Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
If only someone would unite me with the One!
I would hold tight to its feet, speak sweet words, and offer my very breath to it.
The shabad opens with pure longing — "if only someone would unite me with the Lord!" — the ache of viraha asking for a go-between, someone to bring the lover to the Beloved. And the seeker rehearses what he would do if united: hold on, speak sweetly, give his breath. It is the eager imagining of a heart in love, planning its devotion before the meeting even happens. Guru Arjan captures how longing itself is active and tender — not a passive waiting but a leaning-forward, already offering everything to a Beloved not yet embraced. The wanting is so full it spills over into promises.
Have you ever wanted to be near someone or something so much that you imagined exactly what you'd do when you finally got there?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI