Japji Sahib · Stanza 16
Pauri 16
God's whole creation rests on righteousness, born of compassion — and no one can count the Creator's works.
Listen and read along
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ਪੰਚ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਪੰਚ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ॥
Panch parvaan panch parDhaan.
The chosen, good souls are accepted everywhere, and they lead the way.
ਪੰਚੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥
Panche paavah dargeh maan.
These good souls are honoured in God's Court.
ਪੰਚੇ ਸੋਹਹਿ ਦਰਿ ਰਾਜਾਨੁ ॥
Panche sohah dar raajaan.
They look beautiful even at the door of kings.
ਪੰਚਾ ਕਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਏਕੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
Panchaa kaa gur ek Dhiaan.
These good souls keep their mind fixed on the One Guru alone.
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਕਰੈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Je ko kahai karai veechaar.
However much anyone speaks and thinks about it —
ਕਰਤੇ ਕੈ ਕਰਣੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ ॥
Karte kai karnai naahee sumaar.
the Creator's works can never be counted.
ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥
Dhaul Dharam daiaa kaa poot.
The bull that holds up the earth is really Dharam (righteousness), born from compassion.
ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ ॥
Santokh thaap rakhiaa jin soot.
And it is contentment that patiently holds everything together in its thread.
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਬੁਝੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ॥
Je ko bujhai hovai sachiaar.
Whoever truly understands this becomes a person of truth.
ਧਵਲੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਕੇਤਾ ਭਾਰੁ ॥
Dhavlai upar ketaa bhaar.
Just think how much weight is on that bull —
ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ ॥
Dhartee hor parai hor hor.
for there are more and more worlds beyond this earth, on and on.
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ ॥
Tis te bhaar talai kavan jor.
What power, then, holds up their weight from below?
ਜੀਅ ਜਾਤਿ ਰੰਗਾ ਕੇ ਨਾਵ ॥
Jee-a jaat rangaa ke naav.
All the kinds of creatures, their colours and their names —
ਸਭਨਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਵੁੜੀ ਕਲਾਮ ॥
Sabhnaa likhiaa vurhee kalaam.
were all written down by God's ever-flowing pen.
ਏਹੁ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
Ehu lekhaa likh jaanai ko-e.
Who could even know how to write out such an account?
ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਕੇਤਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
Lekhaa likhiaa ketaa ho-e.
And how huge that written account would be!
ਕੇਤਾ ਤਾਣੁ ਸੁਆਲਿਹੁ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
Ketaa taan suaalihu roop.
How great is Your power, O God, and how lovely Your beauty!
ਕੇਤੀ ਦਾਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੌਣੁ ਕੂਤੁ ॥
Ketee daat jaanai kaun koot.
How vast are Your gifts — who could ever measure them?
ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥
Keetaa pasaa-o eko kavaa-o.
With just one Word You created the whole expanse of the universe,
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥
Tis te ho-e lakh dareeaa-o.
and from it countless rivers of life began to flow.
ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਵਣ ਕਹਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Kudrat kavan kahaa veechaar.
What power do I have to describe You or Your creation?
ਵਾਰਿਆ ਨ ਜਾਵਾ ਏਕ ਵਾਰ ॥
Vaariaa na jaavaa ek vaar.
I cannot even once make myself a worthy sacrifice to You.
ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
Jo tuDh bhaavai saa-ee bhalee kaar.
Whatever pleases You is the good and right thing to do.
ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੬॥
Too sadaa salaamat nirankaar. ॥16॥
You are forever steady and everlasting, O Formless One. ॥16॥
✦ 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
5 words from this stanza
ਪੰਚ
Panch
The chosen ones; truly good, accepted souls
ਧਰਮੁ
Dharam
Righteousness; the law that holds everything in order
ਦਇਆ
Daiaa
Compassion; kindness
ਕੁਦਰਤਿ
Kudrat
God's creative power; all of creation
ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ
Nirankaar
The Formless One; God with no shape
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