Guru Granth Sahib against cruelty

From SikhiWiki

Contents 1 Cruelty ..... is a river of fire 2 Abandon your cruel nature 3 Cruelty has not left you ... why? 4 cruel-minded .... shall suffer in pain 5 Manmukhs are hard and cruel 6 Eradicate cruelty .... world becomes a friend 7 Practicing cruelty ... lost in darkness 8 See also 9 External Links

Importance of discarding cruelty

Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith built the religion on the firm foundation of Sewa (selfless service) and Simran (meditation). On this bedrock stand the three pillars of - Naam Japna (focus on God), Kirat Karni (honest living) and Vand Chakna (sharing with others) with the support of which one is able to follow the path of righteousness and become a better and more spiritually concious human being.

The Guru further asked his Sikhs (disciples/students) to focus their efforts on evolving various positive traits by adhering to the following virtues - Sat (Truth), Santokh (Contentment), Daya (Compassion and kindness), Nimrata (Humility) and Pyare (Love). The founder Guru also asked the Sikh to shun various negative human vices; one of these vices is cruelty to others. He asked his Sikhs to be ever kind and polite to all and to never practise cruelty.

Below are a few Shabads from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib that give the Sikh guidance on the importance of moving away from this negative human trait:

Cruelty ..... is a river of fire

In the following Shabad, Guru Sahib informs the Sikhs of the importance of keeping away from four negative human traits - cruelty, material attachment, greed and anger. Anyone who fails to do so will be burnt by the consequences! Guru Sahib asks the devotee to practise good deeds and actions and that only then can one be saved from the fires of hell!

ਹੰਸੁ ਹੇਤੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਕੋਪੁ ਚਾਰੇ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਗਿ ॥ ਪਵਹਿ ਦਝਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਤਰੀਐ ਕਰਮੀ ਲਗਿ ॥੨॥

Hans hėṯ lobẖ kop cẖārė naḏī­ā ag. Paveh ḏajẖeh nānkā ṯarī­ai karmī lag. ॥2॥

Cruelty, material attachment, greed and anger are the four rivers of fire. Falling into them, one is burned, O Nanak! One is saved only by holding tight to good deeds. ॥2॥ (SGGS p147)

Abandon your cruel nature

This beautiful Shabad by the third master, Guru Amar Das, is telling the mind to let go of the "inner harshness/force" - (ਅੰਦਰਹੁ is anḏrahu which means "from the inside"; ਜੋਰੁ is jor which means "force") - Let go of this inner harshness/ cruelty; have fear of the Lord and relinquish your madness. By reciting the word of the Shabad - Gurbani, peace and tranquillity will come to your mind; and any good deeds and actions done in this state of mind will be approved by the Lord. So, the Guru is asking the devotee to change the state of the mind and become humble and tranquil thus:

ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ ਸੇਖਾ ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਜੋਰੁ ਛਡਿ ਤੂ ਭਉ ਕਰਿ ਝਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭੈ ਕੇਤੇ ਨਿਸਤਰੇ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਕਠੋਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਭੇਦਿ ਤੂੰ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਵਸੈ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥ ਸਾਂਤੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਣੀ ਸਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਾਏ ਥਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਾਮਿ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਪੁਛਹੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥

Salok mehlā 3. Sėkẖā anḏrahu jor cẖẖad ṯū bẖa­o kar jẖal gavā­ė. Gur kai bẖai kėṯė nisṯarė bẖai vicẖ nirbẖa­o pā­ė. Man kaṯẖor sabaḏ bẖėḏ ṯūʼn sāʼnṯ vasai man ā­ė. Sāʼnṯī vicẖ kār kamāvṇī sā kẖasam pā­ė thā­ė. Nānak kām kroḏẖ kinai na pā­i­o pucẖẖahu gi­ānī jā­ė. (1)

Shalok, Third Mehl: O Shaykh, abandon your cruel nature; live in the Fear of God and give up your madness. Through the Fear of the Guru, many have been saved; in this fear, find the Fearless Lord. Pierce your stone heart with the Word of the Shabad; let peace and tranquillity come to abide in your mind. If good deeds are done in this state of peace, they are approved by the Lord and Master. O Nanak, through sexual desire and anger, no one has ever found God - go, and ask any wise man. (1) (SGGS p551)

Cruelty has not left you ... why?

Bhagat Parmanand tells us to discard cruelty and embrace kindness for other living being otherwise this lifetime will be wasted. Maharaj says that without good deeds and remembrance of the Lord, this priceless jewel of a life is lost for a shell. Keep company of the wise and holy and learn the lesson of Gurmat.

ਹਿੰਸਾ ਤਉ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਨਹੀ ਛੂਟੀ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਲੀ ॥ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਕਥਾ ਪੁਨੀਤ ਨ ਚਾਲੀ ॥੩॥੧॥੬॥

Hinsā ṯa­o man ṯė nahī cẖẖūtī jī­a ḏa­i­ā nahī pālī. Parmānanḏ sāḏẖsangaṯ mil kathā punīṯ na cẖālī.((3)(1)(6))

Cruelty has not left your mind; you have not cherished kindness for other living beings. Parmaanand has joined the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. Why have you not followed the sacred teachings?((3)(1)(6)) (SGGS p1253)

cruel-minded .... shall suffer in pain

Although in this shabad, the Guru is referring to "cruel-minded rulers", this verse applies to any person in a dominant position. If because of that honoured position, which you have obtained due to your past good deeds and karmas, you practise cruelty on your subordinates, then be warned, the Guru promises you suffering in pain for a very long time. Take heed; listen to Gurbani and amend your ways; have mercy in your mind; see the God's light in all; be kind and considerate! - Don't be cruel to anyone.

ਦਾਨੰ ਪਰਾ ਪੂਰਬੇਣ ਭੁੰਚੰਤੇ ਮਹੀਪਤੇ ॥ ਬਿਪਰੀਤ ਬੁਧ੍ਯ੍ਯੰ ਮਾਰਤ ਲੋਕਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਦੁਖ ਭੋਗਤੇ ॥੨੪॥

Ḏānaʼn parā pūrbėṇ bẖuʼncẖanṯė mahīpaṯė. Biprīṯ buḏẖ­yaʼn māraṯ lokah Nānak cẖirankāl ḏukẖ bẖogṯė. (24)

The kings of the earth are eating up the blessings of the good karma of their past lives. Those cruel-minded rulers who oppress the people, O Nanak, shall suffer in pain for a very long time. (24) (SGGS p1356)

Manmukhs are hard and cruel

ਮਨਮੁਖ ਹੀਅਰਾ ਅਤਿ ਕਠੋਰੁ ਹੈ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਾਰ ਕਰੀਠਾ ॥ ਬਿਸੀਅਰ ਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਦੂਧੁ ਪੀਆਈਐ ਬਿਖੁ ਨਿਕਸੈ ਫੋਲਿ ਫੁਲੀਠਾ ॥੩॥

Manmukẖ hī­arā aṯ kaṯẖor hai ṯin anṯar kār karīṯẖā. Bisī­ar ka­o baho ḏūḏẖ pī­ā­ī­ai bikẖ niksai fol fuṯẖīlā.(3)

The hearts of the self-willed manmukhs are hard and cruel; their inner beings are dark. Even if the poisonous snake is fed large amounts of milk, it will still yield only poison.(3) (SGGS p171)

Eradicate cruelty .... world becomes a friend

ਮਨ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਤੇ ਬੁਰਾ ਮਿਟਾਨਾ ॥ ਪੇਖੈ ਸਗਲ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਸਾਜਨਾ ॥

Man apunė ṯė burā mitānā. Pėkẖai sagal sarisat sājnā.

One who eradicates cruelty from within his own mind, looks upon all the world as his friend. (SGGS p266)

Practicing cruelty ... lost in darkness

ਪਰ ਦ੍ਰੋਹ ਕਰਤ ਬਿਕਾਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਪਾਪ ਰਤ ਕਰ ਝਾਰ ॥ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬੂਝ ਨਾਹੀ ਤਮ ਮੋਹ ਮਹਾਂ ਅੰਧਾਰ ॥੨॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਠਗਉਰੀ ਖਾਇ ਮੂਠੋ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਸਿਰਜਨਹਾਰ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੁਪਤ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਿਓ ਨਿਆਰੋ ਮਾਤੰਗ ਮਤਿ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ॥੩॥

Par ḏaroh karaṯ bikār ninḏā pāp raṯ kar jẖār. Binā saṯgur būjẖ nāhī ṯam moh mahāʼn anḏẖār.(2) Bikẖ ṯẖag­urī kẖā­ė mūṯẖo cẖiṯ na sirjanhār. Gobinḏ gupaṯ ho­ė rahi­o ni­āro māṯang maṯ ahaʼnkār.(3)

He practices fraud, cruelty and slander against others; he sins, and washes his hands. Without the True Guru, he has no understanding; he is lost in the utter darkness of anger and attachment.(2) He takes the intoxicating drugs of cruelty and corruption, and is plundered. He is not conscious of the Creator Lord God. The Lord of the Universe is hidden and unattached. The mortal is like a wild elephant, intoxicated with the wine of egotism.(3) (SGGS p1229)

See also

• SGGS on kindness

External Links

• www.gurbani.org