Gems of Gurbani

Guru granth Sahib

Sukhmanu Sahib 33

 Ashtapadi 13 continues:  The slanderer of Saints become impure in mind so he doesn't become any one’s friend (he is not dear to anyone), in the end everybody leaves him and he gets punished by the messengers of death. The Saint slanderer becomes exceedingly egoistic and is ever a sinner. The coming and going (cycle of rebirth continues for him) and with that he never comes to peace. The slanderer has no place and nowhere to go. Nanak says if the Saint wishes he can still salvage and unite the slanderer with self (pad 4).

The slanderer of Saints can never accomplish anything and breaks down mid-way. The life of Saint’s slanderer becomes like wandering in the wilderness as if he is thrown in the desolate place. The Saint slanderer becomes hollow from within just like a dead body that is without breath (he becomes devoid of all those virtues that are needed to have a meaningful life). The slanderer of Saints has no roots (inherent family values that bring honour and prestige) and he is responsible for that so whatever he has been sowing that he is reaping. No one can save the slanderer from this state O Nanak unless the Saint’s mercy is bestowed upon him to emancipate (pad 5).

The slanderer of Saints wails in distress just like a fish that wriggles without water. The slanderer is ever hungry and never gets satiated just like fire that ever needs fuel. The slanderer of Saints is left alone like a  sesames plant that has no capacity to fertilize (buar til are plants that grow into plants but the tiny pods do not bear any seeds). The slanderer of the Saints become devoid of faith so he utters falsehood all the time. The slanderer is born with such a destiny O Nanak it has happened because of His (God’s Will) will (pad 6).

The slanderer of Saints gets a distorted form and existence and gets punished in God’s court. The slanderer is always anxious because his fate hangs between life and death that means he is always in fear of death. The hope of the slanderer never gets fulfilled and he departs (from this life) disappointed (how can he have that glory of Saints?). The slanderer never gets recognition and stability, (because) the True God knows everything (pad 7).

 Everything happens as per his Will and He is the Creator. I bow to such a Lord and praise Him day and night; with every morsel that I take and every breath that I inhale I praise Him. All happens as per His plan and he makes such men (slanderer). He (God is “sutradhar’) is the lead player in the drama He has created. No one else can deliberate on this. He bestows His grace and name O Nanak to the few very fortunate ones (pad 8).