ਜਲ ਬਿਹੂਨ ਮੀਨ ਕਤ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੂਧ ਬਿਨਾ ਰਹਨੁ ਕਤ ਬਾਰੋ ॥
jal bihoon meen kat jeevan dooDh binaa rahan kat baaro.
Without water, how can the fish survive? Without milk, how can the baby survive?
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਿਆਸ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕੀ ਪੇਖਿ ਦਰਸੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਰੋ ॥੨॥੭॥੧੨੩॥
jan naanak pi-aas charan kamlanH kee paykh daras su-aamee sukh saaro. ||2||7||123||
Servant Nanak thirsts for the Lord's Lotus Feet; gazing upon the Blessed Vision of his Lord and Master's Darshan, he finds the essence of peace. ||2||7||123||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
How could a fish live without water? How could a baby go without milk?
Nanak says: that is how much I long for You; just seeing You, I find the whole of peace.
Some longings are as natural and life-giving as water to a fish.
jal bihoon meen, doodh binaa baaro -- the fish without water, the baby without milk: two images of a need so basic it is life itself. pi-aas charan kamlan -- thirst for the lotus feet; daras -- the sight that ends the thirst. Longing is drawn as natural, not desperate.
A Question to Sit With
What is something you need so much it feels like part of who you are?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate