Gurbani Word Of The Day: mahtaa

ਮਹਤਾ (mahtaa)

Meaning: noun: Minister, chief.

Quote:
ਲਬੁ ਪਾਪੁ ਦੁਇ ਰਾਜਾ ਮਹਤਾ   ਕੂੜੁ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੁ॥
ਲਾਲਚ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਪ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਰਾਜਾ ਅਤੇ ਵਜ਼ੀਰ (ਬਣੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ), ਝੂਠ ਚੌਧਰੀ ਬਣਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ।

labb paap dui raajaa mahtaa   kooṛ hoaa sikdaar.
Greed and sin both have become the king and minister, and falsehood has become the tax collector. -Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 469

Message: The verse above does not condemn the offices of king or minister or tax collector. It exposes the ills that the society was suffering from, during the days of Guru Nanak.

The rulers and their deputies were cruel and indifferent to the sufferings of the subjects. They were greedy, egoistic, without any sense of justice and had many other vices.

They had become synonymous with greed, sin and lust. These negative traits were ruling their minds.

Deprived of proper education and knowledge, the populace was ignorant and as good as blind (who can be led in any direction).

People were conducting themselves like cowards, unable to react, as they would have really wished, because of fear and helplessness.

The Guru warned people of such injustices and extolled the values of good leadership, education and sense of self-esteem, vital for dignified living.

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. -George Orwell, an English writer, 1903-1950

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