So how do I make sense of this verse?
You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? If you religious people are doing 'religious' killing for meat, then what is Adharam (atheism)? If you are a religious person then whom will we call a butcher?" (SGGS 1103)
Let's take it from the top by looking at the entire shabad. Consider whether your understanding of the verses changes when given the entire shabad as context for the meaning of a smaller part. I have posted the entire shabad which BTW starts on Ang 1102 and ends on 1104. Sant Kabir ji is building or constructing a very spiritual argument inside of a poetic structure in a very systematic way.
Hunting would not be the proper referent for the killing of animals mentioned in the verse. Rather this is referring to ritual slaughter of animals as sacrifice by Hindus (pandits), a common occurrence in the time of Kabir.
Read it. Let's reflect on it. And then try a vichaar. We may have to go to a different thread. Some will want to fuss over translations.
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ik oankaar sathigur prasaadh ||
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
ਪਡੀਆ ਕਵਨ ਕੁਮਤਿ ਤੁਮ ਲਾਗੇ ॥
paddeeaa kavan kumath thum laagae ||
O Pandit, O religious scholar, in what foul thoughts are you engaged?
ਬੂਡਹੁਗੇ ਪਰਵਾਰ ਸਕਲ ਸਿਉ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਜਪਹੁ ਅਭਾਗੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
booddahugae paravaar sakal sio raam n japahu abhaagae ||1|| rehaao ||
You shall be drowned, along with your family, if you do not meditate on the Lord, you unfortunate person. ||1||Pause||
ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਪੜੇ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੁ ਖਰ ਚੰਦਨ ਜਸ ਭਾਰਾ ॥
baedh puraan parrae kaa kiaa gun khar chandhan jas bhaaraa ||
What is the use of reading the Vedas and the Puraanas? It is like loading a donkey with sandalwood.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨੀ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਾ ॥੧॥
raam naam kee gath nehee jaanee kaisae outharas paaraa ||1||
You do not know the exalted state of the Lord's Name; how will you ever cross over? ||1||
ਜੀਅ ਬਧਹੁ ਸੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਅਧਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਤ ਭਾਈ ॥
jeea badhhahu s dhharam kar thhaapahu adhharam kehahu kath bhaaee ||
You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action?
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਮੁਨਿਵਰ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਸਾਈ ॥੨॥
aapas ko munivar kar thhaapahu kaa ko kehahu kasaaee ||2||
You call yourself the most excellent sage; then who would you call a butcher? ||2||
ਮਨ ਕੇ ਅੰਧੇ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਕਾਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਵਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
man kae andhhae aap n boojhahu kaahi bujhaavahu bhaaee ||
You are blind in your mind, and do not understand your own self; how can you make others understand, O brother?
ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਬੇਚਹੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਅਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਈ ॥੩॥
maaeiaa kaaran bidhiaa baechahu janam abirathhaa jaaee ||3||
For the sake of Maya and money, you sell knowledge; your life is totally worthless. ||3||
ਨਾਰਦ ਬਚਨ ਬਿਆਸੁ ਕਹਤ ਹੈ ਸੁਕ ਕਉ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਈ ॥
naaradh bachan biaas kehath hai suk ko pooshhahu jaaee ||
Naarad and Vyaasa say these things; go and ask Suk Dayv as well.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮੈ ਰਮਿ ਛੂਟਹੁ ਨਾਹਿ ਤ ਬੂਡੇ ਭਾਈ ॥੪॥੧॥
kehi kabeer raamai ram shhoottahu naahi th booddae bhaaee ||4||1||
Says Kabeer, chanting the Lord's Name, you shall be saved; otherwise, you shall drown, brother. ||4||1||
ਬਨਹਿ ਬਸੇ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਲਉ ਮਨਹੁ ਨ ਤਜਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥
banehi basae kio paaeeai jo lo manahu n thajehi bikaar ||
Living in the forest, how will you find Him? Not until you remove corruption from your mind.
ਜਿਹ ਘਰੁ ਬਨੁ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਕੀਆ ਤੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਸੰਸਾਰ ॥੧॥
jih ghar ban samasar keeaa thae poorae sansaar ||1||
Those who look alike upon home and forest, are the most perfect people in the world. ||1||
ਸਾਰ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਰਾਮਾ ॥
saar sukh paaeeai raamaa ||
You shall find real peace in the Lord,
ਰੰਗਿ ਰਵਹੁ ਆਤਮੈ ਰਾਮ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
rang ravahu aathamai raam ||1|| rehaao ||
if you lovingly dwell on the Lord within your being. ||1||Pause||
ਜਟਾ ਭਸਮ ਲੇਪਨ ਕੀਆ ਕਹਾ ਗੁਫਾ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਸੁ ॥
jattaa bhasam laepan keeaa kehaa gufaa mehi baas ||
What is the use of wearing matted hair, smearing the body with ashes, and living in a cave?
