It is common experience that whenever some one is talking ill of another every one listens with attention. Criticism of others seems to add spice to conversations. The criticism may or may not be based on truth.In most cases slander of another is manifestation of the slanderer’s own faults and mindset, says the fifth Guru:

ਸੁਖੀਏ ਕਉ ਪੇਖੈ ਸਭ ਸੁਖੀਆ ਰੋਗੀ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਸਭ ਰੋਗੀ ॥

ਕਰਣ ਕਰਾਵਨਹਾਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਪਨ ਹਾਥਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੀ ॥੧॥

ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਜਿਨਿ ਅਪੁਨਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਤਾ ॥

ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਭੂਲਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਗਲੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ੫੬੧੦

One who is happy sees every one happy; but one who is afflicted finds every one sick (doing wrong);

All this is got done by God who is present and controls all actions;

(But man seems to forget the presence of God)

O my mind one who sheds delusion sees the Creator in all,

He does not see any one on the wrong path (M: 5, p 610).

Often we do not look within and realize our own faults. Finding others’ faults then becomes part of our nature. This creates a gulf between man and God:

ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਮੂੜਾ ਅਵਰਾ ਆਖਿ ਦੁਖਾਏ ॥

ਮੁੰਢੈ ਦੀ ਖਸਲਤਿ ਨ ਗਈਆ ਅੰਧੇ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਏ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭੈ ਭੰਨਿ ਨ ਘੜਿਓ ਰਹੈ ਅੰਕਿ ਸਮਾਏ ॥

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਸਹਸਾ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਚੂਕੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ॥ ੩੫੪੯

One does not see within himself but hurts others with his words;

His innate nature does not change and he suffers by being separated from God;

He does not mold his mind by obeying the guru which could unite him with God;

Unless he follows the Word, he would keep suffering (M: 3, p 549).

Slander becomes part of a person’s nature based on his past deeds. Like all Karma the slanderer faces the consequences of his actions:

ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਤਹੂ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹਿ ॥

ਚੋਰ ਜਾਰ ਜੂਆਰ ਤੇ ਬੁਰਾ ॥ ਅਣਹੋਦਾ ਭਾਰੁ ਨਿੰਦਕਿ ਸਿਰਿ ਧਰਾ ॥੩॥

ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੇ ਭਗਤ ਨਿਰਵੈਰ ॥ ਸੋ ਨਿਸਤਰੈ ਜੋ ਪੂਜੈ ਪੈਰ ॥

ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖਿ ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਭੋਲਾਇਆ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਮਿਟਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੨੧॥੩੪॥੫੧੧੪੫

A slanderer can never escape the consequences of his deeds;

He is worse than a thief, an adulterer and a gambler;

By his actions he unnecessarily takes the faults of others;

God’s devotees bear no ill-will;

Serving them leads to salvation;

But the slanderer led astray by God slanders them;

The influence of past deeds cannot be erased (M: 5. p 1145).

This is how a person’s nature evolves. Since he keeps doing evil, God puts him on the wrong path and lets him suffer:

ਨਾਰਾਇਣਿ ਲਇਆ ਨਾਠੂੰਗੜਾ ਪੈਰ ਕਿਥੈ ਰਖੈ ॥

ਕਰਦਾ ਪਾਪ ਅਮਿਤਿਆ ਨਿਤ ਵਿਸੋ ਚਖੈ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਪਚਿ ਮੁਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਦੇਹੀ ਭਖੈ ॥

ਸਚੈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਕਉਣੁ ਤਿਸ ਨੋ ਰਖੈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਜੋ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਲਖੈ ॥੨੮॥ ੫੩੧੫

A person who is pushed by the Lord cannot choose which way to go?

He keeps indulging in innumerable faults and likes evil;

Burns within himself slandering others;

Who can save one who is discarded by the eternal Master?

Let us seek refuge in the ineffable Lord (M: 5, p 315).

The Bible warns people not to be judgmental lest they be subjected to the same:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again (Matthew 7:1-2).

We must therefore be on the guard.

Slandering others is a serious affliction which is incurable except by God:

ਅਵਖਧ ਸਭੇ ਕੀਤਿਅਨੁ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਾ ਦਾਰੂ ਨਾਹਿ ॥

ਆਪਿ ਭੁਲਾਏ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਪਚਿ ਪਚਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਹਿ ॥੨॥੫੩੧੫

One may try all treatments but none works on a slanderer;

He is led astray by God and keeps suffering in incarnations (M: 5, p 315).

When a person slanders another he takes the latter’s faults and suffers their consequences. Not realizing this he does not spare even God’s devotees who bear no ill will to any one:

ਸੰਤ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਜੋਨੀ ਭਵਨਾ ॥ ਸੰਤ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਰੋਗੀ ਕਰਨਾ ॥

ਸੰਤ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਦੂਖ ਸਹਾਮ ॥ ਡਾਨੁ ਦੈਤ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕਉ ਜਾਮ ॥੧॥

ਸੰਤਸੰਗਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਜੋ ਬਾਦੁ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਸਾਦੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Slandering saints keeps one in cycles of death and rebirth;

This causes numerous afflictions;

It results in pain and suffering as the slanderer is punished by the messenger of death;

One who comes in conflict with the saints does not enjoy peace. Pause.

