Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sing praise with your tongue through the days and the nights - the ability itself was His gift to begin with.
Worshiping with heart-felt love, such servants live absorbed in the One Himself.
Past and present lie open to them; they recognize the One's Hukam moving through it all. But who can tell His whole glory? I cannot manage even one of His qualities.
Those who dwell in His presence around the clock - they are the completed ones.
The completed person is not the flawless one. It is the one who never leaves the Presence.
This pauri gives the servants great gifts, and then shows the humility that keeps those gifts safe. The gifts are big. They know the past and the present. Parabh apnay kaa hukam pachhaanai — they recognize the One's Hukam, the flow of existence. They can read events as they unfold, like a surfer reading the waves. Japji places this same understanding right at the door.
But in the middle, at the very moment of privilege, comes Sukhmani's way of emptying itself: tis kaa gun kahi ayk na jaan-o — I cannot describe even one of His qualities. These words come from Guru Arjan, halfway through writing the most careful song of praise in the tradition. It is not pretend modesty. It is honest measuring. The finished song will be a thimble held up to the ocean, and the Guru says so while filling it.
The title at the close is worth a pause. Aath pahar parabh baseh hajooray — those who live in His presence all day and all night. Kaho naanak say-ee jan pooray — says Nanak, they are the complete ones. Pooray means complete, whole. Perfection here is not being flawless, and it is not great achievement. It is never leaving His presence.
Is it possible to be with someone all day even while doing other things? How - and with the One?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI