Ghazal Fourty One.

Hearts are kindling and the minds are ablaze,
Both worlds are yearning for your glimpse.(1)
The dust of your portal, which is a celestial surma for the pious ones,
Is the only cure for the crying eye.(2)
Day and night, both, the moon and the sun, revolve around her path,
And it is her kindness that makes them worthy of giving light.(3)
Wherever I look, there prevails the charm of her grace,
And the temporal world remains lured by her curled tresses.(4)
The earthen stratum is laden with my pearly tears,
But still, Goya, I am retaining my grip on the world for the sake of her
vivacious red lips.(5)(41)

- Bhai Nand Lal Ji
(Art by Iminder Singh - www.flickr.com/imindersingh)

Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Arrow of Love

Passed through my vision, has the unkind lover,
And I went by spending my life through my own eyes.(1)
The mist of my sighs surpassed such limits in the skies,
That it spread blue all around and scorched its heart.(2)
He made me a martyr with just one signal through his eye brows.
There exists no remedy now when the arrow is already out of the bow.(3)
For even an instant, I had not been able to realize my Truth,
or understand who I was.
Alas, all the efforts of my existence turned futile.(4)
Goya, the one who passes, just once, through the Pyara’s street,
He desires never to proceed to the heavenly garden.(5)(8)
- Bhai Nand Lal Ji (Ghazal Eight)

Vaheguru. breath it in.

The Almighty has endowed life to me for the purpose,
That out of this mortal body, comes nothing but his name.(1)
- Bhai Nand Lal Ji (Ghazal Fifty-One)

love.

"Thousands of adorned thrones are lying on the way to you,
but Your lovers have no need for crowns and diamonds."
- Bhai Nand Lal Ji (Ghazal Twenty-Seven)

Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Ji

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

The following is a translation of Rehatnama Bhai Nand Lal Ji. It's written as a conversation between Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Bhai Nand Lal Ji, which took place in 1695 C.E. (four years before the creation of the Khalsa). The translations still need some work, but it gives you a fairly good idea of what Guru Jee and Bhai Nand Lal Jee are saying. :)

Speech of Sri Guru Jee
Chaupeyi

Sikhs of the Guru, listen, My Companions,
Getting up early in the morning, conceive God in the mind.(1)
Then recite the incantation of Waheguru, the Supreme Being,
And after ishaan, read and recount Jap Jaap.(2)
Then come and have the Darshan (glimpse) of mine,
And sit there reverentially with profound attention to the Guru.(3)
When the three watches of the day have gone past,
Listen to the exposition by of the Guru with complete attention.(4)
In the evening listen to the Rehras,
And pay attention to the Kirtan (singing of Hymns) and Katha(Sermons).(5)
One who practices such a way,
Will attain the eternal bliss.(6)
The Sikh who revels in five routines,
He secures the emancipation for his twenty-one generations.(7)
Not only he achieves family’s emancipation, but also eternal bliss.
He saves his soul from transmigration.(8)

Speech of Bhai Nand Lal
Dohira

What you have stated, Oh My Gurdev Master, ‘come to seek my vision,’
Please enable me to understand, how we can pursue the same.(9)

Speech of Sri Guru Jee
Dohira

Carefully listen Nand, there are three entities of mine,
And these, you comprehend, are Transcendental, Attributive and the
Guru’s Shabad, the Celestial Word.(10)

Chaupeyi

There is one Perception, which is beyond all the three attributes,
Which has been expounded many a time in Vedas,(11)
The Almighty invests every heart
And is indivisible as water in the pitcher,(12)
Deem (that) written on each of your body-hair,
And the factual pronouncement I make to you for veracity:(13)
The Sikh desirous of Guru’s Darshan,
Should go and have the Darshan of Granth Jee,(14)
After ishnaan early in the morning,
he should judiciously do parkarma (of Guru Granth Sahib Ji) three times (?),(15)

Dohira

With folded hands he should do Ardaas, before sitting,
And after bowing to Guru Granth Jee, listen to the celestial
exposition.(16)

Chaupeyi

Hearing the Shabad with concentration, and by putting mind into the Guru,
He should listen and make others heed the Guru’s enlightening Shabad.(17)
One who wants to communicate with me,
He may read, listen to and ponder over Granth Jee.(18)
Ones who aspires to listen to my sermons,
Diligently, should he read and recite Granth Jee.(19)
Deem Granth Jee as my embodiment,
And concede to no other perception.(20)
My Sikh is my third embodiment,
Who remains imbued in the essence of Gurbani day and night.(21)
One who puts confidence in and affection upon the Guru’s Shabad.
He, always and ever, achieves the vision of the Guru.(22)
He should revel in listening and recounting Guru’s Shabad,
And with full concentration read Jap Jee Jaap.(23)
He should go and have darshan of the Gurudwara (The Guru's Door),
And should abandon all other doors.(24)
With zeal, he should serve the Sikhs of the Guru,
After relinquish all ego from his mind.(25)
One who tends towards these actions,
Recognises my manifestation.(26)

Dohira

That Sikh of the Guru gets acceptance, who performs the service,
And the one who surrenders through mind, body and soul, and becomes prominent server of mine.(27)
The service of such a Sikh of the Guru is approved by me,
And listen, Nand, earnestly, this is the way, the heaven is secured.(28)

Speech of Nand Lal

You have expounded that Transcendental, Corporeal and Guru’s Shabad
are your three attributes.
Transcendental is not visible and Corporeal is through the Sikh.(29)

Chaupeyi

Your Transcendental Attribute is infinite,
And who can have that vision, Oh My Benevolent-one.(30)
Oh, My Master, you remain the Guru of the temporal world,
And, Knowing-all, you prevail on all the minds.(31)

Speech of Sri Guru Jee

Listen, Sikh Brother, Nand Lal,
Listen earnestly to my sweet words,(32)
Guru’s Sikh becomes auspiciously corporeal,
If he is, primarily and diligently, engaged in the service of Guru.(33)
Guru’s Sikh, who conceives Guru’s Shabad,
Obtains the blessings through the embodiment of the Shabad.(34)
One who adheres to the explication through the manifestation of the Shabad,
Leads others to the Infinite one.(35)
Brother, I have narrated to you this discourse,
And the ones who read and listen to it thoughtfully,(36)
Their attributes will be beyond description,
And, through my honour, the lights will merge into the light.(37)
It is Samwat Seventeen hundred and fifty-two*,
Auspicious Ninth day of first half of moon in the month of Maghar*.(38)
On a Friday at the bank of (river) Satluj,
The hero expounded these solemn verses to Nand Lal.(39)
Those Sikhs of the guru who remember Waheguru attentively,
Are endowed with salvation, remember, O Gursikh! (40)
(*December 1695CE)

English Translation of Jot Bigaas - Bhai Nand Lal Singh Ji

Hail, hail the Guru, the saviour of the sinners.
Hail, hail the Guru, the promoter of the saints.(1)
Hail, hail the Guru, the liberator,
Hail, hail the Guru, the stable and infinite.(2)
Hail, hail the Guru, who meditates on God.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is beyond limits.(3)
Hail, hail the Guru, who ousts the ignoble,
Hail, hail the Guru, who annihilates the demons.(4)
Hail, hail the Guru, who tears apart the vicious.
Hail, hail the Guru, who espouses the kindness.(5)
Hail, hail the Guru, who is from the beginning and forever.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is stable and fathomless.(6)
Hail, hail the Guru, who worships the truthfulness.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is absolute in resources.(7)
Hail, hail the Guru, who dons the thrones.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is firmly established.(8)
Hail, hail the Guru, who ravages the anxieties.
Hail, hail the Guru, who revels in sincerity.(9)
Hail, hail the Guru, who sustains the emancipation.
Hail, hail the Guru, who liberates the congregation.(10)
Hail, hail the Guru, who fulfils the desires.
Hail, hail the Guru, who inspires the godly name.(11)
Hail, hail the Guru, who inculcates the righteousness.
Hail, hail the Guru, who redeems the apostates.(12)
Hail, hail the brave Guru, who spreads truth and courage.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is beyond deceits.(13)
Hail, hail the Guru, who is impeccable.
Hail, hail the Guru, who eradicates the fear and disbelief.(14)
Hail, hail the Guru, who is beyond deception and penetration.
Hail, hail the Guru, whose knowledge is absolute.(15)
Hail, hail the Guru, who surmounts all the hindrance.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is imperceptable and mysterious.(16)
Hail, hail the Guru, who eliminates all the worries.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is always benevolent.(17)
Hail, hail the Guru, who provides sustenance to all.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is the embodiment of the Almighty.(18)
Hail, hail the Guru, who provides all the nine treasures.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is a (godly) attraction forever.(19)
Hail, hail the Guru, who reveres the One Only.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is imperceptible and beyond comprehension.(20)
Hail, hail the Guru, who promotes the truthful-living.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is free and bestows the total emancipation.(21)
Hail, hail the Guru, who is celestially perfect.
Hail, hail the Guru, who promotes the sincere-living.(22)
Hail, hail the Guru, who infuses every heart.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is the sustainer of the destitutes.(23)
Hail, hail the Guru who rehabilitates the infirm ones.
Hail, hail the Guru who promotes the divine remembrance.(24)
Hail, hail the Guru, who is absolutely competent.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is a true warrior.(25)
Hail, hail the Guru, who never shudders.
Hail, hail the Guru, who is perfect in all the arts.(26)
Nanak passed on the Guruship to Angad,
Then Amar Das served Hari, the Almighty.(27)
Then Ram Das to Arjun,
And then Hargobind worshipped the Almighty.(28)
So the Almighty blessed Har Rai,
Who made Har Krishna, infinite and inaccessible.(29)
Then Tegh Bahadur who was the epitome of veracity was blessed.
As was Guru Gobind Singh, the embodiment of Hari.(30)
All are one and one into all,
And there exists no distinction among them.(31)
(There are) numerous Brahmas, Bishans and Maheshas,
Many goddesses like Durga and Vaishnavas,(32)
Many are Ramas and Krishnas, the incarnate,
Many are Narsinghs who killed Harnakashas.(33)
Many are Dhruvs and Prehlads,
As are Gorakhs, Sidhs in meditation,(34)
Numerous are the skies and the heavens,
As are Indras, Dharam Rais and the Jamkals,(35)
Many are Sidhs, Naths, the recluses,
Many are Jogis, reveling in Yoga,(36)
Many musical tunes are being produced.
In many heavens Sidhs are in meditation,(37)
Many are life-sources, creations and universes,
Many are continents and nine-regions,(38)
Many are brave and valiant heroes
Many are messengers and the seers,(39)
There are many in the form of thirty three karors (millions),
Many are the suns and many are the moons,(40)
All of them sacrifice themselves for the Guru,
And above them all is the incarnation of the Guru.(41)
Lal, the server of the servers,
Has come forward seeking the protection of Satguru, the true preceptor.(42)
Through the benevolence of the congregation,
He is begging for the godly name from Satguru.(43)
Completed Jote Bigas, as authored by Munshi Nand Lal Multani. Forgive
the lapses of the old server of the worshippers. May all the congregation be blessed.
Hail, hail, hail.

(Translation from: http://ow.ly/22YtH)

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's True Love for Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Bhai Nand Lal Ji as always brought Guru Gobind Singh Ji langar, prepared with their own hands... Guru Sahib would sit and enjoy this food daily, Bhai Nand Lal Ji noticed that Guru Sahib would always leave a tiny morsel of their food, only enough for one bite. They would then open the nearby window, where a small dog would bark for food. Guru Sahib would throw the dog this tiny burki of food.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji would look at this - Guru Ji and their love for this Dog and smile amazed, thinking "This Dog has such amazing Karam, he gets to eat left over food from the most amazing, most perfect human, the form of our Lord himself - this Dog is truly a blessed dog, I can only hope for karam like his"

Guru Sahib, the knower of all smiled.

