Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 108
Verse 1 of 3

Even the Great Ones Cannot Measure You

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bilaaval mehlaa 5.
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
ਕਿਆ ਹਮ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਬੇਚਾਰੇ ਬਰਨਿ ਨ ਸਾਕਹ ਏਕ ਰੋਮਾਈ ॥
ki-aa ham jee-a jant baychaaray baran na saakah ayk romaa-ee.
What am I? Just a poor living being. I cannot even describe one of Your hairs, O Lord.
ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਮਹੇਸ ਸਿਧ ਮੁਨਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਤੇਰੀ ਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥
barahm mahays siDh mun indraa bay-ant thaakur tayree gat nahee paa-ee. ||1||
Even Brahma, Shiva, the Siddhas and the silent sages do not know Your State, O Infinite Lord and Master. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

What am I? Just one small living being — I could not describe even a single strand of You.

Even the greatest and wisest ones people tell stories about have never reached the bottom of who You are.

Even the wisest never reach the bottom of the mystery.
The deeper layer

No one can measure the One, not even the greatest.

Baran na saakah ayk romaa-ee — I cannot describe even one hair of You. Barahm mahays siDh mun indraa — Brahma, Shiva, the siddhas, the sages and Indra are great beings, named here with respect, and even they never reach the end of the One. Think of trying to measure the ocean with a teacup. Feeling small before something that big is simple, honest humility.

A Question to Sit With

What is something so big that no one has ever fully explained it?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate