Published: December 02, 2009
Guru Tegh Bahadar, An Ideal Human Being
What About Sikhs Today?
To mark the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadar, S. Khushwant Singh wrote: I reproduce my translation of one of Guru Tegh Bahadar hymns - entitled Jo nar dukh mein dukh nahi manai - devoted to describing an ideal human being:*
He who in adversity grieves not;
He who is without fear;
He who falls not in the snare of sensuality;
Who has no greed for gold, knowing it is like dust;
He who does not slander people when their backs are turned;
Nor flatters them to their faces;
He who has neither gluttony in his heart;
Nor vanity, nor attachment to
worldly things;
He whom nothing moves;
Neither good fortune nor ill;
Who cares not for worldly applause;
Nor its censure;
Who ignores every wishful fantasy;
And accepts what comes his way at it comes;
He whom lust cannot lure;
Nor anger command;
In such a one lives God himself;
On such a one God's Grace descends;
For he knows the righteous path;
O Nanak, his soul mingles with the Lord;
As water mingles with water.
S. Khushwant Singh
Source: Sikh Vichar Manch
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