Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/140

44 Malik Bhago fed his guests, but the Guru was not among them.

When subsequently Malik Bhago heard of the Guru s absence from the feast, he ordered him to be produced. Bhago inquired why he had not responded to his invitation. The Guru replied, that he was a faqir who did not desire dainty food, but if his eating from the hands of Malik Bhago afforded that functionary any gratification, he would not be found wanting. Malik Bhago was not appeased, but charged the Guru, who was the son of a Khatri, while refusing to attend his feast, with dining with the low-caste Lalo. Upon this the Guru asked Malik Bhago for his share, and at the same time requested Lalo to bring him bread from his house. When both viands arrived, the Guru took Lalo s coarse bread in his right hand and Malik Bhago s dainty bread in his left, and squeezed them both. It is said that from Lalo s bread there issued milk, and from Malik Bhago s, blood. The meaning was that Lalo s bread had been obtained by honest labour and was pure, while Malik Bhago s had been obtained by bribery and oppression and was there fore impure. The Guru hesitated not to accept the former.

After this the Guru and Mardana proceeded to a solitary forest, nowhere entering a village or tarrying on the bank of a river. On the way they were overtaken by hunger, and Mardana complained. The Guru directed him to go straight on and enter a village where the Upal Khatris dwelt. He had only to stand in silence at the doors of their houses, when Hindus and Musalmans would come to do him homage, and not only supply him with food, but bring carpets and spread them before him to tread on. Mardana did as he had been directed, and succeeded in his errand.

Mardana subsequently received an order to go to another village. He there also received great homage.