Phunhay, Verse 13 — reaching for the Beloved in a dream

ਸੁਪਨੈ ਊਭੀ ਭਈ ਗਹਿਓ ਕੀ ਨ ਅੰਚਲਾ ॥

supnai oobhee bha-ee gahi-o kee na anchlaa.

In a dream, I was lifted up; why didn't I grasp the hem of His Robe?

ਸੁੰਦਰ ਪੁਰਖ ਬਿਰਾਜਿਤ ਪੇਖਿ ਮਨੁ ਬੰਚਲਾ ॥

sundar purakh biraajit paykh man banchlaa.

Gazing upon the Beautiful Lord relaxing there, my mind was charmed and fascinated.

ਖੋਜਉ ਤਾ ਕੇ ਚਰਣ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਤ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

khoja-o taa kay charan kahhu kat paa-ee-ai.

I am searching for His Feet - tell me, where can I find Him?

ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਸੋਈ ਜਤੰਨੁ ਬਤਾਇ ਸਖੀ ਪ੍ਰਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੧੩॥

harihaa^N so-ee jatann bataa-ay sakhee pari-o paa-ee-ai. ||13||

O Lord! Tell me how I can find my Beloved, O my companion. ||13||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

In a dream I rose up. Why didn't I hold on to the edge of the Beloved's robe?

I saw the Beautiful One resting there, and my heart was won over.

Now I am searching for the Beloved's feet. Tell me, where can I find them?

O Lord! Tell me, my friend, how can I find my Beloved?

The ache of almost-holding is itself a form of love.

The deeper layer

Missing the Beloved after a beautiful dream is a kind of love.

In a dream, the seeker rose up near the One. He saw the sundar purakh, the Beautiful One, resting there, and his heart was won over. Then he woke up asking, why didn't I hold on to the anchlaa, the edge of His robe?

Think of a dream where you hug someone you miss. You wake up and wish you could go back.

Now he searches for the Beloved's feet. He asks a sakhee, a close friend: tell me how to find my Beloved. That longing is not a sad thing. The searching is itself a kind of love.

A Question to Sit With

Have you ever woken from a dream wishing you could return to it?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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