A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 17 to 19

 

a-sann’kh  jap,  a-sann’kh  bhaa-o.
(In the Creator's wondrous creation:) countless people meditate, and countless are those who love Vaheguru.

a-sann’kh  poo-jaa,  a-sann’kh  tap  taa-o.
Countless people practice worship, and countless people practice enduring devotion.

a-sann’kh  garanth,  mukh vey’d  paaTh.
There are countless scriptures and readers of the Vedas (ancient Hindu books).

a-sann’kh  joh’g,  man  reh-eh  u-daas.
Countless Yogis keep their minds detached from the world.

a-sann’kh  bhagat,  guN  gi-yaan  vee-chaar.
Countless devotees reflect on the virtues (qualities) and knowledge of Vaheguru.

a-sann’kh  sat-ee,  a-sann’kh  daa-taar.
Countless people live truthfully, and countless people give away in charity.

a-sann’kh  soor,  muh  bhakh  saar.
Countless brave warriors take on attacks in battle head-on.

a-sann’kh  moh’n,  liv  laa-e  taar.
Countless sages sit absorbed in continuous meditation.

kud-rat  kavaN,  k-haa  vee-chaar.
What power do I have to describe Your wonders?

vaar-yaa  na  jaa-vaa  ey’k  vaar.
Why don’t I fully devote myself to You all in one go?

jo  tuDh  bhaa-vai,  saa-ee  bhal-ee  kaar.
Whatever pleases You, that alone is good.

too  sad-aa  salaa-mat,  nirunn-kaar.  ||17||
O Formless One! (May I remember that) You alone are here forever! ||17||
However good and pious someone may be, appreciate them and take benefit of their company, but remember not to get attached to them, for God alone is forever.

a-sann’kh  moo-rakh,  ann’Dh  ghor.
(In the Creator's wondrous creation:) countless fools are completely spiritually blind.

a-sann’kh  chor,  haraam-khor.
Countless thieves wrongfully take what belongs to others.

a-sann’kh  amar,  kar  jaa-eh  jo’r.
Countless people forcefully impose their will on others.

a-sann’kh  gal-vaDh,  hath-yaa  kamaa-eh.
Countless people murder living beings by cutting throats.
The unnecessary killing of any living being that has a throat or neck, i.e. any animal or human, is considered an act of “fools who are completely spiritually blind” (‘asankh moorakh andh ghor’).â

a-sann’kh  paa-pee,  paap  kar  jaa-eh.
Countless sinners keep on sinning.

a-sann’kh  koo-Riyaar,  koo-Rey  firaa-eh.
Countless liars wander lost in their falsehood.

a-sann’kh  ma’leshh,  mal  bhakh  khaa-eh.
Countless filthy-uncivilised people speak and eat filth.

a-sann’kh  ninn-dak,  sir  kar-eh  bhaar.
Countless carry burden on their heads of slandering others.

naa-nak  neech  ke-hai  vee-chaar.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) in humility gives this description.Ý

vaar-yaa  na  jaa-vaa  ey’k  vaar.
Why don’t I fully devote myself to You all in one go?

jo  tuDh  bhaa-vai,  saa-ee  bhal-ee  kaar.
Whatever pleases You, that alone is good.

too  sad-aa  salaa-mat,  nirunn-kaar.  ||18||
O Formless One! (May I remember that) You alone are here forever! ||18||
Do not get attached to negative or people who do bad, even if they are countless of them in the world. Remember, they are temporary, but God is forever.

a-sann’kh  naav,  a-sann’kh  thaav.
(In the Creator's wondrous creation:) Vaheguru Ji has countless names, and countless living places.
The positive examples of people in the 17^th verse (pauree) and the negative examples of people in the 18^th verse (pauree) can all be directly experienced in one’s life. However, this verse (pauree) refers to Vaheguru and those places which seem unreachable.

a-gamm  a-gamm,  a-sann’kh  lo^a.
Countless are Their created realms and worlds that are beyond human reach.

a-sann’kh  keh-eh,  sir  bhaar  ho-e.
To talk of ‘countlessness’ is a headache.
One is left with a headache and regret if one falsely claims they know everything about Vaheguru and the universe, but then later realises that the vastness of both is beyond their understanding.

akh-ree  naam,  akh-ree  saa-laah.
Meditation upon the Name of God is possible through words, and appreciation of God is possible through words.

akh-ree,  gi-yaan  geet  guN  gaah.
Learning spiritual wisdom and singing the songs of Vaheguru’s Praises are possible through words.

akh-ree,  likhaN  bo-laN  baaN.
Writing and speaking a language is possible through words.

akh-raa  sirr  sann-jog  v-khaaN.
The destiny written on one's forehead is explained through words by readers.

jin  ey-eh  likh-ey,  tis  sirr  naa-eh.
But the One who writes the destinies has nothing written on Their forehead.

jiv  furmaa-ey,  tiv  tiv  paa-eh.
As They ordain, so do we receive.

jey-taa  kee-taa,  tey-taa  naa-o.
All that has been created, has an identityÝ.

viN  naa-vai,  naa-hee  ko  thaa-o.
No place exists that is without an identity.

kud-rat  kavaN,  k-haa  vee-chaar.
What power do I have to describe Your wonders?

vaar-yaa  na  jaa-vaa  ey’k  vaar.
Why don’t I fully devote myself to You all in one go?

jo  tuDh  bhaa-vai,  saa-ee  bhal-ee  kaar.
Whatever pleases You, that alone is good.

too,  sad-aa  salaa-mat,  nirunn-kaar.  ||19||
O Formless One! (May I remember that) You alone are here forever! ||19||

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â For this reason, the diet of spiritually wise people is based on compassion and cruelty-free.

Ý The word 'neech' means 'low. However, in this context it refers to the 'humility' of Guru Nanak Ji. Even though Guru Nanak Ji is perfect and God-revealed on earth, he models humility and shows his disciples how to always remain humble in calling himself ‘low.'

Ý The word ‘naa-o’ in this line, and ‘naa-vai’ in this and the following line literally means ‘name.’ A name is a symbol for identification. Therefore, to better fit the context of these lines, the word ‘identity’ has been used.