Nanak and the Fields of Grain

Guru Nanak’s wisdom shines as he teaches a farmer that faith in God’s provision is greater than any worry over worldly possessions.

The Story

As a young boy, Nanak was known for his kindness and willingness to help others. One day, his neighbor asked Nanak’s father if he could send Nanak to look after his fields while he was away. The farmer’s fields were full of ripe crops, and he was worried that the birds might eat the grain before it could be harvested.

Nanak’s father agreed, and Nanak willingly went to the neighbor’s field to watch over it. He climbed into a machaan (watchtower), from where he could see the entire field. However, as time passed, hundreds of birds began to flock to the field and began pecking at the ripe grain.

Instead of shooing the birds away, Nanak, who believed that everything in the world belongs to God, felt joy watching the birds eat their fill. This inspired him to sing praises of God. The birds, feeling safe, continued to flock to the field. By the time the farmer returned, almost all of the grain had been eaten.

Farmer's Anger

The farmer was furious when he saw the empty field. He went straight to Nanak’s father and shouted, “Nanak! What have you done? My field should have yielded at least 10 sacks of grain. Now, thanks to your carelessness, there is nothing left. How will I feed my family this year?”

Nanak's Wisdom

But Nanak, calm as ever, replied, “Sir, don’t worry. You will have more grain than you’ve ever harvested. Please go ahead and harvest the crops, and let me know how much you have lost.”

Pearls of Wisdom

1. What did Nanak say to the farmer?

Nanak said, “These birds belong to God, and I had told them to eat the grains that belonged to God. The grains they ate belonged to God, while the grain that belonged to you remained untouched in your field.”

The Farmer's Realization

The farmer, still skeptical, harvested the remaining crops. To his astonishment, he harvested 12 sacks of grain, more than he would normally have expected. When he went back to Nanak, he was amazed and asked, “Almost all of my crop was eaten by the birds. From where did these 12 sacks of grain come?”

Nanak’s response left the farmer feeling ashamed of his initial anger. The farmer realized that God’s provision is beyond human understanding, and that Nanak had known all along that he would not lose anything from his fields.

Guru Nanak’s message was clear: trust in God’s wisdom and provision, and do not worry about the outcome of things beyond your control.

🌟 **Moral**: Guru Nanak teaches that faith in God's plan and trusting in His provision leads to blessings far beyond what we can imagine, even when situations seem dire.

Disclaimer: This story reflects the teachings of Guru Nanak. Please regard this as part of Sikh spiritual wisdom.