Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The god Brahma was born from the lotus that grew from Vishnu's navel, and he sang the holy books in a beautiful voice.
Yet even he could not find where the One ends. So he kept coming and going, still in the dark.
Even the greatest singer of holy books could not find where the One ends, because the One has no end.
The old story says Brahma, a god who makes worlds, was born from a lotus. The lotus grew from the navel of Vishnu. Brahma sang the Vedas, the oldest holy books, in a perfect voice. Taa ko ant na jaa-ee lakh-naa — he could not find the One's end. So he kept aavat jaat, coming and going, still in the dark.
This is not making fun of Brahma. It is a gentle warning for us. Think of trying to measure the ocean with a ruler. Being very good with the ruler does not help. Reciting more or knowing more cannot reach the edge of the One either. "Coming and going in the dark" is a mind going round and round, trying to hold the endless in small hands. The rest of the shabad, the hymn, shows the other way: not measuring, but loving.
Have you ever tried to be "good enough" at something to finally feel okay, and found the finish line kept moving?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI