Vocabulary

ਤਰਿਆ
tarya

swam, survived, stayed afloat — with 'kujh' (somewhat/barely): barely managed to keep his head above water

verb
In this song
Avengi Ja Nahin · Rabbi Shergill
Verse 3
ਜਦੋਂ ਡੁੱਬਿਆ ਸੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਤਰਿਆ ਸੀ ਮੈਂ
jadon dubbya ci jadon kujh tarya ci main
When I was drowning, when I was barely staying afloat...