Sri Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji Maharaj:the True King

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When it was time for the Emperor to visit Agra he invited the Guru to accompany him. The Guru after repeated invitations, at last consented, As they were hunting on the way, the Emperor took the opportunity of telling him what people were saying against him—' O Guru, my ministers and staff tell me that, although you in reality to have no connection with worldly affairs, yet you call yourself the true king of the world, and your Sikhs call me who am descended from emperors, who am the lord of many lands, and the cherisher of my subjects, a false king. Is all this true ? '

The Guru replied, ' I have never told any one to call me true king, but where there exists love between people, there is no need of formality, and a man is treated as he treats others. I love my Sikhs in propor­tion to the love they bear me. In Guru Nanak's view God is the only Emperor. He has said in the Japji Sahib :—

He is Emperor, King of kings; Nanak, all must remain subject to His will.

The Emperor listened but was not convinced, and he and the Guru went off to their respective tents.

In the afternoon a young grass-cutter, hearing that the Guru had come, desired to see him. In reply to his inquiries some one, mistaking the Emperor for the Guru, said, ' There he is sitting under a tree.'

The grass-cutter went to make 'his prostration. He had only half an ana as an offering. He drew it forth, laid it before the Emperor, and thus addressed him, ' O true king, all earthly kings are false. Your realm is permanent in every age. Protect me at my last hour, and extricate me from hell. I am a poor Sikh of yours ; your sovereignty is real and potent to protect.'

The Emperor said to his courtiers,' I cannot protect myself ; how can I save this man in the way he desires ? '

The Emperor quite understood that the Guru had had no opportunity of prompting the petitioner to call him true king. He then addressed the grass-cutter, ' I am a false king. There (pointing to the Guru) is the true king.'

The grass-cutter took up his half ana, and ran with it to the Guru who received him affectionately, and gave him the follow­ing instruction :—'My brother, meditate on God, live-honestly, covet not your neighbour's wife or property, compassionate the suffering, obey the Guru's commandments and you shall be happy in this world and the next'.

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