GURU NANAK DEV

Nanak was now called Guru Nanak Dev by his followers. In the evenings Mardana and Bala would join Guru Nanak, and they would sing the praises of God.

Guru Nanak told Mardana that to spread God's message over other countries he would have to travel.

Mardana told Guru Nanak that he would accompany him wherever he went. He stayed with Guru Nanak till th end of his life.

Guru Nanak and Mardana decided to leave Sultanpur and travel abroad to spread God's words.

When Guru Nanak told his family that he would leave them, they were all very upset.

His mother cried, "You are our only son. Who will look after us in our old age when you go away?"

His father asked, "what about your duty towards your wife and family?"

Sulakhni's parents were also worried about their daughter. Guru Nanak answered, "God has told me to preach people and bring them close to Him. He will look after all of you."

Nanki asked, with tears in her eyes, "What will we do when we need you?"

Guru Nanak told them, "I will always be there for you in spirit, whenever you need me, I will come to you. But I have to go to do what Sat Kartar has told me to do. That is my duty.

The family tried to stop Nanak from going, but Nanak had made up his mind.

Guru Nanak declared, "Now worldly relationships can't hold me. I have to fulfill my duties towards God."

His family knew that Nanak was not an ordinary man. They had understood that Nanak was the chosen man of God.

They knew that he was not just for his own family. He was created by God for the sake of humanity who needed him for their welfare.

As Guru Nanak considered himself to be God's child, his family included humanity at large and not just his relatives. He had to fulfill his duty towards this larger family.

Guru Nanak's family did not want to stop him from something which was the divine will.

So they let him go to fulfill the wishes of his Sat Kartar which was to remove all evil from society, spread the message of love and happiness everywhere, and bring human being close to God.

Guru Nanak warmly hugged his family members one by one nd bade them farewell.

Mardana also bade farewell to his v\family members. He was now ready to leave with Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak went away with Mardana to spread the word of God.