ਮਨੁ ਜੀਤੇ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤਿਆ ਜਾਂ ਤੇ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਤੇ ਹੋਇ ਉਦਾਸੁ ॥੨॥
man jeethae jag jeethiaa jaan thae bikhiaa thae hoe oudhaas ||2||
Conquering the mind, one conquers the world, and then remains detached from corruption. ||2||
ਅੰਜਨੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਭੈ ਕੋਈ ਟੁਕੁ ਚਾਹਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਬਿਡਾਨੁ ॥
anjan dhaee sabhai koee ttuk chaahan maahi biddaan ||
They all apply make-up to their eyes; there is little difference between their objectives.
ਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਜਿਹ ਪਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਲੋਇਨ ਪਰਵਾਨੁ ॥੩॥
giaan anjan jih paaeiaa thae loein paravaan ||3||
But those eyes, to which the ointment of spiritual wisdom is applied, are approved and supreme. ||3||
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਅਬ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਦੀਆ ਸਮਝਾਇ ॥
kehi kabeer ab jaaniaa gur giaan dheeaa samajhaae ||
Says Kabeer, now I know my Lord; the Guru has blessed me with spiritual wisdom.
ਅੰਤਰਗਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਅਬ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਕਤਹੂ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥੨॥
antharagath har bhaettiaa ab maeraa man kathehoo n jaae ||4||2||
I have met the Lord, and I am emancipated within; now, my mind does not wander at all. ||4||2||
ਰਿਧਿ ਸਿਧਿ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਫੁਰੀ ਤਬ ਕਾਹੂ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਾਜ ॥
ridhh sidhh jaa ko furee thab kaahoo sio kiaa kaaj ||
You have riches and miraculous spiritual powers; so what business do you have with anyone else?
ਤੇਰੇ ਕਹਨੇ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਿਆ ਕਹਉ ਮੈ ਬੋਲਤ ਹੀ ਬਡ ਲਾਜ ॥੧॥
thaerae kehanae kee gath kiaa keho mai bolath hee badd laaj ||1||
What should I say about the reality of your talk? I am embarrassed even to speak to you. ||1||
ਰਾਮੁ ਜਿਹ ਪਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
raam jih paaeiaa raam ||
One who has found the Lord,
ਤੇ ਭਵਹਿ ਨ ਬਾਰੈ ਬਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
thae bhavehi n baarai baar ||1|| rehaao ||
does not wander from door to door. ||1||Pause||
ਝੂਠਾ ਜਗੁ ਡਹਕੈ ਘਨਾ ਦਿਨ ਦੁਇ ਬਰਤਨ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥
jhoothaa jag ddehakai ghanaa dhin dhue barathan kee aas ||
The false world wanders all around, in hopes of finding wealth to use for a few days.
ਰਾਮ ਉਦਕੁ ਜਿਹ ਜਨ ਪੀਆ ਤਿਹਿ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਭਈ ਪਿਆਸ ॥੨॥
raam oudhak jih jan peeaa thihi bahur n bhee piaas ||2||
That humble being, who drinks in the Lord's water, never becomes thirsty again. ||2||
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਜਿਹ ਬੂਝਿਆ ਆਸਾ ਤੇ ਭਇਆ ਨਿਰਾਸੁ ॥
gur prasaadh jih boojhiaa aasaa thae bhaeiaa niraas ||
Whoever understands, by Guru's Grace, becomes free of hope in the midst of hope.
ਸਭੁ ਸਚੁ ਨਦਰੀ ਆਇਆ ਜਉ ਆਤਮ ਭਇਆ ਉਦਾਸੁ ॥੩॥
sabh sach nadharee aaeiaa jo aatham bhaeiaa oudhaas ||3||
One comes to see the Lord everywhere, when the soul becomes detached. ||3||
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਰਸੁ ਚਾਖਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਾ ਹਰ ਤਾਰਿ ॥
raam naam ras chaakhiaa har naamaa har thaar ||
I have tasted the sublime essence of the Lord's Name; the Lord's Name carries everyone across.
