True is the Primal Being, and True is His dwelling.
ਊਚ ਤੇ ਊਚ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਨਿਰਬਾਨੁ ॥
ooch tay ooch nirmal nirbaan.
He is the Highest of the high, Immaculate and Detached, in Nirvaanaa.
ਅਪੁਨਾ ਕੀਆ ਜਾਨਹਿ ਆਪਿ ॥
apunaa kee-aa jaaneh aap.
He alone knows His handiwork.
ਆਪੇ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਬਿਆਪਿ ॥
aapay ghat ghat rahi-o bi-aap.
He Himself pervades each and every heart.
ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਨਿਧਾਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਇਆਲ ॥
kirpaa niDhaan naanak da-i-aal.
The Merciful Lord is the Treasure of Compassion, O Nanak.
ਜਿਨਿ ਜਪਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਭਏ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥੧੨॥੧॥੨॥੨॥੩॥੭॥
jin japi-aa naanak tay bha-ay nihaal. ||12||1||2||2||3||7||
Those who chant and meditate on Him, O Nanak, are exalted and enraptured. ||12||1||2||2||3||7||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
The One is true, and its home is true. It is the highest of the high, spotless and free, resting in perfect peace.
Only the One understands everything it has made. And it lives inside every single heart — including yours.
Nanak says: it is a treasure of kindness, gentle and giving. And everyone who keeps it in mind fills up, right to the brim, with joy.
The One is true, lives inside every heart, and fills those who remember it with joy.
The deeper layer
The One is sat, true, in being and in home; ooch tay ooch, nirmal, nirbaan: highest of the high, spotless, and free. It alone knows its own handiwork; it lives ghat ghat, in each and every heart; kirpaa nidhaan, a treasure of compassion. Those who keep it in mind become nihaal, brimming over with joy. The numeral tag closes the ashtapadee.
A Question to Sit With
What is something good you can carry inside you no matter where you go?
