Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
But when a tiger falls upon a flock of sheep and slaughters them, then the shepherd must answer for it.
This precious land was wrecked and defiled, and no one even tended the dead.
You bring together, and You pull apart; I can only gaze at the vastness of what You are.
Being powerful never makes it right to hurt someone weaker.
Saktaa seehu maaray pai vagai — a strong tiger falls on a flock of sheep. Then, says the verse, the master of the flock must answer for it. Those who have power are responsible for how they treat people who have less.
Guru Nanak names the damage plainly. The land was wrecked, and no one even cared for the dead. Yet he does not turn away from the One. He holds his sorrow and the mystery together: "You Yourself unite, and You Yourself separate; I gaze upon Your Glorious Greatness." He does not explain the horror away. He does not let go of the One either.
If someone is being unkind to you or hurting you, that is never something you have to accept. Telling a grown-up you trust is always the right thing to do.
Who is responsible when someone strong harms someone who cannot fight back?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI