Baba Budha Ji – The Child Blessed with the Wisdom of Seventy Years
Baba Budha Ji used to live with his mother. Whenever Guru Nanak Dev Ji sang the praises of God, it is said that even the air would stop to listen. Such was the divine sweetness and melody in Guru Ji’s kirtan that it was beyond human explanation.
Just like Bhakt Dhruv—when he meditated upon the Lord, even the air across the earth stopped moving to witness such devotion. There arose a fear of how people would breathe, and then Lord Vishnu Himself appeared before Dhruv and granted him divine sight, seeing the depth of his bhakti.
In the same way, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj used to sing such melodious rababi kirtan that even the air seemed to pause to listen.
One day, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was performing kirtan, and all the villagers gathered around, completely mesmerized by His divine voice. The whole day passed in blissful listening.
Among those devotees was a young child — Baba Budha Ji. Listening to Guru Ji’s kirtan for hours, the child noticed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had been singing for a long time, meeting devotees even before that, and hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since morning. Concerned for Guru Ji, the young Baba Budha Ji went to his mother and said, “Mother, Guru Ji has been singing since morning and must be hungry. Please prepare some food for Him.”
His mother replied, “Son, I haven’t made any special food yet.”
Baba Budha Ji said, “Mother, whatever we have, let’s take that to Guru Nanak Ji.”
They both went home and brought the simple food for Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj. When Baba Budha Ji saw that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had finished the kirtan, he humbly approached Guru Ji and offered the food, saying,
“Hey Guru Ji, you might be hungry. We have all been listening to your melodious kirtan. Please accept this food that we could prepare for you and bless us by accepting your child’s humble service.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji lovingly accepted the food and ate it all. Satisfied with the pure emotions and devotion of the young boy, Guru Ji said that the food was truly delicious.
Baba Budha Ji humbly replied,
“Guru Ji, I did nothing. I just saw that Guru ji;you were singing kirtan since morning and had not eaten anything. A thought arose in my heart that Guru Ji might be hungry. If we speak, we get tired, but seeing Aap Ji singing continuously, blessing us and helping us connect with God, I did not do anything — even this thought was your blessing.”
Hearing this, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was pleased and said,
“Baba Budha Ji, ask me anything you want. How old are you, my son?”
Baba Budha Ji replied, “I am seven, Guru Ji, and I do not need anything.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji said, “Ask me, son. Today, I am happy with you. Ask for any blessing you wish.”
Baba Budha Ji folded his hands and said,
“Guru Ji, I have only one question. The way you accepted the food and said your hunger is satisfied—it was only by your blessing that I even had the thought to bring it. Just as our stomach’s hunger is fulfilled after eating, my mind too feels restless and hungry. How can I fulfill the hunger of my mind? How can I make it peaceful and stable?”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was astonished at such a deep question from a child of only seven years. He smiled and said,
“From now onwards, everyone will call you Baba Budha — though only seven years old, your soul carries the wisdom of seventy years.”
From that very day, through the divine words of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the child came to be known as Baba Budha Ji, the young soul with the wisdom of seventy years.