kaho naanak gur naam darirhHaa-i-aa har har naam har satee.
Says Nanak, the Guru has implanted the Naam within me; the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, the True Name.
ਹਮ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ ਹਮ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕ ਦੀਨ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਸਿ ਬੇਨੰਤੀ ॥੪॥੩॥
ham chaatrik ham chaatrik deen har paas baynantee. ||4||3||
I am a song-bird, I am a meek song-bird; I offer my prayer to the Lord. ||4||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
Like a little bird thirsty for rain, I send up my small prayer.
'If only I could meet real wisdom' — I'd give my whole heart to it.
Without it, I'd have no truer friend; it's as dear to me as breathing.
Like a little bird thirsty for rain, we long for the one thing that truly satisfies.
The deeper layer
The shabad closes with the baabeehaa (rainbird) image again: "I am a meek song-bird; I offer my prayer." Longing for the one true thing, the bird cries for its raindrop. "Without the Guru, I have no other friend; the True Guru is my very breath." The colophon (||4||3||) closes. For a child: like a little bird thirsty for rain, we long for the one thing that truly satisfies — and wisdom is that dear.
A Question to Sit With
What's the one thing you long for that nothing else can replace?
