Ashtapadi 12 stanza 6
ਕਰਨ ਕਰਾਵਨ ਕਰਨੈਹਾਰੁ ॥ Karan karavan karnaihar.
The doing, the doer, and the power of initiation,
ਇਸ ਕੈ ਹਾਥਿ ਕਹਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ Is kai hath kaha beechaar.
Does the being have any power for deliberation?
ਜੈਸੀ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਕਰੇ ਤੈਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ Jaisi ḏrisat kare taisa hoe.
As it adorns, thus is the occurrence,
ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਆਪਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥ Aape aap aap prabẖ soe.
It itself is, and appears as the arising presence;
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਸੁ ਅਪਨੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥ Jo kichh keeno so apnai rang.
Whatever appears, are its own hues,
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਦੂਰਿ ਸਭਹੂ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥Sabh te ḏur sabhu kai sang.
Far from all, yet intimate, in all imbued;
ਬੂਝੈ ਦੇਖੈ ਕਰੈ ਬਿਬੇਕ ॥ Bujhai ḏekhai karai bibek.
It recognises, perceives, as insight stirs,
ਆਪਹਿ ਏਕ ਆਪਹਿ ਅਨੇਕ ॥ Āpeh ek aapeh anek.
It itself is one and itself diverse appears;
ਮਰੈ ਨ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਆਵੈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ Marai na binsai aavai na jaae.
Does not come or go, does not perish or die,
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਦ ਹੀ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੬॥ Nanak sad hee rahiya samaae. ||6||
O Nanak, it ever pervades, does lie. ||6||
In this stanza Guru Arjan emphasises that this boundless presence alone is. It alone is the power of initiation and the experience. It alone is nothing and everything, hence it is far and very intimate. Here the Guru elucidates that no thing alone is in energetic appearance. And if everything is the appearance of energy does the mortal have any power or is separate from this energy?
Nothing can be more profound than this statement of the Guru, that all there is, is the boundless presence and this presence ever is, hence can not be born or die. All thoughts, feelings everything emanates from nothing and falls back in it.
Translated by Darpana Rathore.