Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I speak and sing His praises, playing the instrument of my mind. The more I know Him, the more I play.
The One to whom we sing — how great is He? And where is His Place?
Those who speak of Him and praise Him all keep on speaking of Him with love.
This one says: the more you get to know the One, the more you want to sing praise.
This shabad is an ashtapadee, a longer song with about eight verses. Here Guru Nanak begins with a lovely puzzle. Aakh aakh man vaavnaa: "I speak and sing, playing my mind like an instrument." The more he knows the One, the more his mind plays.
And yet he asks, so kayvad kit thaa-ay, "how great is He, and where does He live?" No one can answer. The One is bigger than any words.
Think of your favorite song. The more you know it, the more you hear in it, and the more you love it. Knowing it better does not make it smaller. It makes it deeper. Praising the One works the same way. The singing never runs out, and that is part of the joy.
Have you ever loved something so much that trying to describe it made you feel the inadequacy of description? What is that like?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI