his queen (main wife), “Prepare hot water for my bath.” Queen ordered the servants and got a big stove of bricks formed there only and keeping a big pot on it, lit the firewood to boil the water. When the water started boiling, she placed a wooden stool near the boiling pot only for bath. Filling a mug from the pot of boiling water, the queen herself started pouring water on King Janak’s head and bathing him with her hands. Seeing this, Sukhdev Ji was astonished that king and queen’s bodies are not burning with such boiling water. King said, “Come, Baal-Brahmchari. Show us if you can put your finger in the water which, after I have bathed, is going in the drain below. If your finger does not get burnt, then you are a Jati (celibate); otherwise, your yog sadhna is fake.” Sukhdev said, “My whole body will get burnt. It is not in my power to do this.”

Then king laughingly clapped and said, “A woman is giving me a bath and she is not burning. Ignorant Sukhdev, the queen’s sadhna is better than yours; who does bhakti living at home.” Then Sukhdev’s misconception became clear and became completely devoted to King Janak. Shri Vyas ji’s son Sukhdev got married and did bhakti. He made King Janak his guru. If a living being does not have full faith in Guru then he can not do bhakti. One must regard Guru as equivalent to God. Then Sukhdev ji was blessed and attained heaven.

Sacred speech of respected Garibdas Sahib Ji Maharaj

Satgranth Sahib page no. 399 to 403

Surnar muni gan gandharv gyaani, sabse ooncha hai abhimaani |
Adhar vimaan chalae man roopa, garbh yogeshwar gyaan swaroopa ||
Indriye paanch pacheeson saadhi, garbh yogeshwar jogi vaadi ||

Garib, baadi jogi baad kari, bicharya teeno lok |
Satguru janak videhi bin, paavat naahin moksh ||24||
Shukdev ke to maan ghanera, surpati lubdh kaam dal ghera |
Shukdev kalp vrikshki chhaahin, janak videhi karain guru naahin ||

Janak badaa ak shukdev jogi, dash sahans raani rasbhogi |
Shukdev bole gyaan biveka, hum stri ka mukh nahin dekha ||
Hum hain garbh yoni sein nyaara, gyaan khadag indriye prhaara |
Kaise sheesh namaaoon jaai, janak videhi raja bhaai ||

Pundreek naaradmuni vyaasa, Brahma Vishnu Mahesh upaasa |
Aasan aadar ati adhikaara, shukdev sakal maanhi shirdaara ||
Chauda bhuvan fire palmaahi, shukdev sarbar dooja naahi |
Sur teteeson sahans athaasi, shukdevki sab karain khavaasi ||
Vasishth vishwamitr gyaani, kaagbhusand kaho prvaani ||

Garib, kaagbhushundi dhyaan dhari, bhaye j pad prvaan |
Aadheeni adhikaar bin, shukdev mood agyaan ||25||

Sanak sanandan naarad bhaai, shukdev gyaan bahut samjhaai |
Naarad koon jheevarguru keena, kahya gyaanmein ho gyaa heena ||
Bole Brahma Vishnu Mahesha, shukdev naahi gyaan prvesha |
Cheenhya nahin purush avinaashi, shukdev garbh yonike vaasi ||
Janak videh karo guru soii, garbh yoni sein chhooto tohi |

Janak videh garbh se nyaara, shukdev garbh yoni avtaara ||
Garbh yoni hai maan badaai, so shukdev tum maanhi basaai |
Janak videhi karau deedaara, tau tu garbh yoni sain nyaara ||
Pind brahmand dou hain yoni, ichchha beej na shukdev bhooni |
Chauda bhavan firey pal maanhi, ud¢ya firau pankhi ki naai ||

Garib, raja jogi janak hai, teen lok tat saar |
Mihar karain gurudev jadi, shukdev utrain paar ||26||

Maanya bachan kalpana chhadi, shukdev lagi lagni jadi gaadi |
Shukdev chhaadi maan badaai, janak videh kiya guru jaai ||
Bolae janak videhi raja, indriye daman kari kis kaaja |
Brahmanand pad milya na tokoon, aisein darshat hain sab mokoon ||

Shukdev sunau vyaas ke poota, indriye laar lagi sanjoota |
Man gun indriye karm na jaanai, vyaas putr tu gyaan divaanein ||
Indriye karm lagaavau kiske, jihva lep nahin madhu raskain |
Nain patalmein isar bhaaga, dekhe sakal roop anraaga ||

Tum khelat kul banaj giyaana, ishwar padka naahi dhyaana |
Jaise chandan sarp liptaai, sheetal tan bhya vish nahin jaai ||
Aisa jog kamaaya poota, kaha huva jo indriye dhoota |
Seep maanhi moti muktaahal, baahar khaara neer halaahal ||

Kurang matang patang bhrng srnga, indriye ek thagyo tis anga |
Tumre sang paanchaun prkaasha, jog jugati ki jhoothi aasha ||
Haad chaam tan khaal khaleeti, yaah shukdev tum Maya jeeti |
Bhag sain bindubindusaindehi, cheenhya naahinshabd sanehi ||

Garib, deenduni sumran karein, japain kaalka naam |
Kaal Kaal bhakshan kare, lakhya na avigat dhaam ||30||

Agar fulel hamaam chadaaya, raja janak nhaankoo dhaaya |
Das sanhasmein jo patraani, kare khavaasi jalhar paani ||
Jare angeeth barey tis neeche, raja raani parimal seenche |
Aavo garbh jogeshwar jogi, humraja indriye ras bhogi ||

Jo tumri deh agni jari jaai, to jhootha shukdev jog kamaai |
Malaagir raani tan laavae, agar fulel hamaam nhvaavae ||
Raja raani shabd swaroopa, shukdev pare andh grhkoopa |
Jab fulel lagaave angri, humri jarihae kaaya sagri ||

Raja bihansi daii jadi taari, hum asnaan karaave naari |
Kari asnaan takhat par aaye, shukdev param gyaan gauhraaye ||
Akal anchit shabd nirmohi, shukdev darashbharm sab khoii ||