Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without water, the rainbird calls, "Beloved! Beloved!" It cries and weeps and wails.
The thundering clouds pour rain in all ten directions, but its thirst does not go until the raindrop falls into its mouth.
The heart that loves the One is like a bird that will only drink one special raindrop.
This is the chaatrik, the rainbird, and its story sits at the heart of Raag Malaar. People say it drinks only the Swaati raindrop, a special drop caught in mid-air. Chaatrik jal bin pari-o pari-o — without that water, it cries "Beloved! Beloved!" until the drop comes.
Ghanhar ghor dasou dis barsai — the thundering clouds rain in all ten directions. Bin jal pi-aas na jaa-ee — but without that one drop, its thirst does not go. Comforts all around cannot take the place of the Naam.
It is like needing a hug from one special person. A hundred hugs from others are kind, but they do not fill that space. That is the raag's central picture.
Is there something that only one special thing can satisfy, where nothing else will do?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI