Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Fools argue about meat and flesh, but they know nothing of wisdom or of a focused mind.
What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? Which one holds the wrong?
Long ago, the gods' way was to kill a rhinoceros and make a feast of the burnt offering.
Some give up meat and hold their noses when they sit near it, yet at night they "eat people," harming them in secret.
They put on a show for others, but they understand nothing of wisdom or a focused mind.
Nanak says: what can you say to people who will not see? They cannot answer, and they do not understand what is said.
Blind are the ones who act blindly. Their hearts have no eyes.
They were made from the blood of their mother and father, yet they will not eat fish or meat.
When a man and a woman come together at night, that too is in the flesh.
In flesh we are formed, and from flesh we are born. We are pots made of flesh.
You know nothing of wisdom or a focused mind, yet you call yourself clever, O learned scholar.
O master, you say flesh from outside is bad, but the flesh of the people in your own home is good.
All creatures are made of flesh. The soul has made its home in flesh.
They eat what should not be eaten, and turn away from what they could eat. Their teacher cannot see.
In flesh we are formed, and from flesh we are born. We are pots made of flesh.
You know nothing of wisdom or a focused mind, yet you call yourself clever, O learned scholar.
Meat is allowed in the Puraanas, and in the Bible and the Koran. Through all four ages, meat has been used.
It is part of sacred feasts and weddings. Meat is used there.
Women and men, kings and emperors, all come from flesh.
If you see them headed for hell, then do not take their gifts.
The giver goes to hell and the taker goes to heaven. Look how unfair that is!
You do not understand yourself, yet you teach others. O Pandit, how very wise you are!
O Pandit, you do not even know where flesh came from.
Grain, sugar cane and cotton come from water. All three worlds came from water.
Water says, "I am good in many ways." And water takes many forms.
Nanak thinks it over and says: whoever lets go of all these tastes becomes a true sannyaasee, one who is free of the world.
Arguing about what is on the plate misses the point. What matters is a gentle, clear heart.
Maas maas kar moorakh jhagrhay: foolish people fight about maas, meat, but know nothing of gi-aan, wisdom, or Dhi-aan, a focused mind. Guru Nanak is not making a rule for or against eating meat. He is poking at people who police other people's food while ignoring real harm.
Ka-un maas ka-un saag kahaavai: what is meat, and what is saag, green vegetables? Where does wrongdoing begin? The line is not as simple as the loud voices claim.
He speaks of people who hold their noses at meat in public, yet raatee maanas khaanay, "eat people at night." That means they cheat and harm people when no one is looking. That hypocrisy matters far more than a meal.
He speaks to the Pandit, the religious scholar who calls himself clever. We are all born of flesh. He notes that meat appears in the Puraanas, the Bible and the Koran, and at feasts and weddings. This is said to level everyone, never to accuse one community.
Then water settles the quarrel. To-i-ahu ann kamaad: grain and sugar cane come from water, and so does cotton. Everything rises from one source. The true sani-aasee, a person who has let go of the world, is the one who lets go of cravings.
It is like two kids arguing over whose lunch is healthier while one of them shoves a smaller kid out of line. The sharp words are aimed at hypocrisy, never at vegetarians or anyone else as people.
When have you seen someone follow a rule strictly but forget to be kind?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI