ਆਪਨ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤੀਜਾ ॥
āpan khēl āp varatījā .
He Himself has staged His own drama;
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੧॥
nānak karanaihār n dūjā .1.
O Nanak, there is no other Creator. ||1||
ਜਬ ਹੋਵਤ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇਵਲ ਧਨੀ ॥
jab hōvat prabh kēval dhanī .
When there was only God the Master,
ਕੋਊ ਨਰਕ ਕੋਊ ਸੁਰਗ ਬੰਛਾਵਤ ॥
kōū narak kōū surag banshāvat .
Some have gone to hell, and some yearn for paradise.
ਆਲ ਜਾਲ ਮਾਇਆ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥
āl jāl māiā janjāl .
Worldly snares and entanglements of Maya,
ਹਉਮੈ ਮੋਹ ਭਰਮ ਭੈ ਭਾਰ ॥
haumai mōh bharam bhai bhār .
egotism, attachment, doubt and loads of fear;
ਤਬ ਬੰਧ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਗਨੀ ॥
tab bandh mukat kah kis kau ganī .
then who was called bound or liberated?
ਜਬ ਏਕਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
jab ēkah har agam apār .
When there was only the Lord, Unfathomable and Infinite,
ਤਬ ਨਰਕ ਸੁਰਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਉਨ ਅਉਤਾਰ ॥
tab narak surag kah kaun autār .
then who entered hell, and who entered heaven?
ਦੂਖ ਸੂਖ ਮਾਨ ਅਪਮਾਨ ॥
dūkh sūkh mān apamān .
pain and pleasure, honor and dishonor
ਅਨਿਕ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਕੀਓ ਬਖ੍ਯਾਨ ॥
anik prakār kīō bakhyān .
- these came to be described in various ways.
ਆਪਨ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ॥
āpan khēl āp kar dēkhai .
He Himself creates and beholds His own drama.
ਖੇਲੁ ਸੰਕੋਚੈ ਤਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕੈ ॥੭॥
khēl sankōchai tau nānak ēkai .7.
He winds up the drama, and then, O Nanak, He alone remains. ||7||
ਜਬ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
jab niragun prabh sahaj subhāi .
When God was without attributes, in absolute poise,
ਤਬ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤਿ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਠਾਇ ॥
tab siv sakat kahah kit thāi .
then where was mind and where was matter - where was Shiva and Shakti?
ਜਬ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਧਰੈ ॥
jab āpah āp apanī jōt dharai .
When He held His Own Light unto Himself,
ਜਹ ਅਬਿਗਤੁ ਭਗਤੁ ਤਹ ਆਪਿ ॥
jah abigat bhagat tah āp .
Wherever the Eternal Lord's devotee is, He Himself is there.
ਜਹ ਪਸਰੈ ਪਾਸਾਰੁ ਸੰਤ ਪਰਤਾਪਿ ॥
jah pasarai pāsār sant paratāp .
He unfolds the expanse of His creation for the glory of His Saint.
ਦੁਹੂ ਪਾਖ ਕਾ ਆਪਹਿ ਧਨੀ ॥
duhū pākh kā āpah dhanī .
He Himself is the Master of both worlds.
ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਨਿਡਰੁ ਕਵਨ ਕਤ ਡਰੈ ॥
tab kavan nidar kavan kat darai .
then who was fearless, and who was afraid?
ਆਪਨ ਚਲਿਤ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰ ॥
āpan chalit āp karanaihār .
He Himself is the Performer in His own plays;
ਨਾਨਕ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥੨॥
nānak thākur agam apār .2.
O Nanak, the Lord Master is Unfathomable and Infinite. ||2||
ਉਨ ਕੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਉਨਹੂ ਬਨੀ ॥
un kī sōbhā unahū banī .
His Praise is to Himself alone.
ਆਪਹਿ ਕਉਤਕ ਕਰੈ ਅਨਦ ਚੋਜ ॥
āpah kautak karai anad chōj .
He Himself performs and plays His amusements and games.
ਆਪਹਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਨ ਨਿਰਜੋਗ ॥
āpah ras bhōgan nirajōg .
He Himself enjoys pleasures, and yet He is unaffected and untouched.
ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਸੁਖ ਆਪਨ ਆਸਨ ॥
abināsī sukh āpan āsan .
When the Immortal Lord was seated at ease,
ਤਹ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਕਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਬਿਨਾਸਨ ॥
tah janam maran kah kahā bināsan .
then where was birth, death and dissolution?
ਜਬ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
jab pūran karatā prabh sōi .
When there was only God, the Perfect Creator,
ਜਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਪਨ ਨਾਇ ਲਾਵੈ ॥
jis bhāvai tis āpan nāi lāvai .
He attaches whomever He pleases to His Name.
ਜਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਖੇਲ ਖਿਲਾਵੈ ॥
jis bhāvai tis khēl khilāvai .
He causes whomever He pleases to play in His play.
ਬੇਸੁਮਾਰ ਅਥਾਹ ਅਗਨਤ ਅਤੋਲੈ ॥
bēsumār athāh aganat atōlai .
He is beyond calculation, beyond measure, uncountable and unfathomable.
ਤਬ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
tab jam kī trās kahah kis hōi .
then who was afraid of death?
ਜਬ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਏਕਾ ॥
jab abigat agōchar prabh ēkā .
When there was only the One Lord, unmanifest and incomprehensible,
ਤਬ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਪਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਪੂਛਤ ਲੇਖਾ ॥
tab chitr gupat kis pūshat lēkhā .
then who was called to account by the recording scribes of the conscious and the subconscious?
ਜਿਉ ਬੁਲਾਵਹੁ ਤਿਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਬੋਲੈ ॥੮॥੨੧॥
jiu bulāvah tiu nānak dās bōlai .8.21.
As You inspire him to speak, O Lord, so does servant Nanak speak. ||8||21||
ਜਬ ਨਾਥ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਅਗਾਧੇ ॥
jab nāth niranjan agōchar agādhē .
When there was only the Immaculate, Incomprehensible, Unfathomable Master,
ਤਬ ਕਉਨ ਛੁਟੇ ਕਉਨ ਬੰਧਨ ਬਾਧੇ ॥
tab kaun shutē kaun bandhan bādhē .
then who was emancipated, and who was held in bondage?
ਆਪਨ ਆਪ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਅਚਰਜਾ ॥
āpan āp āp hī acharajā .
He Himself, in and of Himself, is the most wonderful.
ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਨ ਰੂਪ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਉਪਰਜਾ ॥੩॥
nānak āpan rūp āp hī uparajā .3.
O Nanak, He Himself created His Own Form. ||3||
ਜਹ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਤਿ ਹੋਤਾ ॥
jah niramal purakh purakh pat hōtā .
When there was only the Immaculate Being, the Lord of beings,
ਤਹ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਧੋਤਾ ॥
tah bin mail kahah kiā dhōtā .
there was no filth, so what was there to be washed clean?
ਜਹ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਨਿਰਬਾਨ ॥
jah niranjan nirankār nirabān .
When there was only the Pure, Formless Lord in Nirvaanaa,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਕਉ ਮਾਨ ਕਉਨ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ॥
tah kaun kau mān kaun abhimān .
then who was honored, and who was dishonored?
ਜਹ ਸਰੂਪ ਕੇਵਲ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥
jah sarūp kēval jagadīs .
When there was only the Form of the Lord of the Universe,
ਤਹ ਛਲ ਛਿਦ੍ਰ ਲਗਤ ਕਹੁ ਕੀਸ ॥
tah shal shidr lagat kah kīs .
then who was tainted by fraud and sin?
ਜਹ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥
jah jōt sarūpī jōt sang samāvai .
When the Embodiment of Light was immersed in His Own Light,
ਤਹ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਭੂਖ ਕਵਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵੈ ॥
tah kisah bhūkh kavan tripatāvai .
then who was hungry, and who was satisfied?
ਕਰਨ ਕਰਾਵਨ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ॥
karan karāvan karanaihār .
He is the Cause of causes, the Creator Lord.
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਾ ਨਾਹਿ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ ॥੪॥
nānak karatē kā nāh sumār .4.
O Nanak, the Creator is beyond calculation. ||4||
ਜਬ ਅਪਨੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਆਪਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਬਨਾਈ ॥
jab apanī sōbhā āpan sang banāī .
When His Glory was contained within Himself,
ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਮਾਇ ਬਾਪ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਤ ਭਾਈ ॥
tab kavan māi bāp mitr sut bhāī .
then who was mother, father, friend, child or sibling?
ਜਹ ਸਰਬ ਕਲਾ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਰਬੀਨ ॥
jah sarab kalā āpah parabīn .
When all power and wisdom was latent within Him,
ਤਹ ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਾ ਕੋਊ ਚੀਨ ॥
tah bēd katēb kahā kōū chīn .
then where were the Vedas and the scriptures, and who was there to read them?
ਜਬ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥
jab āpan āp āp ur dhārai .
When He kept Himself, All-in-all, unto His Own Heart,
ਤਉ ਸਗਨ ਅਪਸਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥
tau sagan apasagan kahā bīchārai .
then who considered omens to be good or bad?
ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਊਚ ਆਪਨ ਆਪਿ ਨੇਰਾ ॥
jah āpan ūch āpan āp nērā .
When He Himself was lofty, and He Himself was near at hand,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਚੇਰਾ ॥
tah kaun thākur kaun kahīai chērā .
then who was called master, and who was called disciple?
ਬਿਸਮਨ ਬਿਸਮ ਰਹੇ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥
bisaman bisam rahē bisamād .
We are wonder-struck at the wondrous wonder of the Lord.
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਪਨੀ ਗਤਿ ਜਾਨਹੁ ਆਪਿ ॥੫॥
nānak apanī gat jānah āp .5.
O Nanak, He alone knows His own state. ||5||
ਜਹ ਅਛਲ ਅਛੇਦ ਅਭੇਦ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥
jah ashal ashēd abhēd samāiā .
When the Undeceiveable, Impenetrable, Inscrutable One was self-absorbed,
ਸਲੋਕੁ ॥
salōk .
Shalok:
ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਆਪਿ ॥
saragun niragun nirankār sunn samādhī āp .
He possesses all qualities; He transcends all qualities; He is the Formless Lord. He Himself is in Primal Samaadhi.
ਆਪਨ ਕੀਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਜਾਪਿ ॥੧॥
āpan kīā nānakā āpē hī phir jāp .1.
Through His Creation, O Nanak, He meditates on Himself. ||1||
ਊਹਾ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
ūhā kisah biāpat māiā .
then who was swayed by Maya?
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਦੇਸੁ ॥
āpas kau āpah ādēs .
When He paid homage to Himself,
ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਕਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਪਰਵੇਸੁ ॥
tih gun kā nāhī paravēs .
then the three qualities were not prevailing.
ਅਸਟਪਦੀ ॥
asatapadī .
Ashtapadee:
ਜਬ ਅਕਾਰੁ ਇਹੁ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੇਤਾ ॥
jab akār ih kash n drisatētā .
When this world had not yet appeared in any form,
ਪਾਪ ਪੁੰਨ ਤਬ ਕਹ ਤੇ ਹੋਤਾ ॥
pāp punn tab kah tē hōtā .
who then committed sins and performed good deeds?
ਜਹ ਏਕਹਿ ਏਕ ਏਕ ਭਗਵੰਤਾ ॥
jah ēkah ēk ēk bhagavantā .
When there was only the One, the One and Only Lord God,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਚਿੰਤਾ ॥
tah kaun achint kis lāgai chintā .
then who was not anxious, and who felt anxiety?
ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ ॥
jah āpan āp āp patīārā .
When He Himself was satisfied with Himself,
ਜਬ ਧਾਰੀ ਆਪਨ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ॥
jab dhārī āpan sunn samādh .
When the Lord Himself was in Profound Samaadhi,
ਤਬ ਬੈਰ ਬਿਰੋਧ ਕਿਸੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਕਮਾਤਿ ॥
tab bair birōdh kis sang kamāt .
then against whom were hate and jealousy directed?
ਜਬ ਇਸ ਕਾ ਬਰਨੁ ਚਿਹਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਪਤ ॥
jab is kā baran chihan n jāpat .
When there was no color or shape to be seen,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਥੈ ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਨਨੈਹਾਰਾ ॥
tah kaun kathai kaun sunanaihārā .
then who spoke and who listened?
ਬਹੁ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਊਚ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥
bah bēant ūch tē ūchā .
He is vast and infinite, the highest of the high.
ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਹੂਚਾ ॥੬॥
nānak āpas kau āpah pahūchā .6.
O Nanak, He alone can reach Himself. ||6||
ਤਬ ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ॥
tab harakh sōg kah kisah biāpat .
then who experienced joy and sorrow?
ਜਬ ਆਪਨ ਆਪ ਆਪਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥
jab āpan āp āp pārabraham .
When the Supreme Lord Himself was Himself All-in-all,
ਤਬ ਮੋਹ ਕਹਾ ਕਿਸੁ ਹੋਵਤ ਭਰਮ ॥
tab mōh kahā kis hōvat bharam .
then where was emotional attachment, and who had doubts?
ਜਹ ਆਪਿ ਰਚਿਓ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਅਕਾਰੁ ॥
jah āp rachiō parapanch akār .
When He Himself fashioned the visible world of the creation,
ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੁ ॥
tih gun mah kīnō bisathār .
he made the world subject to the three dispositions.
ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਤਹ ਭਈ ਕਹਾਵਤ ॥
pāp punn tah bhaī kahāvat .
Sin and virtue then began to be spoken of.