Those who support eating meat often quote the line ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ and claim that Guru Ji is saying that the sustenance of life depends on eating other living beings, so there is no harm in killing living beings to eat their meat. However, this interpretation is completely out of context and does not align with the complete Shabad. Guru Ji is not teaching humans what to eat here. Instead, Guru Ji is addressing human anxiety and worry about sustenance and livelihood.
To understand this Shabad correctly, it must be read as a whole, not as a single, isolated line. In this shabad, Guru Ji is referring to the creatures that live in the ocean. Guru Ji is explaining, “Hey, don’t worry about sustenance; this worry belongs to Waheguru.
Even the beings living in the ocean are provided sustenance by the Almighty. There are no shops or fields in the ocean, yet the Almighty has provided sustenance there. Look at the complete verse; there is absolutely no endorsement of eating meat in this verse. The concern of this verse is that Guru is stopping us from worrying, not telling us about eating meat.
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੨ ॥
Shalok, Second Mehl:
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥
O Nanak! don’t be anxious; the Lord will take care of you.
ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਅਨੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਰੋਜੀ ਦੇਇ ॥
He created the creatures in water, and He gives them their nourishment.
ਓਥੈ ਹਟੁ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਿਰਸ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
There are no stores open there, and no one farms there.
ਸਉਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਲਏ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥
No business is ever transacted there, and no one buys or sells.
ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
Animals eat other animals; this is what the Lord has given them as food.
ਵਿਚਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਸਾਇਰਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਸਾਰ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
He created them in the oceans, and He provides for them as well.
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥੧॥
O Nanak! don’t be anxious; the Lord will take care of you. ||1||
– Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji: 955
The difference between humans and animals is that humans have intellect and consciousness; they can think about what food is best for them and what is better for other living beings.
Gurmat never supports extracting moral guidance from animal behavior. Just because animals kill does not mean humans should imitate them. Killing living beings and eating their meat is the work of the demons and the animals.
Humans are blessed with intellect, conscience, and the ability to practice compassion. Unlike animals, humans can choose what they eat. They can survive without killing living beings.
When nourishing foods like grains, lentils, milk, and ghee are available, choosing to kill living beings for taste shows a lack of compassion and a lower state of consciousness.
Gurmat always teaches that being compassionate is one of the most important values. A compassionate Gursikh naturally feels pain at the suffering of others and avoids unnecessary harm. So, a true Gursikh of the Guru never kills an animal to eat its meat.