The first journey: the east, as tradition tells it
Duni Chand and the needle
A rich man proud of his flags was given a needle to return in the next world.
According to the Puratan Janamsakhi, Duni Chand, a Khatri revenue official at Lahore, was holding a feast in memory of his father when he heard Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in the city and invited him. Seven flags flew over his door, one for each lakh of his wealth.
Guru Ji handed him a needle and asked him to keep it safe and give it back in the next world. Puzzled, he took it to his wife, who asked him who could carry anything beyond this life. He went back, bowed and returned it. Guru Ji told him to give in God's name and feed the hungry, as that was the only wealth that would travel with him.
How do we know?
Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.
- Later traditionTells the story from the Puratan, including seven flags, each for a lakh, and a shraddha feast for his father.[EoS]
- ScholarshipTreats the Rich Man's Pennants as a study in how a sakhi grows, including how the Puratan brings in Mardana to accompany a quotation. (p. 172)[McLeod]
- ScholarshipNotes that B-40 has four flags with no name, the Puratan has seven and names Duni Chand, and classes the story as possible but doubtful. (p. 89)[McLeod]
