Japji Sahib · Stanza 18
Pauri 18
Countless people also do wrong — yet even the humble cannot weigh up God's vast creation.
Listen and read along
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ਅਸੰਖ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧ ਘੋਰ ॥
Asankh moorakh anDh ghor.
Countless are the fools, lost in deep darkness.
ਅਸੰਖ ਚੋਰ ਹਰਾਮਖੋਰ ॥
Asankh chor haraamkhor.
Countless are the thieves who live off what is not theirs.
ਅਸੰਖ ਅਮਰ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਜੋਰ ॥
Asankh amar kar jaah jor.
Countless are those who rule by force and then pass away.
ਅਸੰਖ ਗਲਵਢ ਹਤਿਆ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥
Asankh galvadh hatiaa kamaah.
Countless are the cut-throats who cause harm and bloodshed.
ਅਸੰਖ ਪਾਪੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥
Asankh paapee paap kar jaah.
Countless are the sinners who keep on sinning and then depart.
ਅਸੰਖ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਕੂੜੇ ਫਿਰਾਹਿ ॥
Asankh koorhiaar koorhe firaah.
Countless are the liars who wander about in falsehood.
ਅਸੰਖ ਮਲੇਛ ਮਲੁ ਭਖਿ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
Asankh malech mal bhakh khaah.
Countless are the foul ones who feed on filth.
ਅਸੰਖ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਸਿਰਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਭਾਰੁ ॥
Asankh nindak sir karah bhaar.
Countless are the slanderers who carry that load of wrong on their heads.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਨੀਚੁ ਕਹੈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Naanak neech kahai veechaar.
Nanak, the humble one, simply offers this thought.
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 ॥੧੮॥
Too sadaa salaamat nirankaar. ॥18॥
You are forever steady and everlasting, O Formless One. ॥18॥
✦ 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
ਅਸੰਖ
Asankh
Countless; uncountable
ਮੂਰਖ
Moorakh
A foolish person
ਅੰਧ
AnDh
Blind; lost in darkness (here, of the mind)
ਨੀਚੁ
Neech
Humble; lowly (Guru Nanak's word for himself)
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