Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The one who speaks badly of others goes down together with all the others who do the same.
The Highest One, the Supreme Lord, protects and saves the One's humble servant, while death thunders like a storm over the head of the one who tears others down.
The One keeps the humble servant safe, and tearing others down ends in ruin.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the centre of the shabad. Nindak mu-aa nindak kai naal: the slanderer goes down along with the other slanderers, like people who tie themselves together and sink as one. Paarbarahm parmaysar jan raakhay: the Highest One protects the humble servant.
Nindak kai sir karhki-o kaal: death thunders over the slanderer's head, like a storm cloud that will not move on. The image is strong so that the choice is clear: wish others well.
Have you ever seen mean words come back around on the person who said them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI