ਤੇਤੀਸ ਕਰੋੜੀ ਹੈ ਖੇਲ ਖਾਨਾ ॥
taytees karorhee hai khayl khaanaa.
He has 33,000,000 play-houses.
ਚਉਰਾਸੀ ਲਖ ਫਿਰੈ ਦਿਵਾਨਾਂ ॥
cha-uraasee lakh firai divaanaaN.
His beings wander insanely through 8.4 million incarnations.
ਬਾਬਾ ਆਦਮ ਕਉ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥
baabaa aadam ka-o kichh nadar dikhaa-ee.
He bestowed His Grace on Adam, the father of mankind,
ਉਨਿ ਭੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਘਨੇਰੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥
un bhee bhisat ghanayree paa-ee. ||2||
who then lived in paradise for a long time. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One has thirty-three million playhouses, worlds to play in.
Beings wander like lost souls through 8.4 million kinds of lives.
The One showed a little grace to Father Adam, the first human,
and he too lived a long time in paradise.
Grace has been reaching toward people since the very first of us.
Grace has reached people from the very first human on.
Kabir weaves the Muslim story of Baba Adam and bhisat (paradise) together with the Indian picture of countless lifetimes (the 8.4 million forms). Two traditions' images sit side by side, both pointing to a One who shows nadar, a glance of grace. Both stories are honored.
A Question to Sit With
What does it feel like to be shown unexpected kindness?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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