Healing Dara Shikoh - Compassion for Enemies

Dadi: "Guddu, what would you do if someone you called enemy fell sick?"

Guddu: "Um... I don't know. Maybe feel a little happy?"

Dadi: "Honest answer. Now let me tell you about a Sikh Guru who did something that surprised everyone - he healed a Mughal prince, even though the Mughals had been cruel to his community."

Guddu: "Why would he help an enemy?"

Dadi: "That's exactly what makes this story powerful, beta. The Guru was Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh Guru. And the prince was Dara Shikoh, son of Emperor Shah Jahan."

Guddu: "Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal?"

Dadi: "Yes! Dara Shikoh was his eldest son, known for loving books, philosophy, and talking to holy men of all religions. But he fell terribly ill. None of the royal doctors could cure him."

Guddu: "What was wrong with him?"

Dadi: "He had been accidentally poisoned by a mixture he was experimenting with. The royal physicians tried everything - nothing worked. Shah Jahan was desperate. His beloved son was dying."

Guddu: "Then what?"

Dadi: "Someone told the emperor, "There's a Sikh Guru in Punjab who knows the secrets of herbs and medicines. Perhaps he can help.""

Guddu: "But wait - hadn't the Mughals been mean to the Sikhs?"

Dadi: "*(nodding sadly)* Dara Shikoh's great-grandfather, Emperor Jahangir, had tortured and killed Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru. There was no love between the Mughal court and the Sikhs."

Guddu: "So when they asked for help..."

Dadi: "Many expected Guru Har Rai to say no. Or to demand something in return. Or at least to hesitate."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "Without a moment's pause, the Guru said, "Of course I will help. A human life is precious. Bring me the details of his illness.""

Guddu: "Just like that? No conditions?"

Dadi: "The Guru said something beautiful: "With one hand, man should give, and with the other hand he should receive. He should not inflict pain on anyone.""

Guddu: "What does that mean?"

Dadi: "It means we should keep giving goodness, no matter what others have done to us. Hurting someone because they hurt us just adds more pain to the world."

Guddu: "That's... hard to do."

Dadi: "Very hard. But true saints don't keep scorecards. The Guru prepared a special medicine from rare herbs and sent it to Delhi. Day after day, more medicines came, with careful instructions."

Guddu: "Did Dara Shikoh get better?"

Dadi: "Slowly but surely, the prince recovered. The royal court was astonished. Shah Jahan was deeply grateful. He offered Guru Har Rai gold, land, anything he wanted."

Guddu: "What did the Guru ask for?"

Dadi: "Nothing for himself. But later, when Dara Shikoh became healthy enough to travel, he came personally to thank the Guru. They had long conversations about God, about different paths to truth."

Guddu: "The Mughal prince and the Sikh Guru became friends?"

Dadi: "Dara Shikoh was unusual - he translated Hindu scriptures, he respected all religions. In Guru Har Rai, he found a kindred soul. Their friendship crossed the boundaries that politics had created."

Guddu: "This story makes me feel warm inside, Dadi."

Dadi: "Here's the lesson, beta. When we help only those who can help us back, that's just business. When we help only our friends, that's easy. But when we help someone who has no claim on our kindness - even someone whose family hurt ours - that's true compassion."

Guddu: "But isn't it stupid to help enemies?"

Dadi: "*(taking his hand)* Enemies are often just people we don't understand yet. The Guru saw a sick human being, not a Mughal, not an enemy. His compassion didn't weaken the Sikhs - it made them respected even by those who disagreed with them."

Guddu: "So being kind to enemies can actually make you stronger?"

Dadi: "The hardest people to love are the ones who don't "deserve" it. But that's exactly when love matters most. Guru Har Rai's healing of Dara Shikoh is remembered centuries later because it was unexpected, undeserved, and absolutely beautiful."

Guddu: "If someone at school is mean to me... I should still be nice?"

Dadi: "You don't have to be their best friend. But you don't have to become like them either. Keep your heart open. You never know - today's bully might become tomorrow's friend. At the very least, you'll know you stayed true to who you are."

Guddu: "I want to try that, Dadi."

Dadi: "*(hugging him)* That's my brave boy. Remember: a river doesn't check who drinks from it. It just keeps flowing. Be like that river."