ਆਪਨ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤੀਜਾ ॥
aapan khel aap varateejaa ||
He Himself has staged His own drama;
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੧॥
naanak karanaihaar na dhoojaa ||1||
O Nanak, there is no other Creator. ||1||
ਜਬ ਹੋਵਤ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇਵਲ ਧਨੀ ॥
jab hovat prabh keval dhanee ||
When there was only God the Master,
ਤਬ ਬੰਧ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਗਨੀ ॥
tab ba(n)dh mukat kahu kis kau ganee ||
then who was called bound or liberated?
ਜਬ ਏਕਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
jab ekeh har agam apaar ||
When there was only the Lord, Unfathomable and Infinite,
ਤਬ ਨਰਕ ਸੁਰਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਉਨ ਅਉਤਾਰ ॥
tab narak surag kahu kaun aautaar ||
then who entered hell, and who entered heaven?
ਜਬ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
jab niragun prabh sahaj subhai ||
When God was without attributes, in absolute poise,
ਤਬ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤਿ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਠਾਇ ॥
tab siv sakat kahahu kit Thai ||
then where was mind and where was matter - where was Shiva and Shakti?
ਜਬ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਧਰੈ ॥
jab aapeh aap apanee jot dharai ||
When He held His Own Light unto Himself,
ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਨਿਡਰੁ ਕਵਨ ਕਤ ਡਰੈ ॥
tab kavan niddar kavan kat ddarai ||
then who was fearless, and who was afraid?
ਆਪਨ ਚਲਿਤ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰ ॥
aapan chalit aap karanaihaar ||
He Himself is the Performer in His own plays;
ਨਾਨਕ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥੨॥
naanak Thaakur agam apaar ||2||
O Nanak, the Lord Master is Unfathomable and Infinite. ||2||
ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਸੁਖ ਆਪਨ ਆਸਨ ॥
abinaasee sukh aapan aasan ||
When the Immortal Lord was seated at ease,
ਤਹ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਕਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਬਿਨਾਸਨ ॥
teh janam maran kahu kahaa binaasan ||
then where was birth, death and dissolution?
ਜਬ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
jab pooran karataa prabh soi ||
When there was only God, the Perfect Creator,
ਤਬ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
tab jam kee traas kahahu kis hoi ||
then who was afraid of death?
ਜਬ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਏਕਾ ॥
jab abigat agochar prabh ekaa ||
When there was only the One Lord, unmanifest and incomprehensible,
ਤਬ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਪਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਪੂਛਤ ਲੇਖਾ ॥
tab chitr gupat kis poochhat lekhaa ||
then who was called to account by the recording scribes of the conscious and the subconscious?
ਜਬ ਨਾਥ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਅਗਾਧੇ ॥
jab naath nira(n)jan agochar agaadhe ||
When there was only the Immaculate, Incomprehensible, Unfathomable Master,
ਤਬ ਕਉਨ ਛੁਟੇ ਕਉਨ ਬੰਧਨ ਬਾਧੇ ॥
tab kaun chhuTe kaun ba(n)dhan baadhe ||
then who was emancipated, and who was held in bondage?
ਆਪਨ ਆਪ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਅਚਰਜਾ ॥
aapan aap aap hee acharajaa ||
He Himself, in and of Himself, is the most wonderful.
ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਨ ਰੂਪ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਉਪਰਜਾ ॥੩॥
naanak aapan roop aap hee uparajaa ||3||
O Nanak, He Himself created His Own Form. ||3||
ਜਹ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਤਿ ਹੋਤਾ ॥
jeh niramal purakh purakh pat hotaa ||
When there was only the Immaculate Being, the Lord of beings,
ਤਹ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਧੋਤਾ ॥
teh bin mail kahahu kiaa dhotaa ||
there was no filth, so what was there to be washed clean?
ਜਹ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਨਿਰਬਾਨ ॥
jeh nira(n)jan nira(n)kaar nirabaan ||
When there was only the Pure, Formless Lord in Nirvaanaa,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਕਉ ਮਾਨ ਕਉਨ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ॥
teh kaun kau maan kaun abhimaan ||
then who was honored, and who was dishonored?
ਜਹ ਸਰੂਪ ਕੇਵਲ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥
jeh saroop keval jagadhees ||
When there was only the Form of the Lord of the Universe,
ਤਹ ਛਲ ਛਿਦ੍ਰ ਲਗਤ ਕਹੁ ਕੀਸ ॥
teh chhal chhidhr lagat kahu kees ||
then who was tainted by fraud and sin?
ਜਹ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥
jeh jot saroopee jot sa(n)g samaavai ||
When the Embodiment of Light was immersed in His Own Light,
ਤਹ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਭੂਖ ਕਵਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵੈ ॥
teh kiseh bhookh kavan tirapataavai ||
then who was hungry, and who was satisfied?
ਕਰਨ ਕਰਾਵਨ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ॥
karan karaavan karanaihaar ||
He is the Cause of causes, the Creator Lord.
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਾ ਨਾਹਿ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ ॥੪॥
naanak karate kaa naeh sumaar ||4||
O Nanak, the Creator is beyond calculation. ||4||
ਜਬ ਅਪਨੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਆਪਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਬਨਾਈ ॥
jab apanee sobhaa aapan sa(n)g banaiee ||
When His Glory was contained within Himself,
ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਮਾਇ ਬਾਪ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਤ ਭਾਈ ॥
tab kavan mai baap mitr sut bhaiee ||
then who was mother, father, friend, child or sibling?
ਜਹ ਸਰਬ ਕਲਾ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਰਬੀਨ ॥
jeh sarab kalaa aapeh parabeen ||
When all power and wisdom was latent within Him,
ਤਹ ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਾ ਕੋਊ ਚੀਨ ॥
teh bedh kateb kahaa kouoo cheen ||
then where were the Vedas and the scriptures, and who was there to read them?
ਜਬ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥
jab aapan aap aap ur dhaarai ||
When He kept Himself, All-in-all, unto His Own Heart,
ਤਉ ਸਗਨ ਅਪਸਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥
tau sagan apasagan kahaa beechaarai ||
then who considered omens to be good or bad?
ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਊਚ ਆਪਨ ਆਪਿ ਨੇਰਾ ॥
jeh aapan uooch aapan aap neraa ||
When He Himself was lofty, and He Himself was near at hand,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਚੇਰਾ ॥
teh kaun Thaakur kaun kaheeaai cheraa ||
then who was called master, and who was called disciple?
ਬਿਸਮਨ ਬਿਸਮ ਰਹੇ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥
bisaman bisam rahe bisamaadh ||
We are wonder-struck at the wondrous wonder of the Lord.
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਪਨੀ ਗਤਿ ਜਾਨਹੁ ਆਪਿ ॥੫॥
naanak apanee gat jaanahu aap ||5||
O Nanak, He alone knows His own state. ||5||
ਜਹ ਅਛਲ ਅਛੇਦ ਅਭੇਦ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥
jeh achhal achhedh abhedh samaiaa ||
When the Undeceiveable, Impenetrable, Inscrutable One was self-absorbed,
ਊਹਾ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
uoohaa kiseh biaapat maiaa ||
then who was swayed by Maya?
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਦੇਸੁ ॥
aapas kau aapeh aadhes ||
When He paid homage to Himself,
ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਕਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਪਰਵੇਸੁ ॥
tih gun kaa naahee paraves ||
then the three qualities were not prevailing.
ਜਹ ਏਕਹਿ ਏਕ ਏਕ ਭਗਵੰਤਾ ॥
jeh ekeh ek ek bhagava(n)taa ||
When there was only the One, the One and Only Lord God,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਚਿੰਤਾ ॥
teh kaun achi(n)t kis laagai chi(n)taa ||
then who was not anxious, and who felt anxiety?
ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ ॥
jeh aapan aap aap pateeaaraa ||
When He Himself was satisfied with Himself,
ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਥੈ ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਨਨੈਹਾਰਾ ॥
teh kaun kathai kaun sunanaihaaraa ||
then who spoke and who listened?
ਬਹੁ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਊਚ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥
bahu bea(n)t uooch te uoochaa ||
He is vast and infinite, the highest of the high.
ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਹੂਚਾ ॥੬॥
naanak aapas kau aapeh pahoochaa ||6||
O Nanak, He alone can reach Himself. ||6||
ਜਹ ਆਪਿ ਰਚਿਓ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਅਕਾਰੁ ॥
jeh aap rachio parapa(n)ch akaar ||
When He Himself fashioned the visible world of the creation,
ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੁ ॥
tih gun meh keeno bisathaar ||
he made the world subject to the three dispositions.
ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਤਹ ਭਈ ਕਹਾਵਤ ॥
paap pu(n)n teh bhiee kahaavat ||
Sin and virtue then began to be spoken of.