ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨਦੀ ਸਭਿ ਸਿਖੀ ਨਾਤੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Bhai Mati Das came from a Brahman family from the village Kariala in the district of Jhelum (Pakistan). He was the eldest son of Bhai Praga. His grandfather, Mahatma Gautam Das, used to be a deeply religious man of noble, saintly character. He was loved and respected by all, Hindus and Muslims alike. Bhai Praga was a strong stalwart. He had the body and the strength of a giant.

He embraced the Sikh faith during Guru Har Gobind's time. He lived the life of a true Sikh. His life was a model for others. He was a prominent saint-soldier of Guru Har Gobind's. He took a hero's part in Guru Har Gobind's battle. He had four sons: Bhai Mati Das, Sati Das, Jati Das and Sakhi Das. Bhai Mati Das was as strongly built as his father, Bhai Praga. He was a dear, devout disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He actually practiced what he believed and professed. Guru Tegh Bahadur made him his diwan. He had to look after the income and expenditure of the Guru's darbar.

Along with Guru Sahib, Bhai Mati Das was also arrested, chained and imprisoned. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadhur Ji Maharaj at that time had been put in a cage that was so small that it only allowed Guru Sahib to stand. Guru Sahib could not sit down or move about. He was kept in this cage for days on end.

When Bhai Mati Das Ji saw the plight of his beloved Guru tears of blood began to flow from his heart. Bhai Sahib humbly approached Guru Sahib and asked Maharaj to give him hukam of destroying each and every single brick in Dehli and Lahore so that the whole world would know of the power of the King of Kings. Guru Sahib listening to this request and smiled at his beloved Sikh. Maharaj then told Bhai Mati Das Ji not to worry as everything which was happening was in accordance with the sweet will of Akaal Purakh.

Bhai Mati Das Ji was full of love for Guru Sahib. Whenever he saw his King in pain he felt like a fish which had been removed from the ocean. The sight of the King of the World suffering broke Bhai Mati Das Ji’s heart and he became very upset despite Guru Sahib’s reassurances.

One day Guru Sahib told Bhai Mati Das Ji to bring some water, not from the local taps but from the river Yamuna. As Bhai Mati Das Ji made his way to the river he began to think of the different reasons as to why Guru Sahib had asked him to travel so far to bring water when there was already so much water available locally. Bhai Mati Das Ji was under the impression that Guru Sahib didn’t want him to see the pain of the world that his king was taking on himself. As a result of this many thoughts began to flash through Bhai Mati Das Ji’s mind, but as Guru Sahib had given hukam, Bhai Mati Das being a Gursikh followed Maharaj’s will to the best of his ability.
Bhai Mati Das Ji quickly made his way to the Yumana River. As soon as Bhai Sahib got there he filled a bucket with crystal clear water and placed the bucket on his head as he turned around and stated to run back to his beloved Guru.

As soon as Bhai Sahib made it back to the cage Maharaj was kept in he bowed before the King of Kings and humbly offered the water he had brought to Guru Sahib. Guru Ji touched Bhai Mati Das’s head and with a smile on his face he told Bhai Sahib to go and return this water back to the river from which he had brought it. Bhai Mati Das Ji bowed before his King once again and as he ran back to the river.

As soon as Guru Sahib had given this second hukam, Bhai Sahib’s mind became certain that Guru Ji was making him go to the river in an effort to keep him away from Maharaj. Despite this Bhai Sahib obeyed Guru Sahib’s hukam as he hurried back to the river to return the water he had taken. Upon returning to the cage Guru Sahib was kept in Bhai Mati Das bowed once again and kissed the feet of his King.

Guru Sahib then asked Bhai Mati Das Ji if he had understood what Guru Ji was trying to tell him. Bhai Mati Das Ji with tears in his eyes said that he understood why Guru Ji was giving all these hukams, ‘it’s because you don’t want me to see all the pain which you are facing.’

Guru Ji smiled and told Bhai Mati Das Ji that he was trying to teach him something else. Bhai Mati Das Ji looked at Guru Sahib and asked him to tell him what he had missed. Guru Ji smiled at Bhai Mati Das Ji and asked him, ‘Did the Yamuna River dry up after you took some water out of it? Did the Yamuna River start flooding when you returned the water you had taken?’

Bhai Mati Das Ji became confused and he asked his king how could a river dry up or begin to flood when only a little bit of water was taken and returned to it? Guru Sahib smiled and said:

ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮੁੰਦੁ ਨਦੀ ਸਭਿ ਸਿਖੀ ਨਾਤੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

That Guru is like a samundar and his Sikhs are like the rivers which flow back into their source- the samundar. So stay like a river which doesn’t start flooding when some water is added to it, rather watch this play of Akaal Purakh himself.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh