ਆਪਨ ਖੇਲੁ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤੀਜਾ ॥

Aapan Khael Aap Varatheejaa ||

He Himself has staged His own drama;

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੧॥

Naanak Karanaihaar N Dhoojaa ||1||

O Nanak, there is no other Creator. ||1||

ਜਬ ਹੋਵਤ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇਵਲ ਧਨੀ ॥

Jab Hovath Prabh Kaeval Dhhanee ||

When there was only God the Master,

ਤਬ ਬੰਧ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸ ਕਉ ਗਨੀ ॥

Thab Bandhh Mukath Kahu Kis Ko Ganee ||

Then who was called bound or liberated?

ਜਬ ਏਕਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ॥

Jab Eaekehi Har Agam Apaar ||

When there was only the Lord, Unfathomable and Infinite,

ਤਬ ਨਰਕ ਸੁਰਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਉਨ ਅਉਤਾਰ ॥

Thab Narak Surag Kahu Koun Aouthaar ||

Then who entered hell, and who entered heaven?

ਜਬ ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਹਜ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥

Jab Niragun Prabh Sehaj Subhaae ||

When God was without attributes, in absolute poise,

ਤਬ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤਿ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਠਾਇ ॥

Thab Siv Sakath Kehahu Kith Thaae ||

Then where was mind and where was matter - where was Shiva and Shakti?

ਜਬ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਪਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਧਰੈ ॥

Jab Aapehi Aap Apanee Joth Dhharai ||

When He held His Own Light unto Himself,

ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਨਿਡਰੁ ਕਵਨ ਕਤ ਡਰੈ ॥

Thab Kavan Niddar Kavan Kath Ddarai ||

Then who was fearless, and who was afraid?

ਆਪਨ ਚਲਿਤ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰ ॥

Aapan Chalith 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 ॥

Theh Janam Maran Kahu Kehaa Binaasan ||

Then where was birth, death and dissolution?

ਜਬ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥

Jab Pooran Karathaa Prabh Soe ||

When there was only God, the Perfect Creator,

ਤਬ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥

Thab Jam Kee Thraas Kehahu Kis Hoe ||

Then who was afraid of death?

ਜਬ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਏਕਾ ॥

Jab Abigath Agochar Prabh Eaekaa ||

When there was only the One Lord, unmanifest and incomprehensible,

ਤਬ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਪਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਪੂਛਤ ਲੇਖਾ ॥

Thab Chithr Gupath Kis Pooshhath Laekhaa ||

Then who was called to account by the recording scribes of the conscious and the subconscious?

ਜਬ ਨਾਥ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਅਗਾਧੇ ॥

Jab Naathh Niranjan Agochar Agaadhhae ||

When there was only the Immaculate, Incomprehensible, Unfathomable Master,

ਤਬ ਕਉਨ ਛੁਟੇ ਕਉਨ ਬੰਧਨ ਬਾਧੇ ॥

Thab Koun Shhuttae Koun Bandhhan Baadhhae ||

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 Ouparajaa ||3||

O Nanak, He Himself created His Own Form. ||3||

ਜਹ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਤਿ ਹੋਤਾ ॥

Jeh Niramal Purakh Purakh Path Hothaa ||

When there was only the Immaculate Being, the Lord of beings,

ਤਹ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੈਲੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਧੋਤਾ ॥

Theh Bin Mail Kehahu Kiaa Dhhothaa ||

There was no filth, so what was there to be washed clean?

ਜਹ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਨਿਰਬਾਨ ॥

Jeh Niranjan Nirankaar Nirabaan ||

When there was only the Pure, Formless Lord in Nirvaanaa,

ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਕਉ ਮਾਨ ਕਉਨ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ॥

Theh Koun Ko Maan Koun Abhimaan ||

Then who was honored, and who was dishonored?

ਜਹ ਸਰੂਪ ਕੇਵਲ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥

Jeh Saroop Kaeval Jagadhees ||

When there was only the Form of the Lord of the Universe,

ਤਹ ਛਲ ਛਿਦ੍ਰ ਲਗਤ ਕਹੁ ਕੀਸ ॥

Theh Shhal Shhidhr Lagath Kahu Kees ||

Then who was tainted by fraud and sin?

