Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Speaking badly of holy people sends you wandering from life to life.
Speaking badly of holy people makes you sick.
Speaking badly of holy people brings you pain.
And death is hard on the one who tears others down.
Tearing holy people down hurts the one who does it.
This shabad is about nindaa. That means slander or contempt: talking others down and scorning them. The opening lines repeat "sant kee nindaa" — "slandering the good." They pile up harsh results: wandering, sickness, pain and punishment. These stark pictures show how much damage contempt does. Much of the harm lands inside the person who carries it. It leaves them restless, uneasy and heavy.
Think of carrying a bag of rocks all day, just so you can throw one at someone later. Your own back aches long before you throw. Contempt works the same way.
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.
Have you noticed how bad it feels inside to stay angry at someone?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI