Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 23
Verse 3 of 5

When You Miss What You Love, Even Fun Feels Flat

ਹਉ ਭਈ ਉਡੀਣੀ ਕੰਤ ਕਉ ਅੰਮਾਲੀ ਸੋ ਪਿਰੁ ਕਦਿ ਨੈਣੀ ਦੇਖਾ ॥
ha-o bha-ee udeenee kant ka-o ammaalee so pir kad nainee daykhaa.
I have become depressed, waiting for my Husband Lord, O my friend; when shall my eyes behold my Husband?
ਸਭਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣ ਵਿਸਰੇ ਬਿਨੁ ਪਿਰ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲੇਖਾ ॥
sabh ras bhogan visray bin pir kitai na laykhaa.
I have forgotten how to enjoy all pleasures; without my Husband Lord, they are of no use at all.
ਇਹੁ ਕਾਪੜੁ ਤਨਿ ਨ ਸੁਖਾਵਈ ਕਰਿ ਨ ਸਕਉ ਹਉ ਵੇਸਾ ॥
ih kaaparh tan na sukhva-ee kar na saka-o ha-o vaysaa.
These clothes do not please my body; I cannot dress myself.
ਜਿਨੀ ਸਖੀ ਲਾਲੁ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਤਿਨ ਆਗੈ ਹਮ ਆਦੇਸਾ ॥੩॥
jinee sakhee laal raavi-aa pi-aaraa tin aagai ham aadaysaa. ||3||
I bow to those friends of mine, who have enjoyed their Beloved Husband Lord. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Waiting to feel close again, I've felt low and heavy-hearted — when will I see the One?

Nothing else feels fun anymore; without that closeness, even nice things fall flat.

I look up to my friends who've found that closeness themselves.

When you're really missing something you love, even fun things can feel flat for a while — and that's okay.
The deeper layer

The verse honestly names low feeling in longing: "I have become depressed, waiting... I have forgotten how to enjoy all pleasures." This is a real and tender picture of how missing something you love can drain the color out of everything. The qMonk voice keeps it gentle and honest — a feeling that passes — and points toward the friends who model the way through. For a child: when you're really missing something, even fun things can feel flat for a while — and that's okay; it passes.

A Question to Sit With

When you miss someone or something a lot, what helps the colors come back to your days?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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