Part 20 — Japji Sahib: The Approved Ones
Pauri 16: “Panch” (the approved ones) — and the humility of an uncountable Creation
Where we are in Japji (1–2 lines)
We’ve just completed Mannai (Pauris 12–15): inner acceptance that becomes lived certainty.
Now Pauri 16 introduces ਪੰਚ (Panch) — the “approved/accepted ones” — and then immediately humbles the mind: the Creator’s actions can’t be counted, no matter how hard we try to explain.
Full pauri (Gurmukhi + Romanisation + Ang)
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji — Ang 3
ਪੰਚ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਪੰਚ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ॥
panch parvaan panch pardhaan ||
ਪੰਚੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥
panchay paavahi dargahi maan ||
ਪੰਚੇ ਸੋਹਹਿ ਦਰਿ ਰਾਜਾਨੁ ॥
panchay sohahi dar raajaan ||
ਪੰਚਾ ਕਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਏਕੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
panchaa kaa gur ek dhiaan ||
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਕਰੈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
je ko kahai karai veechaar ||
ਕਰਤੇ ਕੈ ਕਰਣੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ ॥
kartay kai karnai naahee sumaar ||
ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥
dhaul dharam daya kaa poot ||
ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ ॥
santokh thaap rakhi-aa jin soot ||
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਬੁਝੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ ॥
je ko bujhai hovai sachiaar ||
ਧਵਲੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਕੇਤਾ ਭਾਰੁ ॥
dhavalai upar kaytaa bhaar ||
ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ ॥
dhartee hor parai hor hor ||
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ ॥
tis te bhaar talai kavan jor ||
ਜੀਅ ਜਾਤਿ ਰੰਗਾ ਕੇ ਨਾਵ ॥
jee-a jaat rangaa ke naav ||
ਸਭਨਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਵੁੜੀ ਕਲਾਮ ॥
sabhnaa likhi-aa vurree kalaam ||
ਏਹੁ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
ehu lekhaa likh jaanai ko-e ||
ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਕੇਤਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
lekhaa likhi-aa kaytaa ho-e ||
ਕੇਤਾ ਤਾਣੁ ਸੁਆਲਿਹੁ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
kaytaa taan suaalihu roop ||
ਕੇਤੀ ਦਾਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੌਣੁ ਕੂਤੁ ॥
kaytee daat jaanai kaun koot ||
ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥
keetaa pasaa-o eko kavaa-o ||
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥
tis te ho-e lakh daree-aa-o ||
ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਵਣ ਕਹਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
kudrat kavan kahaa veechaar ||
ਵਾਰਿਆ ਨ ਜਾਵਾ ਏਕ ਵਾਰ ॥
vaari-aa na jaavaa ek vaar ||
ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
jo tudh bhaavai saa-ee bhalee kaar ||
ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੬॥
too sadaa salaamat nirankaar ||16||
Plain-English sense rendering (learning aid, not a “final translation”)
A safe way to hear this pauri:
The Panch — the approved/accepted ones — are recognised as leaders (not by self-advertising, but by inner quality).
They are honoured in the Divine Court, and they carry dignity even in worldly courts.
Their inner focus is one: the Guru (Guru-facing, not ego-facing).
But even if someone tries to explain and analyse this —
the Creator’s actions cannot be counted.
Japji then uses a powerful image people already knew (the “bull” carrying the world) — and re-frames it:
The true “support” is dharam (upright reality-aligned responsibility), born of daya (compassion), held steady by santokh (contentment).
If you understand this, you become sachiar (truthful).
And then the pauri expands your scale:
World upon world… beings of countless kinds… all “written” within Reality’s order.
Who can write the full account? How vast would the record be?
Power, beauty, gifts — who can measure their extent?
Creation unfolds by the One’s command — and from that, rivers of life flow.
So what can I say about Your kudrat (creative power)?
I cannot even once be a sufficient sacrifice.
Whatever pleases You is the only truly good action.
You remain forever whole — Nirankar (formless, without boundary).
Learning focus (what this trains)
1) “Panch” is not a spiritual badge — it’s a lived quality
Japji doesn’t invite you to claim a rank.
It describes what a reshaped person looks like: dignified, steady, Guru‑oriented.
2) The moment you try to “count” the Infinite, the lesson begins
The pauri pivots fast:
yes, the Panch are real
but don’t turn them into a system you can measure and control
Because the Creator’s workings have no sum total you can hold.
3) Dharam + Daya + Santokh = the inner “support” of a world
Japji takes an old image and turns it into training:
Daya (compassion) births a more truthful life
Dharam becomes how life stands upright
Santokh holds it steady (without greed and panic)
4) The seal is alignment: “jo tudh bhaavai…”
The end is not a theory. It’s a posture:
whatever pleases You is good — meaning: real goodness is alignment, not ego‑performance.
Key word reminders (brief)
Panch: the accepted/approved ones (not a title you grab; a quality that shows).
Dharam: truthful responsibility / upright living (not mere identity).
Daya: compassion (not weakness — clarity without cruelty).
Santokh: contentment (enough‑ness without laziness).
Kudrat: creative power / the vast working of Reality.
Nirankar: formless, without boundary.
One Anchor
What cannot be counted cannot be owned.
10‑second practice
For ten seconds, ask:
Where am I trying to measure spirituality today — mine or someone else’s?
Where am I trying to turn the Infinite into something I can “sum up”?
Then repeat once, quietly:
“jo tudh bhaavai, saa-ee bhalee kaar.”
And take one small aligned action — without needing credit.
Verify block (so you don’t have to trust me)
SGGS location: Ang 3 (Japji Sahib, Pauri 16)
Pauri begins: “ਪੰਚ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਪੰਚ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ॥”
Pauri ends: “ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੬॥”
Cross-check instruction:
Open Ang 3 on two independent SGGS databases and confirm the Gurmukhi matches line‑by‑line (including ॥੧੬॥).
If you ever spot a mismatch (Gurmukhi, Romanisation, or Ang), tell me — and I will correct it publicly with a dated correction note.
Next post teaser
Next is Pauri 17 — the Asankh (“countless”) section begins.
Japji lists countless practices, countless disciplines, countless kinds of people — not to impress us, but to break our arrogance and widen our sense of Reality.