Kabir Trials by Emperor

Dadi: "Guddu, what would happen if both Hindus AND Muslims complained about you to the king?"

Guddu: "That would be really bad! I'd be in huge trouble!"

Dadi: "That's exactly what happened to Kabir. Both religious groups called him a heretic - and the king sentenced him to death!"

Guddu: "Death?! Just for his beliefs?"

Dadi: "In those days, yes. The Sultan Sikandar Lodi heard complaints from both Brahmin priests and Muslim clerics. "This weaver Kabir claims he knows God! He disrespects our traditions! He must be punished!""

Guddu: "What did Kabir actually do wrong?"

Dadi: "He spoke the truth, beta. He said things like "Within the Hindu and the Muslim dwells the same God." He refused to bow to anyone except God himself. When brought before the Sultan, he greeted the ruler like an ordinary man."

Guddu: "He didn't show proper respect to the king?"

Dadi: "The court was outraged! "Why didn't you bow properly?!" Kabir replied calmly, "I know only one king - Ram, the King of the Universe. I bow to that King.""

Guddu: "That took guts!"

Dadi: "The Sultan was actually impressed at first and dismissed the case. But the religious leaders pressured him again. Finally, the Sultan ordered Kabir's execution."

Guddu: "How did they try to kill him?"

Dadi: "First, they threw him into the Ganges River - the deepest, fastest part - bound in heavy chains. They wanted him to drown."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "Kabir remained calm, absorbed in God. "My mind was not shaken," he said. "Why should my body be afraid?" The chains broke on their own. The river currents carried him gently to shore, as if he was floating on a deerskin."

Guddu: "The river saved him?!"

Dadi: "Frustrated, the authorities tried again. They bound him in a basket, surrounded it with firewood, and set it on fire!"

Guddu: "They burned him?!"

Dadi: "They TRIED. When the fire died down, Kabir walked out completely unharmed. His face was glowing with divine light!"

Guddu: "This sounds like miracles!"

Dadi: "The enemies shouted, "He's a magician! An infidel! Bring an elephant!" They tied Kabir hand and foot and brought a mad elephant to trample him."

Guddu: "An elephant?!"

Dadi: "The elephant was driven toward Kabir... but it stopped. It wouldn't go near him. The elephant driver shouted, "There's a lion in front of the elephant! It's frightened!""

Guddu: "But there was no lion?"

Dadi: "Not that humans could see. But something protected Kabir - something the elephant could sense."

Guddu: "Did they finally give up?"

Dadi: "Eventually. The Sultan realized that someone who could survive drowning, burning, and elephant-trampling must have divine protection. Kabir was released."

Guddu: "What gave Kabir such power?"

Dadi: "His faith, beta. Not faith in any one religion - but faith in Truth itself. He used to say: "Be in the world but not of it. Let the mind be fixed on God, and the body will be protected.""

Guddu: "Were these real miracles or is it just a story?"

Dadi: "Whether literal or symbolic, the teaching is real: truth cannot be destroyed. You can throw it in rivers, burn it in fire, send elephants to crush it - but truth survives."

Guddu: "Because truth is stronger than violence?"

Dadi: "Always, beta. Kabir's chains broke. His fire went out. His elephant refused. The violence of small minds cannot overcome the peace of an open heart."

Guddu: "He never fought back?"

Dadi: "Never. That's the deepest teaching. He didn't need to. Truth defends itself. Those who tried to kill him kept failing - not because Kabir fought them, but because he simply... continued to exist, rooted in something eternal."

Guddu: "I want that kind of courage."

Dadi: "Start with honesty, beta. Speak your truth gently but firmly. And remember Kabir: chains break, fires go out, elephants turn away - but a soul anchored in the Divine cannot be moved."