Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In such times even the ones on top end up shaken — power turns out to be a shaky thing to stand on.
So why should the servant be afraid? When the one in charge is put in chains, he falls at the hands of his own servant.
Power in this world is shaky, so there is no need to live in fear of the powerful.
Jis sikdaaree tiseh khu-aaree means that whoever is in charge ends up brought low. The verse goes further. When the master is put in chains, he even dies at his own servant's hands. So why should a servant be afraid of him?
Guru Nanak is noticing how unsteady worldly power is in this age. It is like a king in a sandcastle. The tide comes in, and the castle is gone.
The point is not to be glad when anyone falls. The point is to set us free from fear. Those who look mighty are not as safe as they seem. We do not have to live afraid of them.
Why is it a bad idea to build your whole self on being the strongest or the most in charge?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI