Once Guru Nanak sent Bhai Mardana Jee into a city with a gemstone and asked him to sell it to the highest bidder. Bhai Mardana Jee first went to a street vendor who was selling spicy samosas and showed him the gem. Amazingly beautiful, the flawless stone shimmered and sparkled with inner fire. It completely captivated whoever looked at it. As though they had peered into a mirror where dreams come true, they could almost feel their innermost longing about to be fulfilled - but then what else would you expect from a stone which Guru Nanak had touched?!
The vendor stared into its magnetic magnificence. Unable to tear his eyes away from its spell he offered, "I can give two trays of spiced samosa and fresh milkcake made this morning by my mother's own hands." Bhai Mardana Jee smacked his lips appreciatively, but moved on; quite sure that he could get a better price!
Then he showed it to a merchant wearing expensive silks heavily embroidered with gold threads. Extremely impressed, the merchant rubbed his hands together, his fat fingers bulging with gold rings. He reached beneath his outer garments, took out his purse and counted 5 gold coins holding them out on his pudgy palm to pay for the Jewel. When Bhai Mardana Jee hesitated, the merchant tempted him with three shimmery lengths of colored silk, one vermillion, one azure, and one saffron colored. Smiling in admiration, Bhai Mardana Jee, commented on their luster but shook his head and turned to go. The merchant called after him, "Take these two fine embroidered robes as well," but he kept walking.
Next he entered into a market where the shopkeeper, quite busy with customers, impatiently asked him, "Yes, what can I do for you?" Bhai Mardana Jee showed him the gemstone. The shopkeeper took him aside. He stared at the precious stone for a long time forgetting all about his waiting customers. Tearing his eyes away with a sigh, he looked at Bhai Mardana Jee with new respect and put his hands together with a slight bow, "O Sadhu, I can give you whatever you want. Take anything. Please just name your price!" Bhai Mardana Jee looked around at the variety of goods. Telling the shopkeeper that he might be back after getting an appraisal from a jeweler, he moved on.
He noticed a Jewelry store just up the street and stepped inside. The Jeweler, an extremely spiritual man, had an eye not only for precious quality of stones but for the precious qualities of people characters too. He respectfully bowed to Bhai Mardana Jee and motioned his assistant to bring a comfortable seat and some refreshment for their esteemed guest.
When shown the gemstone, the jeweler lost all his bearings and muttered, "Such beauty! Is it possible that such beauty exists?" The entrancing aspect of both the stone-bearer and the stone itself enchanted him. Focusing on the beauty within himself, he involuntarily closed his eyes, catching a glimpse of his soul. A vision that he had spent his entire life pursuing had been instantaneously revealed.
He opened his wonder-filled eyes in awe and looked from Bhai Mardana Jee's face to the gemstone and back again several times. After several minutes of complete silence, the Jeweler softly clapped his hands. His assistant came forth and he whispered some instructions into his ear. The assistant left returning with a chest which he set in front Of Bhai Mardana jee. The Jeweler pulled a key from beneath his robes and unlocked the chest. He opened it and placed 1000 gold coins in front of Bhai Mardana Jee.
He murmured, "O Great Sadhu, I bow to you and to your Great Guru who has made you so exquisitely beautiful. This gemstone, just like you, Sir, is priceless! I give you this gold as merely a token for the unparalleled pleasure in glimpsing the enticing treasures within it. I cannot, nor could anybody, possibly place a value on this gemstone".
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