Kavi Santokh Singh, within his Gurpratap Suraj Prakash Granth *1843* writes a story where Guru Gobind Singh was listening to the story of Sassi Punnu, a classical Punjabi folk love tale. While listening to these love songs some Singhs raised an objection as to why the Guru would be listening to such a song. The conversation is recorded below: ਧਨ ਦੇ ਕਰਿ ਤਿਸ ਕਿਯੋ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥ ਕਰੀ ਮੌਜ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਬਿਸਾਲ ॥ ਸੱਸੀ ਪਰ ਕਿਹ ਤਰਕ ਉਠਾਈ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਪ੍ਰਤਿ ਉੱਤਰ ਕਰ੍ਯੋ ਗੁਸਾਈਂ ॥9॥ In Exalted Prabhu, Guru Gobind Singh, grandly partook in this enjoyment, in giving money to the performers, he greatly blessed them. At this point an objection was raised *about why this song was being listened to*, and the Guru gave a response to this as such: ਅੰਗੁਰ ਗਡੈ ਨ ਅਵਨੀ ਮਾਂਹੀ ॥ ਸਸੀਆ ਭਈ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ਨ ਤਾਂਹੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਮਹਾਤਮ ਬਡਹੁ ਬਡੇਰਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਜਾਨ ਲਗਿ ਜਿਨਹੁ ਨਿਬਰਾ ॥10॥ "In that place *a desert* where a cart would not even move one thumb's length, in that desert Sassi went after Punnu and died. The praise of Love is the highest of the high, where one will even lose their life just to fulfill their love. ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਸਦਾ ਥਿਰ ਭਏ ॥ ਲਾਖਹੁ ਬਰਖ ਬਖਾਨੇ ਗਏ ॥ ਗੁਰੂ ਪ੍ਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਸਨ ਜਿਨ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ॥ ਸੇ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਪਾਵਤੇ ਛੇਮ ॥11॥ The name of those, who lost their life for love, remains forever, and is spoken and sung about for thousands of years. Those who have love with the Guru and the Highest Ishvar, they quickly get liberated in one second. ਬਿਨਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਫੋਕਟ ਸਭਿ ਜਤਨ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਸੁਕਰਮਨਿ ਸਭਿ ਮਹਿਂ ਰਤਨ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ ਜਪ ਤਪ ਬਿਨ ਮਖ ਜੋਗ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਤਿ ਉਚੇਰੇ ਲੋਗ ॥12॥ Without love every other action is useless. Out of all good action -- Love is the jewel amongst them all. A lover, even without recitation, penance, and yoga, attains the highest liberation." ਇੱਤ੍ਯਾਦਿਕ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਮੁਖ ਗਾਈ ॥ In this manner, Guru Gobind Singh sang praises about Love. ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਸੂਰਜ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼, ਐਨ 2, ਅਧਿਆਇ 25 Gurpratap [[1843 Suraj Prakash/Suraj|Suraj]] Prakash, Ain 1, Chapter 25 ![[sassi punnu.png]]