ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਅਖਰ ਦੁਇ ਭਾਖਿ ॥ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਤ ਲੇਇਗਾ ਰਾਖਿ ॥੩॥੩੩॥

Since a long time, I have thought of this Pankiti and kept thinking about the implications of it. The most common meaning that is derived of this Pankiti is that "O Kabir, utter the two alphabets i.e. Naam. If Khasam (the Lord) exists, he will keep you (i.e. your honour).

The problem with these meanings is that in the second Pankiti there is a condition that if the Khasam exists, he will keep you. This condition contains traces of doubt about the existence of Vaheguru. How can a Bhagat have any doubts over the existence of Vaheguru. Of course He exists. Then how can Gurbani imply that he may not exist?

Many Teekakaars (translators) have struggled with its meanings but nothing satisfied me. This is what Prof. Sahib Singh has to say about this Pankiti:

ਹੋਇਗਾ ਖਸਮੁ = ਜੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ, ਜੇ ਖਸਮ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਲੇਇਗਾ ਰਾਖਿ = ਬਚਾ ਲਏਗਾ ॥੩॥੩੩॥
ਕਿ ਜੇ ਖ਼ਸਮ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਤਾਂ (ਜਿਥੇ ਕਿਤੇ ਲੋੜ ਪਏਗੀ, ਆਪ ਹੀ) ਬਚਾ ਲਏਗਾ ॥੩॥੩੩॥

Here's what Giani Bachan Singh of Faridkoti has translated this Pankiti:

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਕਹਤੇ ਹੈਂ ਦੋ ਅਖਰ ਜੋ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਹੈਂ ਤਿਸ ਕੋ ਉਚਾਰਤੇ ਹੈਂ ਜੋ ਕੋਈ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਖਸਮ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਸੋ ਰਾਖ ਲੇਵੇਗਾ ਇਤਨੇ ਮੈਂ ਅਗਨੀ ਸਾਂਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ॥੩॥੩੩॥

This is how I understood this Pankiti after many years of pondering:

ਹੇ ਕਬੀਰ ਤੂੰ ਨਾਮ ਰੂਪੀ ਦੋ ਅਖਰ ਬੋਲ (ਭਾਖ)। ਜੇ ਖਸਮ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ (ਤੇਰੀ ਰਸਨਾ ਤੇ) ਤਾਂ ਯਕੀਨਨ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਰੱਖ ਲਵੇਗਾ। In other words, O Kabir, you speak or utter the Naam roopi two letters. If Khasam is there (on your tongue through which you speak), then he will keep you (your honour, will protect you).

The verb ਹੋਇਗਾ is not for existence of Khasam but for Khasam to be on your tongue because in the first Pankiti, the Hukam is to utter his Naam. It is Gurmat Sidhaant (principle) that so long as the Bhagat has Naam on his tongue and mind, nothing can harm him. Bhagat Prahlaad jee demostrated this truth several times in his 5th year of age.

Recently, I came across, the most unique and different meaning of this Pankiti and this came from none other than the magnificent Bhai Kahn Singh jee Nabha. He has interpreted this Pankiti as follows:

ਜੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੋਈ ਅਕਾਰਣ ਵੈਰੀ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ, ਤਾਂ ਰਾਮ ਰਖ੍ਯਾ ਕਰੇਗਾ।

The word Khasam in Farsi also means enemy. Bhai Nandlal jee has called Siri Guru Sahib jee "Khasam ra jaan kaah Guru Gobind Singh" which means that Siri Guru Gobind Singh jee is the puller of life of enemies. In this particular Pankiti, Bhai Nabha jee has interpreted the word Khasam as Dushman or enemy. He says that if you chant Naam, and have some enemy, then He will protect you i.e. Naam will protect you. The only problem with this meaning is that the doer of the verb ਲੇਇਗਾ is not explicit but implied.

Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh