Japji Sahib · Pauri 20

ਅਸੰਖ ਨਾਵ ਅਸੰਖ ਥਾਵ ॥ਅਗੰਮ ਅਗੰਮ ਅਸੰਖ ਲੋਅ ॥ਅਸੰਖ ਕਹਹਿ ਸਿਰਿ ਭਾਰੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ਅਖਰੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਖਰੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥ਅਖਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ ॥ਅਖਰੀ ਲਿਖਣੁ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬਾਣਿ ॥ਅਖਰਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਖਾਣਿ ॥ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ਜਿਵ ਫੁਰਮਾਏ ਤਿਵ ਤਿਵ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ਜੇਤਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇਤਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋ ਥਾਉ ॥ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਵਣ ਕਹਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ਵਾਰਿਆ ਨ ਜਾਵਾ ਏਕ ਵਾਰ ॥ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੯॥

Asankh naav asankh thaav. Agamm agamm asankh lo-a. Asankh kahahi sir bhaar ho-ay. Akhree naam akhree saalaah. Akhree gi-aan geet gun gaah. Akhree likhan bolan baan. Akhraa sir sanjog vakhaan. Jin ayhi likhay tis sir naahi. Jiv furmaa-ay tiv tiv paahi. Jaytaa keetaa taytaa naa-o. Vin naavai naahee ko thaa-o. Kudrat kavan kahaa veechaar. Vaari-aa na jaavaa ayk vaar. Jo tudh bhaavai saa-ee bhalee kaar. Too sadaa salaamat Nirankaar.

Countless are the names, countless the places. Beyond approach, beyond approach — countless worlds. To say 'countless' is itself a burden on the head. By letters comes the Name; by letters comes praise. By letters comes knowledge, song, and the diving into virtue. By letters comes writing, by letters comes speech. By letters is destiny explained. But the One who wrote all these letters has no letter above His own head. As He decrees, so it is received. Whatever exists is His Name. Without the Name there is no place. What can I say of Your Nature? I cannot match You even once. Whatever pleases You is the only right action. You are forever inviolate, O Formless One.

— Japji Sahib 20

Source: Original Gurmukhi by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539). Public-domain English renderings drawn from Manmohan Singh and Pritam Singh Chahil translations.