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.
Nine regions of land, seven continents, fourteen worlds, the three moods of nature and the four ages of time — You made them all through the four ways living things are born, and You seated each one in Your great house.
You placed four lamps, one by one, into the hands of the four ages, like lamps passed from hand to hand.
Everything, however vast, comes from One.
Guru Nanak starts by painting the whole universe. He names nine regions of land and seven continents. He names fourteen worlds and the three gun — the three moods that color everything in nature. He names the four ages of time and the four ways living things are born. All of it, he says, was set in place and given a home by the One.
Then comes a lovely picture. Chaaray deevay chahu hath dee-ay — four lamps were placed into four hands. Each age of time is handed its own lamp, its own light to see by. Think of a relay race where each runner gets the baton in turn. The runners change, but the baton comes from the same Source.
Basant Hindol is a bright, swinging spring tune. So the shabad opens in pure wonder at how much runs on the One's power.
When you look up at the night sky, what does it feel like to know the same One made all of it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI