Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Fly on ahead, little messenger crow.
Let it mean my Beloved is coming soon. Then I may quickly meet the One my heart is waiting for.
A heart full of longing sees hope in every small sign.
This is the rahao, the "pause" line. It is the center of the shabad. Udahu na kaagaa kaaray — fly away, black crow. It comes from a sweet old folk belief. When a crow landed near the house, people thought a visitor was coming. So the waiting heart begs the crow to fly, as a sign that the Beloved is near. Bayg mileejai apunay raam pi-aaray — so I may quickly meet my dear Beloved.
It is a tender, almost childlike thing to do. It is like making a wish on the first star you see at night. The heart reads hope into the world's small signs.
Under the folk charm is the real teaching. A heart full of longing for the One looks for signs of nearness everywhere.
When you're really hoping for something, do you notice little signs everywhere? What are they?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI