Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
With pen in hand, the One beyond all reach writes the story across every forehead. The One is woven into all of it, a beauty beyond compare, present in everything.
I cannot put Your praise into words; my mouth simply cannot hold it. Nanak can only gaze, spellbound, at the sight of You, and gives himself, gladly and completely, in wonder.
Even the one who can name everything falls silent in wonder before the One, and simply gazes, spellbound.
A Shalok of wonder beyond words. Hath kalamm agamm mastak likhaavatee — with pen in hand, the agamm, the One beyond reach, writes on every forehead. The picture of destiny stays. But it is read as loving closeness, not a fate to dread. Urajh rahi-o sabh sang — the One is woven into all of it. Anoop roopaavatee — a beauty beyond compare.
The close is pure wonder. Ustat kahan na jaa-ay mukhahu tuhaaree-aa — my mouth cannot speak Your praise. Mohee daykh daras naanak balihaaree-aa — spellbound by the sight of You, I give myself to You. Praise spills over the edge of words, and the self is given gladly. Think of looking up at a sky full of stars and only being able to say "wow."
It fits beside the Baavan Akhree's verse about the letters themselves. Even the master of all letters falls silent before the One.
When has something been so beautiful or amazing that you had no words for it, only wonder?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI