Sikhism·Raag Basant·Shabad 35
Verse 3 of 5

The Flower That Needs Water

ਜਨ ਕੇ ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ ਹੈ ਜੇਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਰਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਹਰਿ ਬੀਧੇ ॥
jan kay saas saas hai jaytay har bireh parabhoo har beeDhay.
Each and every breath of the Lord's humble servant is pierced through with love of the Lord God.
ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਕਮਲ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਅਤਿ ਭਾਰੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਲ ਦੇਖੇ ਸੁਕਲੀਧੇ ॥੨॥
ji-o jal kamal pareet at bhaaree bin jal daykhay sukleeDhay. ||2||
As the lotus is totally in love with the water and withers away without seeing the water, so am I in love with the Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Every breath the One's servant takes is pierced through with love and longing for the One.

The lotus loves the water so deeply that it withers when it cannot see the water. That is how I love the One.

Some kinds of love are the water you bloom in.
The deeper layer

Every breath of a loving heart is filled with love for the One. That love is what makes the heart bloom.

saas saas means every single breath. Each one is stitched through with longing for the One.

Then the image: ji-o jal kamal — like the lotus and the water. A lotus flower loves the pond it grows in. bin jal — without water, it wilts. Think of a house plant left too long without a drink. Its leaves droop. Give it water and it lifts up again. For the Guru, love for the One is that water. It is what keeps him alive and blooming.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you need in order to feel fully alive and happy?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate