Once upon a time there was a thief named Bhoomiyan. He used to steal things to feed his parents and his wife. One day he saw Guru Nanak Dev Ji with face full of glory and a Bala Mardana with a bag that looked filled with something. Bhoomiyan Chor thought that the bag was filled with precious things. Bhoomiyan stopped them and asked them to hand over the bag to him.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked the Bhoomiyan to what he wanted from the bag he replied “‘precious things.” Guru Nank Dev ji said, “this bag wasn’t filled with precious things” and showed him the bag. Guru Nanak dey ji asked him as to why he was thief. He said “I have to feed my parents and my wife.” Guru Nanak dev ji said “if you ever get caught would your family help you.” He said “yes.” Guru Nanak dev ji told him to go back to his family and ask if they would help him if he was caught.
When he went to his family they bluntly said why should we help you if you get caught. We all ready have done enough. Then he went to his wife. His wife said, “why should she help him. She added I am your wife and I don’t care how you get me food. As long as Jam getting food. It’s ok.
Then he went back to Guru Nanak dev ji and told him what they said. Guru Nanak dey ji told him to stop stealing. The chor said “I can’t do that.” Then Guru Nanak dey ji asked him to follow three things never to lie, never to get someone in trouble because of you, and never to steal anything from the house one has eaten salt from.
After sometime Bhoomiyan went to a king’s palace. The guard asked him who he was “he replied that he was a thief. The guard thought no thief would say that he was a thief. So he let him in. He packed everything and he was hungry so he tasted some food by mistake.
So he left everything there because he promised Guru Nanak dev Ji that he wouldn’t steal from a person who’s salt he has eaten and left.
Next morning the king looked everything packed and he asked his guard that did someone came and his guard replied yes and he said he was a thief. The king had declared who ever finds this men would receive thousand rupees. Bhoomyian heard that and said to himself that the Guru dev ji said not to get someone in trouble because of yourself. So Bhoomyian went to the palace.
The king asked him why he left everything packed. Bhoomyian told him everything. The king asked where Guru Nanak dey ji was, The king was proud from the answer and gave him a lot of money. He never had the necessity to steal again.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 9, 1989
