Shabad 52•Raag Bilawal

Ab Ka Keh Kaun Bataun Shabad Meaning

Read "Ab Ka Keh Kaun Bataun" shabad meaning, Punjabi text, and English pronunciation from Amritbani.

Punjabi (Gurmukhi)

ਅਬ ਕਾ ਕਹਿ ਕੌਨ ਬਤਾਉਂ॥

ਅਬ ਕਾ ਕਹਿ ਦੇਬਲਿ ਦੇਵ ਸਮਾਊਂ ॥ ਟੇਕ ॥

ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਰਾਮ ਕਹੌਂ ਸੁਨਿ ਭਾਈ, ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਕਰੀਮਾਂ।

ਕਾ ਸਿਉਂ ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹੂੰ ਅਬ, ਕਾ ਸਿਉਂ ਕਹੂੰ ਲਇਓ ਲੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਤਪ ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਪੂਜਾ, ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਨਾਉਂ ਕਹਾਊਂ॥

ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਭਿਸਿਤ ਦੋਜਿਗੁ ਨਾ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ, ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਕਹੂੰ ਕਹਾਈ ॥੨॥

ਕਾ ਸਿਉਂ ਜੀਵ ਸੀਵ ਕਹੋਂ ਸਾਧੌ, ਸੁੰਨਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਘਰਿ ਭਾਈ ॥

ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਗੁਣੀ ਨ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੂੰ ਮਾਧੌ, ਕਾ ਸਿਊਂ ਕਹੂੰ ਬਤਾਈ ॥੩॥

ਜਲ ਕੇ ਤਰੰਗ ਜਲ ਮਾਂਹਿ ਸਮਾਈ, ਕਹਿ ਕਾ ਕੌ ਨਾਂਵ ਧਰਈਏ॥

ਐਸੇ ਏਕ ਰੂਪ ਮੈਂ ਮਾਧੋ, ਆਪਣ ਹੀ ਨਿਰਵਰਿਏ ॥੪॥

ਭਣੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਅਬ ਕਾ ਕਹਿ ਗਾਊਂ, ਜਉ ਕੋਈ ਔਰਹਿ ਹੋਈ॥

ਜਾ ਸਿਉਂ ਗਾਇਏ ਗਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹੈਂ, ਪਰਮ ਰੂਪ ਹਮ ਸੋਈ ॥੫॥

Romanized Pronunciation

Ab Ka Keh Kaun Bataun.

Ab Ka Keh Debal Dev Samayu. || Tek ||

Ka Siyoun Ram Kaho Sun Bhai,

Ka Siyoun Kisan Kareema.

Ka Siyoun Baid Kateb Kahun Ab,

Ka Siyoun Kahun Laiyo Leena.

Ka Siyoun Tirath Bharat Puja,

Ka Siyoun Nao Kahao.

Ka Siyoun Bhisit Dojig Na Sat Kar,

Ka Siyoun Kahun Kahaye.

Ka Siyoun Jeev Seev Kahau Sadhau,

Sunn Sehaj Ghar Bhai.

Ka Siyoun Guni Na Ghun Kahun Madho,

Ka Siyoun Kahun Bataai.

Jal Ke Trang Jal Mah Samayi,

Keh Ka Kau Naav Dhariye.

Aise Ek Roop Main Madho,

Appan Hi Nirvariye.

Bhanai Ravidass Ab Ka Keh Gaayu,

Jayo Koi Aurhai Hoi.

Ja Siyou Gaeaye Gayai Kahat Hai,

Param Roop Hum Soi.

Meaning (English)

O man! What shall I tell you about God? How he looks? Under which name I shall worship Him in the temple?

To whom I shall address by the holy name of Ram, Krishan or Karim. After renouncing the name of God, which Ved or Puran shall I study? Both religious sacred scriptures have achieved equal status in my eyes.

Which place, I shall call a place of pilgrimage or meditation? How shall I define fast and worship? Which is the true name to remember? Which places I shall call by the name of heaven and hell?

To whom I shall call the benefactor except God, who has acquired a perfect state of mental tranquility?

I shall call Him without attributes or endowed with qualities of attributes. The God possesses which merit of these two? You tell me when a wave, which takes birth from the water and gets absorbed in the same water then with which name we shall call it.

Like this O God! There is no difference between You and me, between the soul and God. Both are integral part of each other. O God! Please elevate me from such situation.

Ravidass says, in whose praise I shall sing songs, because there is none else except God. To whom shall I ask to sing in His praise, because I have already absorbed in the God and adopted His form?