Without the raindrops, how can the rainbird be satisfied?
ਨਾਦ ਕੁਰੰਕਹਿ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਸਨਮੁਖ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
naad kuraNkeh bayDhi-aa sanmukh uthDhaavai.
The deer, entranced by the sound of the hunter's bell, runs straight to him;
ਭਵਰੁ ਲੋਭੀ ਕੁਸਮ ਬਾਸੁ ਕਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਆਪੁ ਬੰਧਾਵੈ ॥
bhavar lobhee kusam baas kaa mil aap banDhaavai.
the bumble bee is greedy for the flower's fragrance; finding it, he traps himself in it.
ਤਿਉ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਹੈ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਰਸੁ ਅਘਾਵੈ ॥੧੨॥
ti-o sant janaa har pareet hai daykhdaras aghaavai. ||12||
Just so, the humble Saints love the Lord; beholding the Blessed Vision of His Darshan, they are satisfied and satiated. ||12||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
How can the fish live without water?
Without the raindrop, how can the rainbird be content?
The deer, drawn by the hunter's bell, runs straight toward it;
the bee, greedy for the flower's scent, finds it and traps itself.
Just so, the humble saints love the One; seeing it, they are satisfied and full.
The fish in water, the rainbird with its raindrop — they're not longing anymore; they're content, having what they need. So the saints, with the sight of the One, are truly satisfied. The longing was real, and so is being filled.
The deeper layer
The Pauree unfolds the similes one by one, lingering on each, and lands the point: "just so, the humble Saints love the Lord; beholding His Darshan, they are satisfied and satiated." The key word is satisfied (tript) — the fish in water, the rainbird with its raindrop, are not longing anymore; they are content, having what they need. So the saints, having the sight of the One, are full. This completes the taste-and-love movement (P30-P35): the love that seemed like endless longing resolves, when the Beloved is found, into deep satisfaction. The thirst was real, and so is its quenching.
A Question to Sit With
What's the feeling of finally having exactly what you needed — not still wanting, but content? What fills you like that?
