Japji Sahib · Stanza 22
Pauri 22
There are countless worlds above and below — and only God knows the full count of His own creation.
ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ ॥
Paataalaa paataal lakh aagaasaa aagaas.
There are worlds upon worlds below, and skies upon skies above — countless of them.
ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥
Orhak orhak bhaal thake ved kahan ik vaat.
People searched and searched for the very end and grew tired; the scriptures all say one thing.
ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਨਿ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ ॥
Sahas athaarah kahan katebaa asuloo ik dhaat.
Some books speak of eighteen thousand worlds, but the one true source behind them all is God.
ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥
Lekhaa ho-e ta likee-ai lekhai ho-e vinaas.
If His creation could be counted, we would write it down — but the counter would finish before the count does.
ਨਾਨਕ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੁ ॥੨੨॥
Naanak vadaa aakhee-ai aape jaanai aap. ॥22॥
Says Nanak: we call God great — and only He Himself truly knows Himself. ॥22॥
✦ 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
ਪਾਤਾਲ
Paataal
The worlds below; nether worlds
ਆਗਾਸ
Aagaas
The skies; the heavens above
ਲਖ
Lakh
Hundreds of thousands; countless
ਲੇਖਾ
Lekhaa
An account; a count or reckoning
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