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰੈ ਪਾਰਿ ॥੪॥੩॥
kahu kabeer kanchan bhaeiaa bhram gaeiaa samudhrai paar ||4||3||
Says Kabeer, I have become like gold; doubt is dispelled, and I have crossed over the world-ocean. ||4||3||
ਉਦਕ ਸਮੁੰਦ ਸਲਲ ਕੀ ਸਾਖਿਆ ਨਦੀ ਤਰੰਗ ਸਮਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥
oudhak samundh salal kee saakhiaa nadhee tharang samaavehigae ||
Like drops of water in the water of the ocean, and like waves in the stream, I merge in the Lord.
ਸੁੰਨਹਿ ਸੁੰਨੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸਮਦਰਸੀ ਪਵਨ ਰੂਪ ਹੋਇ ਜਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥੧॥
sunnehi sunn miliaa samadharasee pavan roop hoe jaavehigae ||1||
Merging my being into the Absolute Being of God, I have become impartial and transparent, like the air. ||1||
ਬਹੁਰਿ ਹਮ ਕਾਹੇ ਆਵਹਿਗੇ ॥
bahur ham kaahae aavehigae ||
Why should I come into the world again?
ਆਵਨ ਜਾਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਕਾ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੁਝਿ ਸਮਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
aavan jaanaa hukam thisai kaa hukamai bujh samaavehigae ||1|| rehaao ||
Coming and going is by the Hukam of His Command; realizing His Hukam, I shall merge in Him. ||1||Pause||
ਜਬ ਚੂਕੈ ਪੰਚ ਧਾਤੁ ਕੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਐਸੇ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥
jab chookai panch dhhaath kee rachanaa aisae bharam chukaavehigae ||
When the body, formed of the five elements, perishes, then any such doubts shall end.
ਦਰਸਨੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਭਏ ਸਮਦਰਸੀ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਹਿਗੇ ॥੨॥
dharasan shhodd bheae samadharasee eaeko naam dhhiaavehigae ||2||
Giving up the different schools of philosophy, I look upon all equally; I meditate only on the One Name. ||2||
ਜਿਤ ਹਮ ਲਾਏ ਤਿਤ ਹੀ ਲਾਗੇ ਤੈਸੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥
jith ham laaeae thith hee laagae thaisae karam kamaavehigae ||
Whatever I am attached to, to that I am attached; such are the deeds I do.
ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਜਉ ਅਪਨੀ ਤੌ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਮਾਵਹਿਗੇ ॥੩॥
har jee kirapaa karae jo apanee tha gur kae sabadh samaavehigae ||3||
When the Dear Lord grants His Grace, then I am merged in the Word of the Guru's Shabad. ||3||
ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਹੁ ਮਰਹੁ ਫੁਨਿ ਜੀਵਹੁ ਪੁਨਰਪਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
jeevath marahu marahu fun jeevahu punarap janam n hoee ||
Die while yet alive, and by so dying, be alive; thus you shall not be born again
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਨੇ ਸੁੰਨ ਰਹਿਆ ਲਿਵ ਸੋਈ ॥੪॥੪॥
kahu kabeer jo naam samaanae sunn rehiaa liv soee ||4||4||
Says Kabeer, whoever is absorbed in the Naam remains lovingly absorbed in the Primal, Absolute Lord. ||4||4||
ਜਉ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਤੁਮ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਬਤਾਵਹੁ ॥
jo thumh mo ko dhoor karath ho tho thum mukath bathaavahu ||
If You keep me far away from You, then tell me, what is liberation?
ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਿਓ ਸਗਲ ਮਹਿ ਅਬ ਕੈਸੇ ਭਰਮਾਵਹੁ ॥੧॥
eaek anaek hoe rehiou sagal mehi ab kaisae bharamaavahu ||1||
The One has many forms, and is contained within all; how can I be fooled now? ||1||
ਰਾਮ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਤਾਰਿ ਕਹਾਂ ਲੈ ਜਈ ਹੈ ॥
raam mo ko thaar kehaan lai jee hai ||
O Lord, where will You take me, to save me?
ਸੋਧਉ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹਾ ਦੇਉ ਕੈਸੀ ਕਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਾਈ ਹੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
sodhho mukath kehaa dhaeo kaisee kar prasaadh mohi paaee hai ||1|| rehaao ||
Tell me where, and what sort of liberation shall You give me? By Your Grace, I have already obtained it. ||1||Pause||
ਤਾਰਨ ਤਰਨੁ ਤਬੈ ਲਗੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਤਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
thaaran tharan thabai lag keheeai jab lag thath n jaaniaa ||
People talk of salvation and being saved, as long as they do not understand the essence of reality.