Some people argue there is no harm in telling the truth. However one should find fault with others only if he (or she) is free of all faults. The third Guru says:

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਭਲੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਕੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰੰਨਿ ॥

ਮੁਹ ਕਾਲੇ ਤਿਨ ਨਿੰਦਕਾ ਨਰਕੇ ਘੋਰਿ ਪਵੰਨਿ ॥੬॥

ਏ ਮਨ ਜੈਸਾ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਤੈਸਾ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਤੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥

ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਵਣਾ ਕਹਣਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੭॥ ੩੭੫੫

Slander of none isright; the self oriented ignorant people do this;

They face disgrace and go through terrible hell. 6.

A man becomes what he pursues and acts accordingly;

He reaps what he sows; nothing more needs to be said (M: 3, p 755).

In most cases there is no firm basis for slander. It seems to be caused by jealousy and peace of mind never returns:

ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਐਸੇ ਹੀ ਝਰਿ ਪਰੀਐ ॥

ਇਹ ਨੀਸਾਨੀ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਭਾਈ ਜਿਉ ਕਾਲਰ ਭੀਤਿ ਗਿਰੀਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜਉ ਦੇਖੈ ਛਿਦ੍ਰੁ ਤਉ ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਉਮਾਹੈ ਭਲੋ ਦੇਖਿ ਦੁਖ ਭਰੀਐ ॥

ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਚਿਤਵੈ ਨਹੀ ਪਹੁਚੈ ਬੁਰਾ ਚਿਤਵਤ ਚਿਤਵਤ ਮਰੀਐ ॥੧॥ ੫੮੨੩

A slanderer collapses like a wall made of saltpeter (defective material). Pause.

He is enthused to see others’ shortcomings; he grieves on seeing goodness;

He plans evil day and night and dies, burning within in (M: 5, p 823).

Bhagat Ravidas says a person may do all the acts considered good (based on Hindu beliefs) but they are all negated if he slanders others:

ਜੇ ਓਹੁ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਵੈ ॥ ਜੇ ਓਹੁ ਦੁਆਦਸ ਸਿਲਾ ਪੂਜਾਵੈ ॥

ਜੇ ਓਹੁ ਕੂਪ ਤਟਾ ਦੇਵਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਰੈ ਨਿੰਦ ਸਭ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ਰ੮੭੫

If he bathes at the sixty eight Hindu pilgrim centers;

If he worships at the twelve Shivalingams,

Has wells and water tanks dug for the good of the people,

They all go waste if he indulges in slander (Ravidas, p 875).

Further he says– bathing at Kurukshetra on solar eclipse day which is considered a sacred action, giving his wife duly adorned in charity, listening to scriptures, offering food, donating his land and mansions that bring adulation and helping others even at the cost of his own interests all go waste and he will keep going through the cycles of death and rebirth.

Generally speaking slander causes animosity but it is not so with God’s devotees, Bhagats and saints. A man of God is not affected by slander. Instead he feels God is making the slanderer do so for the devotee’s good. The fourth Guru says:

ਹਰਿ ਜਨੁ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵੈ ॥

ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਨਿੰਦ ਕਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਅਪੁਨਾ ਗੁਨੁ ਨ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਆਪੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਮਤਿ ਦੇਵੈ ਸੁਆਮੀਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਬੋਲਿ ਬੁਲਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ ੪੭੧੯

A man of God praises the Master;

If some one slanders him he does not give up his virtues. Pause;

(He believes)

Whatever is happening is being done by the Master; It does every thing;

The Master motivates and makes us say the words It wants (M: 4, p 719).

The saints and Bhagats look at every thing positively. They even look forward to being criticized for this way they come to know their shortcomings and change course if warranted. Bhagat Kabir says:

ਨਿੰਦਉ ਨਿੰਦਉ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਲੋਗੁ ਨਿੰਦਉ ॥ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਖਰੀ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਬਾਪੁ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਮਹਤਾਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਬੈਕੁੰਠਿ ਜਾਈਐ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਮਨਹਿ ਬਸਾਈਐ ॥

ਰਿਦੈ ਸੁਧ ਜਉ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਹਮਰੇ ਕਪਰੇ ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਧੋਇ ॥੧॥

Come every one please slander me;

A man of God loves slander;

Slander teaches the way the parents do. Pause.

One who is slandered goes to heaven;

Because one then gives up evil and remembers God’s virtues;

The mind is cleansed when slandered, because the slanderer washes off my faults. 1.

