Japji Sahib · Stanza 1
Pauri 1
Why thinking, silence, or riches alone can't reach the Divine — and what can.
ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥
Sochai soch na hova-ee je sochee lakh vaar.
By washing the body again and again, the mind is not made clean — even a hundred thousand times.
ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥
Chupai chup na hova-ee je laa-e rahaa liv taar.
By forcing ourselves to be silent, inner quiet is not found — even by sitting still for a long time.
ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥
Bhukhiaa bhukh na utree je bannaa puree-aa bhaar.
The hunger of the hungry never ends — even by piling up the riches of all the worlds.
ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥
Sahas siaanpaa lakh hohi ta ik na chalai naal.
We may have thousands of clever ideas — but not even one goes with us in the end.
ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥
Kiv sachiaaraa ho-ee-ai kiv koorhai tutai paal.
So how can we become true? How does the wall of falsehood between us and God break?
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
Hukam rajaa-ee chalnaa Naanak likhiaa naal. ॥1॥
Guru Nanak says: by walking in Hukam — God's will, already written within us. ॥1॥
✦ The Gurmukhi shown is the original Gurbani. The transliteration and English meaning are a simple, kid-friendly rendering for learning — under review, not a replacement for the original bani.
Words to know
4 words from this stanza
ਸੋਚੈ
Sochai
By washing / cleansing the body
ਸਿਆਣਪਾ
Siaanpaa
Clever ideas; cleverness
ਸਚਿਆਰਾ
Sachiaaraa
A true, honest person
ਹੁਕਮਿ
Hukam
God's command; the divine order
Play & remember
Activities for this stanza
Guess what each Gurmukhi word means, then flip the card to check.
What does this word mean?
Take a guess, then flip the card.
A calm sheet with the Gurmukhi on a floral border — print it and color while you learn this stanza.
Print coloring sheet