Guru Nanak and Sajjan Rogue

On one of his journeys, Guru Nanak Dev ji met a Rogue named Sajjan. Sajjan always wore a white dress, displayed his rosary and thus posed to be a holyman. He had built a Hindu temple and a Muslim mosque at the courtyard of his residence. He would invite wayfarers to his residence to rest for the night. But at night, he would take away their goods and money and would kill them. He had a well near his house where he would dump the bodies of the guest he killed.

The Guru went and stayed with him for the night. At night the Guru did not go to bed, which made Sajjan nervous to perform his nefarious act of robbing. Sajjan asked the Guru to take rest and sleep but Guru ji replied,"God's minstrel does not go to sleep, till God sends word that he should retire." The Guru then asked Mardana to play the rebec and he sang, “Houses, mansions, palaces painted on all sides, are left hollow within when thy breath stops. You posses wealth and assets, nothing shall go along with you but the sins you commit. You call yourself clever and smart, but you are unaware that in a moment you shall die. You have not remembered the name of Lord, and are completely drenched in money. You have not loved the one who gave you the body and wealth. And when the death comes you shall tremble helplessly. Have you sung the praises of Lord; He would have been your support and the time of your death.”

When Sajjan listened the Divine melody, he realized that Guru ji’s words were actually addressed to him. Upon this he made his obeisance and fell at the Guru ji’s feet, and prayed to him to pardon his sins. Guru ji said, "Sajjan, in the Sovereignty of God, grace is obtained by two things, open confession and reparation for wrong." Sajjan stood in submission. Guru Nanak Dev ji asked him to give all his ill-gotten wealth to the poor. He obeyed the mandate and became a follower of the Guru.