Continuing he says:

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰੈ ਸੁ ਹਮਰਾ ਮੀਤੁ ॥ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਮਾਹਿ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਚੀਤੁ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਸੋ ਜੋ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਹੋਰੈ ॥ ਹਮਰਾ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਲੋਰੈ ॥੨॥

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਹਮਰੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਹਮਰਾ ਕਰੈ ਉਧਾਰੁ ॥

ਜਨ ਕਬੀਰ ਕਉ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਡੂਬਾ ਹਮ ਉਤਰੇ ਪਾਰਿ ॥੩॥੨੦॥੭੧॥ਕ੩੩੯

Any one who criticizes me is my friend;

I pay attention to what the slanderer says;

A slenderer is one who obviates further criticism;

He wants me to lead a better life. 2.

I love being criticized;

Because the slanderer lifts me from vice;

Slander is the best thing that can happen to me;

While I get across the world ocean the slanderer drowns in it (Kabir, p 339).

Indulging in slander is a result of delusion of the mind. Most people are afflicted by this. But a devotee of God is different. We should seek his company Sadh Sangat the holy congregation:

ਓਹੁ ਜੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭੁਲਾਵਾ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਤਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਉਰਝਿਓ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥

ਪੂਰਨ ਭਗਤੁ ਪੁਰਖ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕਾ ਸਰਬ ਥੋਕ ਤੇ ਨਿਆਰਾ ॥੨॥

ਨਿੰਦਉ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਾਹੂ ਬਾਤੈ ਏਹੁ ਖਸਮ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ॥

ਜਾ ਕਉ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਾਉ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥ ੫੬੧੧

Every one talks of people being misled by delusion but it entangles all;

Only the perfect devotee of the Master remains unattached to every thing. 2.

Do not condemn him he is made by the Master;

Those who receive Divine blessings remember God in Sadh Sangat (M: 5, p 611).

One given to slander does not even spare the saints and the perfect guru. That becomes the cause for his suffering:

ਜੋ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕੀ ਸੁ ਅਉਖਾ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇਆ ॥

ਨਰਕ ਘੋਰੁ ਦੁਖ ਖੂਹੁ ਹੈ ਓਥੈ ਪਕੜਿ ਓਹੁ ਢੋਇਆ ॥ ੪੩੦੯

Any one who slanders the true guru suffers in life;

He is put in the hell of terrible suffering (M: 4, p 309).

Only a true guru can relieve us from evil. However one finds the true guru by Divine grace. Without this the slanderer does not come on the correct path and keeps indulging in slander:

ਜੇ ਵਡ ਭਾਗ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਜਨਾ ਭੇਟਾਇ ॥

ਦਰਸਨੁ ਸੰਤ ਦੇਹੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸਭੁ ਦਾਲਦੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥

ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਲੋਗ ਰਾਮ ਜਨ ਨੀਕੇ ਭਾਗਹੀਣ ਨ ਸੁਖਾਇ ॥

ਜਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਹਿ ਜਨ ਊਚੇ ਨਰ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਡੰਸੁ ਲਗਾਇ ॥੩॥

ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਨਰ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਜਿਨ ਜਨ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਏ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸਖਾ ਸਖਾਇ ॥

ਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਚੋਰ ਵੇਮੁਖ ਮੁਖ ਕਾਲੇ ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ ਨ ਭਾਇ ॥੪॥੪੮੮੧

Those with good fortune meet saints, the men of God;

Pray to the Lord for saints’ company to relieve all pain and misery. 2.

The men of God are good people but the unfortunate ones cannot stand them;

The slanderers seem to be stung when the exalted devotees praise God. 3.

Curse makes the slanderers dislike the devotees who have God in mind;

To God those who dislike the guru’s glory are selfish thieves and would be shamed (M: 4, p 881).

The ignorant slanderer harms himself and others:

ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਅੰਧੇਸੁਧਿ ਨ ਕਾਈ ॥ ਆਤਮ ਘਾਤੀ ਹੈ ਜਗਤ ਕਸਾਈ ॥

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਬਹੁ ਭਾਰੁ ਉਠਾਵੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਮਜੂਰੀ ਭਾਰੁ ਪਹੁਚਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥੩੧੧੮

A self oriented person loses consciousness;

He hurts the self and harms others;

He takes the faults of others through slander; it is like carrying some one’s load to destination without any wages (M: 3, p 118).

But the Guru is compassionate and pardons the slanderer if he seeks forgiveness:

ਕੋਈ ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਸਰਣਿ ਗੁਰ ਆਵੈ ॥

ਪਿਛਲੇ ਗੁਨਹ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਬਖਸਿ ਲਏ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਾਲਿ ਰਲਾਵੈ ॥੪੮੫੫

If a person slanders the guru but then seeks his sanctuary;

The guru forgives past transgressions and leads him to the holy congregation (M: 4, p 855).

Slander is a disease without treatment. The only escape from it is to seek out a true guru who can guide. Success in this comes through Divine grace.