5.
Guru Har Rai Sahib Cures Dara Shikoh
The
Emperor Shah Jahan had four sons: Dara Shikoh, Shuja Muhammad, Aurangzeb,
and Murad Baksh. Dara Shikoh was the heir-apparent, and was very dear to his
father. Aurangzeb was very cunning, clever and ambitious, and was fixated on
succeeding to the throne. He administered tiger’s whiskers in a dish to his
eldest brother and he became dangerously ill as a result. Astrologers were
sent for, pirs and fakirs were called, all known charms, spells and
incantations were tried but to no avail.
Wise
men were assembled together and they came to the decision that until the
tiger’s whiskers could be removed, there was no hope of a recovery. They
were of the opinion that if two ounces of chebulic myrobalan (scientific
name: termininalia chebula; known in Ayurvedic medicine as Aralu, credited
with having laxative and stomachic properties) and a clove weighing one
masha were administered, his health could be restored.
The
Emperor searched everywhere for the ingredients but they could not be found
– it was only until his Prime Minister, who had heard of Guru Har Rai Sahib
Jis’ fame, was informed that there were available from Guru Sahib’s
storehouse, that hope was restored. Although the Emperor was hostile to Guru
Ji, yet as Guru Sahib’s house was a mine of sympathy and compassion for all,
there was no doubt that he would grant the articles required.
The
Emperor humbled himself before the king of kings Satguru Sri Guru Har Rai
Sahib Ji and sent a letter. Guru Sahib was pleased that the Emperor had such
confidence in him as to write such a friendly letter, and consented to give
the required medicines. “Behold,” said Guru Ji , “with one hand man
breaks flowers and with one hand offers them, but the flowers perfume both
hands alike. The axe cuts the sandal tree, yet the sandal perfumes the axe.
The Guru ought, therefore, to return good for evil.”
The
ingredients were weighed and it was explained that these medicines would
cause the hardest substance taken to be digested. To these ingredients, Guru
Ji added a pearl which was to be ground and used as a subsidiary remedy.
The
Emperor was naturally very pleased and forgot all his enemity with Guru
Sahib, and vowed that he would never again cause him annoyance. His medicine
was administered and effected a speedy and complete cure.