Loving the One Is Like a Fish in Water

ਜਿਉ ਰਾਤੀ ਜਲਿ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਤਿਉ ਰਾਮ ਰਸਿ ਮਾਤੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥

ji-o raatee jal maachhulee ti-o raam ras maatay raam raajay.

Just like the fish which revels in water, I am intoxicated with the sublime essence of the Lord, my Lord King.

ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੈ ਉਪਦੇਸਿਆ ਜੀਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਭਾਤੇ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਜੇ ॥

gur poorai updaysi-aa jeevan gat bhaatay raam raajay.

The Perfect Guru has instructed me, and blessed me with salvation in my life; I love the Lord, my King.

ਜੀਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਆਪਿ ਲੀਏ ਲੜਿ ਲਾਏ ॥

jeevan gat su-aamee antarjaamee aap lee-ay larh laa-ay.

The Lord Master, the Searcher of hearts, blesses me with salvation in my life; He Himself attaches me to His Love.

ਹਰਿ ਰਤਨ ਪਦਾਰਥੋ ਪਰਗਟੋ ਪੂਰਨੋ ਛੋਡਿ ਨ ਕਤਹੂ ਜਾਏ ॥

har ratan padaaratho pargato poorno chhod na kathoo jaa-ay.

The Lord is the treasure of jewels, the perfect manifestation; He shall not forsake us to go anywhere else.

ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੁਘਰੁ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਸੁਜਾਨੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਦਾਤੇ ॥

parabh sughar saroop sujaan su-aamee taa kee mitai na daatay.

God, the Lord Master, is so accomplished, beauteous, and all-knowing; His gifts are never exhausted.

ਜਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਰਾਤੀ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਤੇ ॥੨॥

jal sang raatee maachhulee naanak har maatay. ||2||

As the fish is enraptured by the water, so is Nanak intoxicated by the Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I'm as happy in this love as a fish darting through cool water — it's the very thing I live in.

Wise guidance set me free right here in this life, and the One never runs out of gifts to give.

Loving the One is like a fish in water — your true element, where you're free and fully alive.

The deeper layer

This one says loving the One is like a fish living in water.

Ji-o raatee jal maachhulee — just as the fish delights in water. A fish is not just near water. It lives in it and can't live without it. That is how fully a loving heart belongs to the One. This raag, or musical mode, comes back to the fish and the water again and again.

Then: gur poorai updaysi-aa jeevan gat — the Perfect Guru taught me and set me free in this life. The freedom comes now, while you live, not only later. Some call this jivan mukta, free while still alive.

The last note is generosity. Taa kee mitai na daatay — His gifts never run out. They are like a spring that keeps flowing. To love the One is to swim in your true home, with more given than you could ever use up.

A Question to Sit With

What is the activity or place where you feel most fully in your element, like a fish in water?

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

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