Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 3
Verse 4 of 6

So Many Names, One Reality

ਕਿੰਤੇ ਨਾਮਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਤੁਮ ਸਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਹਰੇ ॥
kintay naamaa ant na jaani-aa tum sar naahee avar haray.
You have so many Names, Lord, I do not know their limit. There is no other equal to You.
ਊਚਾ ਨਹੀ ਕਹਣਾ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ॥੩॥
oochaa nahee kahnaa man meh rahnaa aapay jaanai aap karay. ||3||
Do not speak out loud - remain in your mind. The Lord Himself knows, and He Himself acts. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

You have more names than anyone could ever count, and no one comes close to being like You.

Do not shout it out; keep it inside your mind. You Yourself know, and You Yourself do everything.

You do not have to be loud to be heard by the One who already knows.
The deeper layer

The One has more names than anyone can count, and the best way to hold the One is quietly, inside.

Kintay naamaa ant na jaani-aa — You have so many names, I cannot find their end. Different people and languages call the One by many names. They all point to the same One. Tum sar naahee avar — no one else is equal to You.

Oochaa nahee kahnaa man meh rahnaa — no need to say it loudly; keep it in your mind. This is not against singing praise out loud. It is a reminder that the deepest remembering happens inside.

Think of a hug from someone who loves you. They do not need to shout it. You just know. Aapay jaanai aap karay — the One already knows, and is already at work.

A Question to Sit With

When is quietness more powerful than words?

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

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