Bibi Roop Kaur Jee's Recollections of Her Father

The following collection of short anecdotes is from a larger Pothi (manuscript) written by Bibi Roop Kaur in the 1660s BCE. Bibi Roop Kaur Jee was the daughter of the 7th Guru, Guru Har Rai Jee, and her Pothi is probably the oldest written record of Guru Har Rai Jee's words and actions. The entire Pothi, which is kept at Kiratpur, has 559 pages, most of which contain various "Banis" or hymns. 

The Pothi contains a total of 33 anecdotes related to Guru Har Rai Jee as well as some on the 3rd and 5th Gurus. They are contained under the section titled Sree SatGuru Jee De Muheyn Dian Sakhian, beginning on page 492. Some of these are produced below.

Taken from http://www.tapoban.org/forum/read.php?1,6398 .

Sakhi ||

Orders are of two kinds || One Order is Mukhta, One is Amukhta Order || If one is in pain and remembers God he is Mukhta || If someone has all Sukh but does not remember God then he is Amukhta || True Righteous/duty is Mukhta || Guru said pride is the ugly face || Peace is the beautiful face || 2 ||

Sakhi ||

Lord has given Order to focus/simran on Nanak-Lord || A baba asked how do I focus/simran on you || Permitting, to accept/wish for the good of others is the way to focus/simran || 9 ||

Sakhi ||

Guru said don’t have the thought/want of having another’s wealth/property || Do not gamble || Do not join/go to another home || Do not do slander of others || Do not eat Fish Meat || Do not drink intoxicants || It is difficult to practice Sikhee if you do any of these || 10 ||

Sakhi ||

Sikhs were sitting with Guru, Guru was merciful || Sikhs said we are a sacrifice to you || Guru replied and said I am a sacrifice to you || Sikhs did a plea what is the wish || This is the way to ask || Child, he who does focus/simran of God, seeing him I begin to focus || I feel their faith inside me || I join in and focus || You however without seeing me and realising me are praying to Guru as the Lord || For this reason I am a sacrifice to you || Who ever has realised this || 12 ||

Sakhi ||

Serve Guru as Lord || As a good respected women would serve her husband-protector || Even if her husband is a thief , a adulterer , a troublemaker || Even if he is a gambler || She does not reflect on his actions || She accepts the words of her husband and serves him || If someone tries to argue/fight with her husband she feels hurt and she will try to argue with them || Even if the other is right || But this women is only content with her husband || Why speak with these irreligious sinful people, Jeo || You will feel pain || In every way she is content with her husband || Her name is known as faithful II Likewise if a Sikh serves Guru as the Transcendent Lord then that Sikh reaches the highest state || This is the way of Sikhee || 13 ||

*It is important to note that this particular anecdote is a lesson on how to behave as a Sikh and not on how to behave as a wife. These kinds of analogies of the devoted wife are common in Sikh scripture, and serve to give an example of the kind of devotion Sikhs should have to the Lord.

Sakhi ||

A Sikh pleaded in front of Guru, those Sikh do not do ardas vocally || They do inner ardas || O lord king which ardas makes you happy || Guru spoke, O child I do listen to the outwardly-vocal ardas || but I listen to the inner ardas greatly || Guru is all knowing || Place is given to the Jee || 14 ||

Sakhi ||

A Sikh could not have child || He pleaded in front of Guru, O king flower is there but no fruit || Guru said serve Sikhs and you will receive a child || Which ever Sikh Sant came he gave them food || He would look after them || He then came to Guru || The Sikh did a plea to Guru, O King you said if I serve Sikhs I will receive a child || I served Sikhs as but there is no Child || However Guru said child how did you serve the Sikhs || The Sikh said, O King which ever Sikh came and went I gave them food and looked after them || Guru said this serving is not done by the highest ones || Sikh said, O King what ever you order so shall I serve || Guru said, which ever Sikh comes wash their feet and drink in it || Only let go of his feet if he pulls them || Then embrace him || Only let go when he says so || Then nourish them || Only let go when they say so || Then listen to Shabad Sakhi from them || Tell them one too || Then comfortably put them to sleep || Wake up at amritvela and assist them in bathing || Read listen to Jap || Then after nourishing them go along with them carelessly || Wherever he says stop, stand and plead with him || In his mercy, what ever is requested will be received || This serving finds its place || Within Sikhs lie all the treasures || 16 ||

Sakhi ||

One Sikh was on his way to see Guru, a Farmer asked him where are you going || That Sikh said that I am going to Guru || The Farmer said I will go too || The Sikh said that it is the season for farming || You going now is not right || The farmer replied, I don’t care what happens behind || But I can not stay back || Then the Sikh said leave your role to someone and I will take you || The Farmer said I have completely left the role of farming || But take me to Guru || That Farmer came with the Sikh to Guru || They came and prostrated || Guru spoke to the Sikh with satisfaction || and he lovingly paid his respects || Seeing the farmer Guru outwardly had a go at him and asked him to leave || Go and sit in the Shrine || He prostrated in Guru’s presence three times || He felt a inner realisation || So he knowingly went and sat in the shrine II Three days passed and he was still sitting there || Then on the third day Guru said child, where is the Farmer II The Sikh replied, O king he is sitting in the Shrine || He has been sitting there for three days, he has not eaten or drunk anything || Guru in his mercy went to see him || He saw Guru coming || Seeing him he sat there || He did not in the slightest get up || with his hands closed together he sat || When Guru came near him he paid his respects || Guru gave his blessing || He reached the highest state || If a Sikh follows Guru’s words similarly then he will reap benefits || 17 ||