Sikhism·Raag Gond·Shabad 24
Verse 4 of 5

No Harm Can Reach Those the One Protects

ਸੰਤ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
sant kee nindaa karahu na ko-ay.
Let no one slander the Saints.
ਜੋ ਨਿੰਦੈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਪਤਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
jo nindai tis kaa patan ho-ay.
Whoever slanders them, will be destroyed.
ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਰਾਖੈ ਸਿਰਜਨਹਾਰੁ ॥
jis ka-o raakhai sirjanhaar.
One who is protected by the Creator Lord,
ਝਖ ਮਾਰਉ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੩॥
jhakh maara-o sagal sansaar. ||3||
cannot be harmed, no matter how much the whole world may try. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

It is not good to run others down, so let no one do it.

Speaking ill of others only hollows out the one who speaks.

And whoever the Maker chooses to shelter,

no amount of the world's noise can touch them.

Tearing others down only hollows you out — and those the One shelters stay safe.
The deeper layer

Sant kee nindaa karahu na ko-ay — a plain ethical instruction: do not tear others down. The reason given is inward: nindaa (running people down) hollows out the speaker — it damages the one who does it, an example of ill-will defeating itself rather than a curse from outside. The second half is pure reassurance: whoever the Maker shelters cannot be reached by jhakh maara-o sagal sansaar — the whole world's noise beating against them in vain.

A Question to Sit With

Why do you think putting others down ends up costing the person who does it?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate