Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Think of all the nights and all the days, every season and every month, the whole earth and everything it carries.
Think of all the waters and winds, all the fires, all the worlds and stars and galaxies. There are more than anyone could ever count.
Behind all of it runs the flow of existence, the way everything moves and holds together. It is far too vast for anyone to measure or fully describe. People can praise it and wonder at it until they are tired out. Nanak says: still they have only touched the smallest edge.
The One's order is so huge that no one can measure it, and that is a wonder.
It is a shalok, a short verse, by Guru Nanak, and it starts a new part of the song. First comes a long list. All nights and days, all dates and weekdays. All seasons and months, the whole earth and everything on it. All waters, winds, and fires. All worlds, galaxies, people, and shapes.
All of this sets up one big idea. Hukam na jaapee kayt-rhaa — no one knows how great the Hukam is. The Hukam is the One's will, the flow of how everything works.
People can talk and praise and think about it until they are tired. Nanak says they still do not grasp even a blade of grass of it. He calls them gavaar, simple folk. That is not a failure. It is wonder. Think of trying to count every star on a clear night. You never finish, and that is exactly why you keep looking up. Awe, the feeling of "Wah!", is the doorway.
What is something so big or amazing that thinking about it fills you with wonder?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI