Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 295
Verse 13 of 136

A Thousand Tongues Can't Reach His Edge

ਪਉੜੀ ॥
pa-orhee.
Pauree:
ਖਸਟਮਿ ਖਟ ਸਾਸਤ੍ਰ ਕਹਹਿ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਕਥਹਿ ਅਨੇਕ ॥
khastam khat saastar kaheh simrit katheh anayk.
The sixth day of the lunar cycle: The six Shaastras say, and countless Simritees assert,
ਊਤਮੁ ਊਚੌ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਗੁਣ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਖ ॥
ootam oochou paarbarahm gun ant na jaaneh saykh.
that the Supreme Lord God is the most sublime and lofty. Even the thousand-tongued serpent does not know the limits of His Glories.
ਨਾਰਦ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਨ ਸੁਕ ਬਿਆਸ ਜਸੁ ਗਾਵਤ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ॥
naarad mun jan suk bi-aas jas gaavat gobind.
Naarad, the humble beings, Suk and Vyaasa sing the Praises of the Lord of the Universe.
ਰਸ ਗੀਧੇ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਬੀਧੇ ਭਗਤ ਰਚੇ ਭਗਵੰਤ ॥
ras geeDhay har si-o beeDhay bhagat rachay bhagvant.
They are imbued with the Lord's essence; united with Him; they are absorbed in devotional worship of the Lord God.
ਮੋਹ ਮਾਨ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਬਿਨਸਿਓ ਪਾਈ ਸਰਨਿ ਦਇਆਲ ॥
moh maan bharam binsi-o paa-ee saran da-i-aal.
Emotional attachment, pride and doubt are eliminated, when one takes to the Sanctuary of the Merciful Lord.
ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਬਸੇ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥
charan kamal man tan basay darsan daykh nihaal.
His Lotus Feet abide within my mind and body and I am enraptured, beholding the Blessed Vision of His Darshan.
ਲਾਭੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤੋਟਾ ਹਿਰੈ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
laabh milai totaa hirai saaDhsang liv laa-ay.
People reap their profits, and suffer no loss, when they embrace love for the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
ਖਾਟਿ ਖਜਾਨਾ ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧਿ ਹਰੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇ ॥੬॥
khaat khajaanaa gun niDh haray naanak naam Dhi-aa-ay. ||6||
They gather in the treasure of the Lord, the Ocean of Excellence, O Nanak, by meditating on the Naam. ||6||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Day six. All the great books and countless old writings agree: the Boundless is the highest and most wonderful — so vast that even the wisest cannot find its edge.

The famous seers and sages spent their lives singing its praise. Soaked in that sweetness, laced through with love, they lived inside their devotion.

When you step into the shelter of the Kind One, the fog of pride and "me against you" thins out. The One feels as close as your own body and mind, and just seeing it fills you with joy. It's the bargain where you only gain — sink your heart into good company, gather the treasure, and keep the One in mind.

Even a thousand tongues can't reach the One's edge — yet in good company it feels as near as your own body.
The deeper layer

Khastam is the sixth day, echoing khat saastar — the six Shaastras again. The verse lists revered figures — Naarad, Suk, Biaas (Vyaasa) — sages from the Puranic and epic tradition, named with respect: they too spent their lives singing the One. Sekh is Sheshnaag, the thousand-tongued cosmic serpent who, even with a thousand tongues, can't reach the end of the One's glories — a vivid image of infinity. The phrase charan kamal man tan basay ("the lotus-feet dwell in mind and body") is a devotional shorthand for the felt nearness of the divine; here rendered as the One feeling as close as your own body. Laabh milai totaa hirai — "profit comes, loss departs" — is the recurring wealth-that-lasts refrain.

A Question to Sit With

What feels closer to you than you usually notice — until you stop and pay attention?

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

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