Test of Bhai Gurdas Ji
Bhai Gurdas Ji was once sitting with Gursikhs like Bhai Behlo Ji, Bhai Bhagtu Ji, Bhai Jetha Ji & Bhai Bidhi Chand Ji. They were having a veechar on Guru Sahib's test where all Gursikhs were of opinion that one can only pass the test with Kirpa of Guru Ji themself, however Bhai Gurdas Ji did not agree and was of the opinion that a Sidaki Sikh should never lose his forbearance however challenging the test gets. They also uttered shabad that is recorded in their Vaaran:
੨੦: ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਂਗ
The test by the Guru
ਜੇ ਮਾਂ ਹੋਵੈ ਜਾਰਨੀ ਕਿਉ ਪੁਤੁ ਪਤਾਰੇ ॥
If the mother is adulteress why should son speak ill of her.
ਗਾਈ ਮਾਣਕੁ ਨਿਗਲਿਆ ਪੇਟੁ ਪਾੜਿ ਨ ਮਾਰੇ ॥
If a gem is swallowed by a cow, nobody rips its stomach to get it out.
ਜੇ ਪਿਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਘਰੁ ਹੰਢਣਾ ਸਤੁ ਰਖੈ ਨਾਰੇ ॥
If the husband enjoys (immorally) at many houses, the wife should preserve her chastity.
ਅਮਰੁ ਚਲਾਵੈ ਚੰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਕਰ ਵੇਚਾਰੇ ॥
If the king exercises dictatorial powers, the servants are helpless before him.
ਜੇ ਮਦੁ ਪੀਤਾ ਬਾਮ੍ਹਣੀ ਲੋਇ ਲੁਝਣਿ ਸਾਰੇ ॥
If a brahmin woman is drunk, all feel ashamed and not look up in her face.
ਜੇ ਗੁਰ ਸਾਂਗਿ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਿਦਕੁ ਨ ਹਾਰੇ ॥੨੦॥
If the Guru performs a test, the Sikh should not give up his forbearance.
Guru Hargobind Ji Mahraj heard this and felt that Bhai Gurdas Ji is having some ego of his Sidak to Guru Sahib. Being a Guru that cares deeply for their Sikh, with the aim to remove the slight ego of their beloved Sikh, they decided to test Bhai Sahib. They sent Bhai Gurdas Ji to Kabul to purchase horses with the condition that the horses should be sent back to Amritsar Sahib first for Guru ji to examine before paying for them. When Bhai Sahib received approval from Guru Sahib, Bhai Sahib then asked the Afghans to come into his tent to collect the money. Bhai Gurdas Ji went into the tent first and when he checked the bag of Chandi Rupees, he found to his dismay that it was full of coins of small value. Bhai Sahib was under great distress as if he is unable to pay the dealers, he would be accused as a thieve considering that some of the horses has already been sent to Amritsar Sahib. Unable to face up to what they saw as disgrace, they ran from the back of the tent. At the front of the tent the dealers waited, eventually other Sikhs entered the tent and saw a bag of Chandi Rupees but not Bhai Gurdas Ji. The horse dealers were properly paid and in due course the horses arrived back at Amritsar where the whole incident was told to Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. In the meantime Bhai Gurdas Ji, now guilt ridden arrived at Kanshi after enduring a challenging journey. They started living at Kanshi and doing Parchar of Sikhi heavily there while at the same time suffering the pain of separation from Guru Sahib. Bhai Sahib also wrote their Kabit Swayei here.
After some time, Guru Sahib decided to test them further by sending a Hukamnama from Akal Takht Sahib to the Kanshi Raja ordering him to surrender a "thief" of the Guru Ghar named Gurdas with his hands handcuffed. When the Hukamnama was read out by the Raja, Bhai Gurdas Ji immediately admitted it is him the thieve, despite being an influential person at Kanshi at that time. The Raja and Sanggat of Kanshi were not able to believe him but he insisted that he is indeed the thieve of Guru Sahib and requested them to handcuff him just like Guru Ji has ordered. Bhai Jetha Ji who was sent to bring Bhai Gurdas Ji from Kanshi bowed to Bhai Sahib ji as they were still a respected Sikh of the Guru and brought them to Guru Sahib with their hands tied to the back. 700 Pandits who adopted Sikhi from the influence of Bhai Sahib Ji also voluntarily followed them despite being stopped by Bhai Sahib.
Arriving in Guru Sahib's Darbar, Guru Sahib questioned Bhai Sahib on their action of running and leaving money of Guru Ghar in the tent at Kabul. Bhai Sahib said Guru Mahraj what can I, a sinful person say in front of you, you are our great Guru. I was going waver away from you but you have saved me. Their reply to Guru Sahib is also recorded in their Vaaran:
੨੧: ਸਾਂਗ ਵਿਚ ਸਾਬਤ ਵਿਰਲੇ
Rare pass the test
ਧਰਤੀ ਉਪਰਿ ਕੋਟਗੜ ਭੁਇਚਾਲ ਕੰਮੰਦੇ ॥
During the earth quake millions of forts on earth shake and crumble
ਝਖੜਿ ਆਏ ਤਰੁਵਰਾ ਸਰਬਤ ਹਲੰਦੇ ॥
During the storm, all the trees oscillate.
ਡਵਿ ਲਗੈ ਉਜਾੜਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਭ ਘਾਹ ਜਲੰਦੇ ॥
During fire, all sorts of grass in the forests get burnt.
ਹੜ ਆਏ ਕਿਨਿ ਥੰਮੀਅਨਿ ਦਰੀਆਉ ਵਹੰਦੇ ॥
Who can obstruct flood in the flowing river.
ਅੰਬਰਿ ਪਾਟੇ ਥਿਗਲੀ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਕਰੰਦੇ ॥
The difficult and foolish task of sewing the torn sky like cloth could be done only by adepts in gossipping.
ਸਾਂਗੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਾਬਤੇ ਸੇ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਬੰਦੇ ॥੨੧॥
Rare are the people who remain completely poised during the test.
Guru Mahraj then explained the pangti that you uttered the other day "ਜੇ ਗੁਰ ਸਾਂਗਿ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਸਿਦਕੁ ਨ ਹਾਰੇ", I sensed an iota of ego. Thus, I decided to test you. Bhai Sahib then in love recited the following Paurhi: