Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In the One's House lives Brahma, the four-faced potter who shaped the whole universe.
In the One's House lives Shiva, wild and carefree, the teacher of the world, who explains the heart of all wisdom.
Wrong and right stand at the One's door holding staffs. Chitr and Gupt, the record-keepers, write everything down.
Dharam Raa-ay, the judge who brings every life to its end, is the doorkeeper.
Such is the King, the Lord of the World.
Every great power people have ever pictured works in the One's house.
Namdev names them one by one. Kulaal barahmaa chatur mukh — Brahma, the four-faced one, is the potter who shaped the universe. Eesar baavlaa jagat guroo — Shiva, the wild one lost in joy, is the world's teacher. Both are here, working in this House.
Paap punn — wrong and right — stand at the door like guards holding staffs. Chitar gupat are the old record-keepers who write down every deed. Dharam raa-ay, the judge who weighs each life, is simply the doorman. In other places he can sound frightening. Here he just keeps the door.
Namdev takes the whole old picture of the universe — maker, teacher, judge, record-keepers — and makes each one part of the household staff. It is like learning that all the most famous people in town work in one kitchen, for one cook. The wonder is how much it gathers into one: no power stands outside the One, or above it.
What does it change to imagine that even the biggest forces answer to something greater?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI