Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 90
Verse 1 of 5

What Tearing Others Down Costs

ਭੈਰਉ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bhairo mehlaa 5.
Bhairao, Fifth Mehl:
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਉ ਫਿਟਕੇ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
nindak ka-o fitkay sansaar.
The entire universe curses the slanderer.
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਾ ਝੂਠਾ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ॥
nindak kaa jhoothaa bi-uhaar.
False are the dealings of the slanderer.
ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਾ ਮੈਲਾ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥
nindak kaa mailaa aachaar.
The slanderer's lifestyle is filthy and polluted.
ਦਾਸ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਕਉ ਰਾਖਨਹਾਰੁ ॥੧॥
daas apunay ka-o raakhanhaar. ||1||
The Lord is the Saving Grace and the Protector of His slave. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The whole world turns away from the one who speaks badly of others.

Their dealings are false, and their way of living is dirty and stained.

The One saves and protects the One's own servant.

Tearing others down slowly costs you the trust of everyone around you.
The deeper layer

Tearing other people down makes a life false and stained, and the One keeps safe the one who serves.

Nindak ka-o fitkay sansaar: the whole world turns away from the nindak, the one who tears others down. Jhoothaa bi-uhaar: false dealings. Mailaa aachaar: a dirty, stained way of living. Daas apunay ka-o raakhanhaar: the One is the protector of the One's own servant.

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.

A Question to Sit With

Why do people stop believing someone who is always putting others down?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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