Verse 245 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 187 — force is cruelty, whatever you call it
ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥
kabeer joree kee-ay julam hai kahtaa naa-o halaal.
Kabir, to use force is tyranny, even if you call it legal.
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
daftar laykhaa maaNgee-ai tab ho-igo ka-un havaal. ||187||
When your account is called for in the Court of the Lord, what will your condition be then? ||187||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: using force on others is cruelty, even if you call it lawful.
When your account is asked for in the One's court, what will happen to you then?
Force used on others is cruelty, whatever name it wears.
Hurting others by force is cruelty, whatever name it is given.
Joree kee-ay julam hai: forcing is cruelty. Kahtaa naa-o halaal: even if you call it lawful. Dafatar laykhaa: the record of your deeds, asked for at the court. Kabir asks what answer such a person will give then.
A Question to Sit With
How can you stand up for what you want without pushing anyone around?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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