The next day the process was repeated, Bhai Nand Lal Ji again, brought Guru Sahib langar and Guru Sahib, as always left a little morsel for the barking dog. Watching this, Bhai Nand Lal Ji had an idea...

The following day, before bringing Guru Ji langar, Bhai Nand Lal Ji took the dog home. At his abode, he fed the dog the richest of foods, he fed him til his stomach could take no more. Content that the Dog was full, Bhai Nand Lal Ji returned the dog outside the window of Guru Sahib. He then returned home and prepared Langar for Guru Sahib.

That day, Guru Sahib enjoyed the langar to the full, as they ate, Bhai Nand Lal Ji took up their position, beside the dog outside the window - thinking, this was his chance. He too, could possibly have the luck of this dog, and taste that tiny morsel that had also touched the lips of the tenth Human form of Vaheguru.

As Bhai Nand Lal Ji sat awaiting paitentlly, Guru Sahib continued to enjoy their food. Eventually, Bhai Nand Lal Ji's wait came to an end as Guru Ji opened the window on time.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji looked up, still hiding behind the dog and watched, waiting to be fed like a King with this tiny bite from Guru Sahib's own food.

Guru Sahib, knower of all hearts, began to talk. "Nand Lal" they said, "Today the food you made was exquisite, like never before... I had to eat it all - today no burki was saved for you Nand Lal"

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's eyes filled with tears... as his heart broke into a million pieces... he stood up from beside the dog and with tear filled eyes asked Guru Sahib, "Guru Ji, that bad am I that this dog has better karam then me - every day I've watched you save even the smallest bite for him, yet this one day, my destiny is such that you cannot offer me the same treatment" Bhai Nand Lal Ji was almost inconsolable, til Guru Sahib pulled him towards them, and held him close.

"Nand Lal, don't ever think your destiny is bad - you've not received a morsel of food I may have left but Nand Lal, you're a part of my heart - nothing can change those karam of yours, no morsel of food."

Bhai Nand Lal Ji wept in Guru Ji's arms, as Guru Ji held their 'brother' close...

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's love for Guru Sahib was amazing, a love that one should have with their father, their mother, the family - this is our Guru Ji, and such is the destiny - that our Guru Ji loves us...
(Post taken from www.sikhsangat.com)

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's Langar

After the martyrdom of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, many people of differing religions began to flock to Sachkhand Sri Anandpur Sahib Ji to be blessed with the darshan of the next Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Rai Ji. Over many years a non broken sucession of Sikh Gurus had started many Langars (free kitchens), which were run by their beloved Sikhs.

Just as it is today the Guru Ji’s langar was served free to all those who came into the house of Guru Nanak Dev.

In the days after the Guruship was thrust upon the young Gobind Rai, Guru Gobind Rai ji had started many Guru ka Langars (free meal kithcens for any visitors to the Sikh Gurdwaras). A Sikh by the name of Bhai Nand Lal Ji was in charge of one of these kitchens. One day, all-knowing Guru Gobind Singh ji decided to visit the nearby kitchens in disguise. Guru Sahib would go to his kitchens a little bit before langar was meant to be served and then he would urgently tell the sevadaars that he was very hungry. Not recognizing their Guru in his disguise they greeted him with courtesy and affection but they would always tell him to return later on when the langar would be served to all. All of the kitchens the Guru went to gave him a similar response.

The last kitchen that the disguised Guru visited, without his Kalgi adorned turban, was the kitchen run by Bhai Nand Lal Ji. Here the unknown guest to the Guru's kitchen was again told that langar was nearly ready. As the Guru turned to leave, Bhai Nand Lal Ji came running after him with what food was ready and began to plead with the Guru's guest to sit down.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji said:

“The home of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is like no other in this world or the next. No one shall leave empty handed.”
The Guru, in disguise, smiled at Bhai Nand Lal Ji and began to eat his langar.

The next day, Guru Ji told the sangat the whole story. Maharaj then told his beloved Sikhs to follow the example of Bhai Nand Lal Ji.