Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 22
Verse 4 of 5

Only the Maker Knows Its Measure

ਸੋਈ ਜਾਣੈ ਕਰਣੈਹਾਰਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਚਾਰਾ ॥
so-ee jaanai karnaihaaraa keetaa ki-aa baychaaraa.
Only the Creator Lord knows it; what can any poor creature do?
ਆਪਣੀ ਗਤਿ ਮਿਤਿ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਪੂਰ ਭੰਡਾਰਾ ॥੩॥
aapnee gat mit aapay jaanai har aapay poor bhandaaraa. ||3||
Only He Himself knows His own state and extent. The Lord Himself is the treasure overflowing. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Only the Maker knows it. What can any small creature do?

Only the One knows the One's own state and size. The One is the treasure, always overflowing.

It's okay not to have everything figured out — some things only the One can hold.
The deeper layer

Only the Maker knows how big the Maker is, and that is where wonder begins.

So-ee jaanai karnaihaaraa — only the Creator knows it. Keetaa ki-aa baychaaraa — what can a small created being do? Aapnee gat mit aapay jaanai — only the One knows His own state and His own size.

Resting in what we cannot measure is where wonder begins. Think of standing at the edge of the ocean. You cannot see where it ends, and that is part of the joy. Har aapay poor bhandaaraa — the One is a treasure that is always full, always overflowing.

A Question to Sit With

Is there something you're at peace with not fully understanding?

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

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