Japji Sahib Pauree 39
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 26
Japji Sahib Pauree 39
Original Gurmukhi
ਧਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕਾ ਏਹੋ ਧਰਮੁ ॥
ਗਿਆਨ ਖੰਡ ਕਾ ਆਖਹੁ ਕਰਮੁ ॥
ਕੇਤੇ ਪਵਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਵੈਸੰਤਰ ਕੇਤੇ ਕਾਨ ਮਹੇਸ ॥
ਕੇਤੇ ਬਰਮੇ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਅਹਿ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਕੇ ਵੇਸ ॥
ਕੇਤੀ ਆਗਾ ਖਾਣੀਅਹਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਬਾਣੀਅਹਿ ਰਸੁ ॥
ਕੇਤੇ ਰੁਤਿ ਮਜਾਰਥ ਕੇਤੇ ਦਾਤਰਿ ਵਖਰਹਿ ਵਣਜੁ ॥
ਗਿਆਨ ਖੰਡ ਮਹਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਰਚੰਡੁ ॥
ਤਿਥੈ ਨਾਦ ਬਿਨੋਦ ਕੋਡ ਅਨੰਦੁ ॥
ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
ਤਿਥੈ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਅਹਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਨੂਪੁ ॥
ਤਾ ਕੀਏ ਸਰਮ ਕੀ ਮਿਤਿ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
Transliteration
Ḏẖaram kẖand kā eho ḏẖaram.
Gi▫ān kẖand kā ākẖahu karam.
Keṯe pavaṇ pāṇī vaisanṯar keṯe kān mahes.
Keṯe barme gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ah rūp rang ke ves.
Keṯī āgā kẖāṇī▫ah keṯe bāṇī▫ah ras.
Keṯe ruṯ majārath keṯe ḏāṯar vakẖreh vaṇaj.
Gi▫ān kẖand mėh gi▫ān parcẖand.
ṯithai nāḏ binoḏ kod anand.
Saram kẖand kī baṇī rūp.
ṯithai gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ah bahuṯ anūp.
ṯā kī▫e saram kī miṯ kahī na jāe.
Rājān…
Straight Meaning (Sikh-accurate)
Guru Nanak describes the first realms of spiritual ascent:
This is the way of Dharam Khand, the realm of righteousness, the foundational alignment of action and truth.
Then comes Giaan Khand, the realm of spiritual knowledge and awakening.
In these realms are countless winds, waters, and fires, countless cosmic beings, forms, and shapes, countless worlds of nourishment and countless streams of pleasure, countless seasons, trade routes, and givers of gifts.
In the Realm of Knowledge, knowledge blazes brilliantly.
There, the melodies of creation resound,
and joy exists in countless forms.
Then arises Saram Khand, the realm of spiritual beauty and refinement.
There, the soul is shaped and reshaped
into countless wondrous forms.
But the measure of this refinement
cannot be spoken.
The pauree ends here.
Sacred Commentary
Pauree 39 begins the Five Khand, the great architecture of the soul’s ascent.
Guru Nanak is no longer describing daily practice or ethical grounding.
Here, he unveils cosmic cartography, how consciousness evolves, deepens, expands.
1. Dharam Khand, The Realm of Alignment
This is the realm where the soul recognizes truth and begins living in harmony with it.It is the foundation, integrity, honesty, right action, clear seeing.
It is not perfection, it is alignment.
2. Giaan Khand, The Realm of Knowledge
Here, the veil begins to lift.
The soul perceives the vastness of creation
.Knowledge ignites, brilliant, overwhelming, humbling.
Nanak floods this pauree with “countless”:
Countless winds
Countless waters
Countless forms
Countless worlds
Countless pleasures
Countless gifts
This is the mind awakening to infinite complexity, a dazzling, disorienting expansion.
And within it, the music of existence becomes audible:
Nad, the cosmic sound current
Binod, divine play
Kod Anand, countless joys
This is the moment when the seeker realizes:
The universe is not a machine.
It is a living, singing presence.
3. Saram Khand, The Realm of Refinement
Here, the soul is sculpted.
Nanak says:
“There, the soul is shaped into countless beautiful forms.”
This is not physical beauty, it is inner luminosity, refinement, grace.
Parts soften.
Ego dissolves.
The inner being is polished in ways beyond comprehension.
Nanak ends the pauree with awe:
“The measure of this refinement cannot be spoken.”
Some realms cannot be described, only lived.
IFS Lens
The Five Khand map aligns profoundly with inner psychological development:
Dharam Khand → Internal Alignment
Parts begin to trust Self.
Actions become congruent with inner truth.
No more fighting the system, coherence begins.
Giaan Khand → Systemic Awareness
Parts learn they are not the whole.
They discover the internal family, the complexity, the interconnection.
They awaken to Self-energy’s expansive field.
Knowledge “blazes” when parts recognize:
“I am not alone inside. I am part of something larger.”
The music of the system, coherence, harmony, clarity, becomes discernible.
Saram Khand → Refinement of Protectors and Exiles
Parts are reshaped gently, beautifully.
Burdened beliefs soften.
Protectors grow elegant and flexible.
Exiles unwind and unfurl.
This refinement cannot be hurried, forced, or measured.
It is grace meeting readiness.
Trauma-Informed Practice (Curiosity Only)
As you rest with this pauree, consider softly:
Is there a part in me that longs for alignment (Dharam Khand)?
Is there a part awakening to the complexity of my internal world (Giaan Khand)?
What arises when I imagine my system being refined gently (Saram Khand)?
Is there a part overwhelmed by “countless,” by vastness?
Is there a part comforted by knowing refinement cannot be measured or rushed?
Allow whatever surfaces, confusion, wonder, tightening, spaciousness.
This is the practice.
Closing Reflection
Pauree 39 unveils the beginning of the soul’s ascent:
Alignment.
Awakening.
Refinement.
It is a reminder that awakening is not a single event, it is a journey through realms,each unveiling deeper truth,wider perception,greater tenderness.
May this pauree help your system feel the dignity of where it already is.
May it soften the parts that fear they are behind.
May it open the inner ear to the cosmic music already playing within you.
You are stepping into the higher chambers now, and you do not walk alone.