ਅਬ ਤਉ ਬਿਮਲ ਭਏ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਮਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੨॥੫॥
ab tho bimal bheae ghatt hee mehi kehi kabeer man maaniaa ||2||5||
I have now become pure within my heart, says Kabeer, and my mind is pleased and appeased. ||2||5||
ਜਿਨਿ ਗੜ ਕੋਟ ਕੀਏ ਕੰਚਨ ਕੇ ਛੋਡਿ ਗਇਆ ਸੋ ਰਾਵਨੁ ॥੧॥
jin garr kott keeeae kanchan kae shhodd gaeiaa so raavan ||1||
Raawan made castles and fortresses of gold, but he had to abandon them when he left. ||1||
ਕਾਹੇ ਕੀਜਤੁ ਹੈ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵਨੁ ॥
kaahae keejath hai man bhaavan ||
Why do you act only to please your mind?
ਜਬ ਜਮੁ ਆਇ ਕੇਸ ਤੇ ਪਕਰੈ ਤਹ ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਛਡਾਵਨ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
jab jam aae kaes thae pakarai theh har ko naam shhaddaavan ||1|| rehaao ||
When Death comes and grabs you by the hair, then only the Name of the Lord will save you. ||1||Pause||
ਕਾਲੁ ਅਕਾਲੁ ਖਸਮ ਕਾ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਇਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਬਧਾਵਨੁ ॥
kaal akaal khasam kaa keenhaa eihu parapanch badhhaavan ||
Death, and deathlessness are the creations of our Lord and Master; this show, this expanse, is only an entanglement.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਤੇ ਅੰਤੇ ਮੁਕਤੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਾਮ ਰਸਾਇਨੁ ॥੨॥੬॥
kehi kabeer thae anthae mukathae jinh hiradhai raam rasaaein ||2||6||
Says Kabeer, those who have the sublime essence of the Lord in their hearts - in the end, they are liberated. ||2||6||
ਦੇਹੀ ਗਾਵਾ ਜੀਉ ਧਰ ਮਹਤਉ ਬਸਹਿ ਪੰਚ ਕਿਰਸਾਨਾ ॥
dhaehee gaavaa jeeo dhhar mehatho basehi panch kirasaanaa ||
The body is a village, and the soul is the owner and farmer; the five farm-hands live there.
ਨੈਨੂ ਨਕਟੂ ਸ੍ਰਵਨੂ ਰਸਪਤਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਕਹਿਆ ਨ ਮਾਨਾ ॥੧॥
nainoo nakattoo sravanoo rasapath eindhree kehiaa n maanaa ||1||
The eyes, nose, ears, tongue and sensory organs of touch do not obey any order. ||1||
ਬਾਬਾ ਅਬ ਨ ਬਸਉ ਇਹ ਗਾਉ ॥
baabaa ab n baso eih gaao ||
O father, now I shall not live in this village.
ਘਰੀ ਘਰੀ ਕਾ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਗੈ ਕਾਇਥੁ ਚੇਤੂ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
gharee gharee kaa laekhaa maagai kaaeithh chaethoo naao ||1|| rehaao ||
The accountants summoned Chitar and Gupat, the recording scribes of the conscious and the unconscious, to ask for an account of each and every moment. ||1||Pause||
ਧਰਮ ਰਾਇ ਜਬ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਗੈ ਬਾਕੀ ਨਿਕਸੀ ਭਾਰੀ ॥
dhharam raae jab laekhaa maagai baakee nikasee bhaaree ||
When the Righteous Judge of Dharma calls for my account, there shall be a very heavy balance against me.
ਪੰਚ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਾਨਵਾ ਭਾਗਿ ਗਏ ਲੈ ਬਾਧਿਓ ਜੀਉ ਦਰਬਾਰੀ ॥੨॥
panch kirasaanavaa bhaag geae lai baadhhiou jeeo dharabaaree ||2||
The five farm-hands shall then run away, and the bailiff shall arrest the soul. ||2||
ਕਹੈ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਖੇਤ ਹੀ ਕਰਹੁ ਨਿਬੇਰਾ ॥
kehai kabeer sunahu rae santhahu khaeth hee karahu nibaeraa ||
Says Kabeer, listen, O Saints: settle your accounts in this farm.
ਅਬ ਕੀ ਬਾਰ ਬਖਸਿ ਬੰਦੇ ਕਉ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਭਉਜਲਿ ਫੇਰਾ ॥੩॥੭॥
ab kee baar bakhas bandhae ko bahur n bhoujal faeraa ||3||7||
O Lord, please forgive Your slave now, in this life, so that he may not have to return again to this terrifying world-ocean. ||3||7||
As an aside, I am not convinced that adharam means atheism, or anything close to it. But that is a topic for a different threaded discussion.