ਜਹ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥

Jeh Joth Saroopee Joth Sang Samaavai ||

When the Embodiment of Light was immersed in His Own Light,

ਤਹ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਭੂਖ ਕਵਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵੈ ॥

Theh Kisehi Bhookh Kavan Thripathaavai ||

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 Karathae Kaa Naahi Sumaar ||4||

O Nanak, the Creator is beyond calculation. ||4||

ਜਬ ਅਪਨੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਆਪਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਬਨਾਈ ॥

Jab Apanee Sobhaa Aapan Sang Banaaee ||

When His Glory was contained within Himself,

ਤਬ ਕਵਨ ਮਾਇ ਬਾਪ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਤ ਭਾਈ ॥

Thab Kavan Maae Baap Mithr Suth Bhaaee ||

Then who was mother, father, friend, child or sibling?

ਜਹ ਸਰਬ ਕਲਾ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਰਬੀਨ ॥

Jeh Sarab Kalaa Aapehi Parabeen ||

When all power and wisdom was latent within Him,

ਤਹ ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਾ ਕੋਊ ਚੀਨ ॥

Theh Baedh Kathaeb Kehaa Kooo 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 Our Dhhaarai ||

When He kept Himself, All-in-all, unto His Own Heart,

ਤਉ ਸਗਨ ਅਪਸਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੈ ॥

Tho Sagan Apasagan Kehaa Beechaarai ||

Then who considered omens to be good or bad?

ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਊਚ ਆਪਨ ਆਪਿ ਨੇਰਾ ॥

Jeh Aapan Ooch Aapan Aap Naeraa ||

When He Himself was lofty, and He Himself was near at hand,

ਤਹ ਕਉਨ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਚੇਰਾ ॥

Theh Koun Thaakur Koun Keheeai Chaeraa ||

Then who was called master, and who was called disciple?

ਬਿਸਮਨ ਬਿਸਮ ਰਹੇ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ॥

Bisaman Bisam Rehae Bisamaadh ||

We are wonder-struck at the wondrous wonder of the Lord.

ਨਾਨਕ ਅਪਨੀ ਗਤਿ ਜਾਨਹੁ ਆਪਿ ॥੫॥

Naanak Apanee Gath Jaanahu Aap ||5||

O Nanak, He alone knows His own state. ||5||

ਜਹ ਅਛਲ ਅਛੇਦ ਅਭੇਦ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥

Jeh Ashhal Ashhaedh Abhaedh Samaaeiaa ||

When the Undeceiveable, Impenetrable, Inscrutable One was self-absorbed,

ਊਹਾ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ਮਾਇਆ ॥

Oohaa Kisehi Biaapath Maaeiaa ||

Then who was swayed by Maya?

ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਆਦੇਸੁ ॥

Aapas Ko Aapehi Aadhaes ||

When He paid homage to Himself,

ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਕਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਪਰਵੇਸੁ ॥

Thihu Gun Kaa Naahee Paravaes ||

Then the three qualities were not prevailing.

ਜਹ ਏਕਹਿ ਏਕ ਏਕ ਭਗਵੰਤਾ ॥

Jeh Eaekehi Eaek Eaek Bhagavanthaa ||

When there was only the One, the One and Only Lord God,

ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਅਚਿੰਤੁ ਕਿਸੁ ਲਾਗੈ ਚਿੰਤਾ ॥

Theh Koun Achinth Kis Laagai Chinthaa ||

Then who was not anxious, and who felt anxiety?

ਜਹ ਆਪਨ ਆਪੁ ਆਪਿ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ ॥

Jeh Aapan Aap Aap Patheeaaraa ||

When He Himself was satisfied with Himself,

ਤਹ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਥੈ ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਨਨੈਹਾਰਾ ॥

Theh Koun Kathhai Koun Sunanaihaaraa ||

Then who spoke and who listened?

ਬਹੁ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਊਚ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥

Bahu Baeanth Ooch Thae Oochaa ||

He is vast and infinite, the highest of the high.

ਨਾਨਕ ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਆਪਹਿ ਪਹੂਚਾ ॥੬॥

Naanak Aapas Ko Aapehi Pehoochaa ||6||

O Nanak, He alone can reach Himself. ||6||

ਜਹ ਆਪਿ ਰਚਿਓ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਅਕਾਰੁ ॥

Jeh Aap Rachiou Parapanch Akaar ||

When He Himself fashioned the visible world of the creation,

ਤਿਹੁ ਗੁਣ ਮਹਿ ਕੀਨੋ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੁ ॥

Thihu Gun Mehi Keeno Bisathhaar ||

He made the world subject to the three dispositions.

ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਤਹ ਭਈ ਕਹਾਵਤ ॥

Paap Punn Theh Bhee Kehaavath ||

Sin and virtue then began to be spoken of.