Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. Its Name is Truth. It is the Creator of all. It is fearless and full of love, beyond time, never born, shining on its own. And the One is found by the Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
When I try to praise this Oneness, I run out of words. If I called You the greatest emperor I could ever imagine, that would still be far too small. What could my little words possibly add to something so vast? So I only say what You let me say, and I am glad even to try.
The Mool Mantar, the "root words," comes first. They also open the whole Guru Granth Sahib, and here they begin the Bilaaval section. Each phrase is short and full.
Ik-onkaar means One, the only reality. It is not one god counted among many, but Oneness itself. Sat naam means Truth is its Name. Kartaa purakh means the Creator, woven through everything. Nirbha-o means without fear. Nirvair means without hate for anyone. Akaal moorat means the form beyond time, which never dies. Ajoonee means never born into birth and death. Saibhang means it exists all by itself. Gur parsaad means it is known by grace, a gift already here for anyone who opens to it.
Then comes the first verse. Too sultaan kahaa ha-o mee-aa means "You are the Emperor, and I call You a chief." How could that add to Your greatness?
Think of praising the ocean by calling it a big puddle. Even our grandest titles are too small. So Guru Nanak praises only as the One lets him, humble and glad.
If something is already endless, what could any compliment add to it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI