Yearning

1         naina nijhar laiya, rahat bahai nis jam;

            papiha jyon piw piw kare, kabahu milahuge ram.

 

Meaning

 

Tears flow from my eyes just as water falling from a water-wheel day and night.

I constantly call my Beloved like a papiha (an Indian bird which constantly calls "piw-piw") "Oh, Lord, when will you come to me?"

 

Commentary

 

The devotee has constant yearning for God and feels pangs of separation from Him. He cries and, without taking care of his body, waits for his Beloved Lord, and utters His name all the time.

 

2         ambar kunja kuraliya, garji bhare sab tal;

            jin te govind bichhure, tin ke kaun hawal.

 

Meaning

 

The cry of the kunja bird, separated from its mate, makes the clouds thunder and cry showers to fill many ponds.

If a mere bird suffers so much sorrow, how much more will not the devotee suffer who is separated from God?

 

Commentary

 

The lamentable cries of the separated kunja bird make the clouds, figuratively and poetically, cry in showers. But the sorrow of separation of the devotee from God remains unmatched.

 

3         is tan ka diwa karau, bati melyu jiw;

            lohi sincho tel jyon, kab mukh dekhu piw.

 

Meaning

 

I make my body into a lamp and my breath into a wick.

I make my blood into oil in the lamp, and patiently wait to see my Lover's face.

 

Commentary

 

The soul is waiting to realize God and surrenders itself completely to God. When a lady is separated from her beloved, she waits patiently, with lamp in hand, so that she can see his face when he returns. In the same way a devotee waits for God realization using his body as the lamp.

 

4         hansi hansi kant na paiya, jin paya tin roi;

            jo hansi hi hari mile, toh kaun dohagin hoi.

 

Meaning

 

No one realizes his Beloved (God) by laughing (enjoying worldly pleasures). Those who realized God, did so only after feeling pangs of separation from Him.

If one can realize God while involved in worldly enjoyments, then who will remain unfortunate?

 

Commentary

 

For the realization of God it is necessary to feel pangs of separation from Him. Without it, the person who is involved in the objects of senses, will not be able to become God realized.