Phunhay, Verse 1 — lost in wonder at the Beloved
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
With pen in hand, the One who is beyond reach writes each person's story on the forehead.
The One of matchless beauty is woven into everyone.
I cannot speak Your praise with my mouth.
Nanak says: I am spellbound, gazing at You. I give my whole self to You.
Some beauty is so great that words run out.
This verse opens the Phunhay, a set of short, loving verses by Guru Arjan. The first picture is a pen. The One holds the pen and writes each life's story on the forehead. That One is agamm, beyond our reach. And yet the One is woven into everything, closer than close.
The Guru says, ustat kahan na jaa-ay mukhahu tuhaaree-aa. My mouth cannot speak Your praise.
Think of standing by the ocean at sunset. You stop talking and just look. The verse ends with balihaaree-aa, I give my whole self to You. It is the joy of someone who has seen the Beloved.
When has something been so beautiful that words ran out?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI