Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Think of how precious water is to someone crossing a burning desert. Think of how the camel longs for the green creeping vines, how the deer's ears lift at the sound that calls it through the night.
That is how much the One means to me. Not a nice extra — a deep, aching need, the thing my whole heart leans toward.
The One is what my heart needs most, like water in a desert.
Maarvaarh jaisay neer baalhaa: as water is baalhaa, precious and needed, in the desert of Marwar. Bayl baalhaa karhalaa: as green vines are dear to the camel. Ji-o kurank nis naad baalhaa: as a sound in the night is dear to the deer. Ti-o mayrai man raam-ee-aa: so is the One to my mind.
Here a list of baalhaa begins. Each picture pairs a creature with the one thing it cannot do without. Think of how badly you want a drink of water after running a race. The longing keeps building, verse by verse. It is need, not luxury.
What's something you didn't realize you needed until you were without it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI