I would be a sacrifice to him who hath might but employs it not I would be a sacrifice to him who hath high honor yet humble he remains. (Bhai Gurdas Var 12, Pauri 3)
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj went to the village as an ordinary villager and no one gave a second glance as he was dressed as an ordinary man. He reached his own house and standing in front of it said, “HARE NARAIN! SAT KARTAR!” “HARE NARAIN! SAT KARTAR!” He uttered these words again and again after a pause. These words were just loud enough for someone inside the house to be able to hear.
After a few moments, the door of the house opened. The lady of the house, his own wife, came out carrying Roti (cooked bread) with some Sabzi (cooked vegetables) on it. This was received by Sant Baba ji in his open hands.
Sardarni Gian Kaur recognized her husband only after she had passed on the food as alms. She was shocked to see her own husband standing in the street as a FAKIR.
Bibi Gian Kaur knew that her husband had become a Sadhu. She had accepted his way of life, considered this to be preordained and as the HUKAM (Order) of the Lord Almighty. Bibi ji was totally involved in the daily chores of the house and was bringing up her son Ganda Singh, as a devoted mother should.
But the sight of her husband outside his own house, asking for alms as a beggar was too much. She could not control herself and touched the feet of her husband and then requested Sant Baba ji, “Please come inside. This is your own house.”
Sant Baba ji without noticing her or hearing her speak, started eating the two ROTI’s with the vegetables, standing there itself. He did not raise his head even once to peep inside the house and was also ignoring the requests of Bibi ji.
Bibi ji said, “Baba ji please visit your own house and meet your family.”
Sant Baba ji kept quiet and after finishing the food, walked away. There was no effect on him of the humble pleadings of Bibi ji and he left the village for his abode exposed to the open sky.
Although Bibi ji knew that her husband had chosen the path of spirituality and had renounced the world, the visit to the house kindled in her the hope of his returning to the house. Otherwise, she reasoned, why would he have come to his own house to ask for alms. She could not imagine the actual purpose behind this call.
My mind is attached to God’s Feet; I seek His Sanctuary. He is the Creator, the
Cause of causes, the Cherisher of the world. Everything is Yours; You are my God,
O my Lord and Master, Merciful to the meek. (Page 781)
Bibi ji had a discussion with the family members about the presence of Sant Baba ji and thought of changing the mind of her husband from his aloofness back to the married life. It was decided that the child Ganda Singh be used as the bait to bring Sant Baba ji back to the life of a householder.
She waited anxiously for Sant Baba ji to visit the house again. When Sant Baba ji did come and spoke the words, “HARE NARAIN! SAT KARTAR!’ she picked up her son and brought him out. She though did also bring along with her the food as alms. She placed the food in the open hands of Sant Baba ji and placed the child on his feet. She said, “Please bless your own son.” She had full faith that the sight of the child will naturally have an affect on the father and he will be emotionally moved.
Sant Baba ji moved his feet back and continued to eat the food in his hands patiently. After finishing his food he said, “Mai! Pick up your son. Bring him up with all your affection. He will grow up as a good human being and will one day join the army.”
She requested, “Baba ji please bless him.”
Sant Baba ji said, “He is already blessed. You need not worry about his future. He will grow up to be a responsible person.”
Bibi ji could understand and read between the lines, that Baba ji had indirectly conveyed about his non-attachment to worldly possessions. But she was happy that her Sadhu husband had blessed her son.
(The young Ganda Singh rose to become a tall young man, with a robust physique. There was no difficulty for him to join the British Army. He retired as a Naib-Subedar. The blessings of his father came out to be true.)