Abhanga 130
This abhang corrects a common spiritual misconception: that the divine is patient and slow and the seeker must wait. Tukaram's claim (with scriptural-evidence) is opposite: the deity runs ahead of his vehicle when bhaktas call. The implication: don't manage the speed; call. The Draupadi-image is for emergencies — when help is desperately needed, the deity's response is faster than his own ordinary motion. The Parikshit-image is for finite-windows — when there are seven days left, the saint-grace fits the seven days.
The verse
शुकसनकादिकीं उभारिला बाहो । परिक्षितीला हो दिसां सातां ॥१॥ उठाउठी करी स्मरणाचा धांवा । धरवत देवा नाहीं धीर ॥ध्रु.॥ त्वरा जाली गरुड टाकियेला मागें । द्रौपदीच्या लागें नारायणें ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे करी बहु च तांतडी । प्रेमाची आवडी लोभ फार ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: Shuka, Sanaka and the others raised their arms — for Parikshit — within seven days. The deity makes the running-of-remembrance in an instant; the deity has no patience. In his hurry, Garuda was left behind — Narayana (came) for Draupadi's sake. Tuka says: he does it in great hurry — much is his love-attachment.
मराठी: शुक-सनकादिकांनी हात उभारले — परीक्षिताला सात दिवसांत. उठाउठी स्मरणाची धांवा करतो — देवाला धीर नाही. त्वरा झाली — गरुड मागे टाकला; द्रौपदीसाठी नारायण (धावला). तुकाराम म्हणतात — तांतडी फार करतो — प्रेमाची आवड, लोभ फार.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शुकसनकादिकीं उभारिला बाहो | "Shuka, Sanaka and others raised their arms" (referring to a moment in the Bhagavata when sages raised arms for Parikshit) |
| परिक्षितीला हो दिसां सातां | "for Parikshit — within seven days" (Parikshit was cursed to die in 7 days; Shukadeva narrated the Bhagavata to him in those 7 days) |
| उठाउठी करी स्मरणाचा धांवा | "(the deity) makes the running-of-remembrance in an instant" |
| धरवत देवा नाहीं धीर | "the deity has no patience" |
| त्वरा जाली गरुड टाकियेला मागें | "in (his) hurry — Garuda was left behind" |
| द्रौपदीच्या लागें नारायणें | "Narayana — for Draupadi's sake" (when Draupadi was being disrobed in the Kaurava court) |
| करी बहु च तांतडी | "(he) does it in great hurry" |
| प्रेमाची आवडी लोभ फार | "love's affection — attachment is much" |
What it means
A deity-runs abhang citing two scriptural precedents: 1. Parikshit — cursed to die in 7 days, the sage Shukadeva narrated the Bhagavata to him; Sanaka and other sages raised arms in support; the deity-grace flowed within the 7-day window. 2. Draupadi — when she was being disrobed in the Kaurava court and her clothes were being pulled, Krishna's vastra (cloth) extended infinitely. The narrative tradition adds: Narayana ran from Vaikuntha so fast that Garuda (his vehicle, the eagle) was left behind.
The structural claim: धरवत देवा नाहीं धीर — the deity has no patience (to wait). The closing — प्रेमाची आवडी लोभ फार — love's affection — attachment is much — names the deity's love-attachment to bhaktas. [T] [Tradition]
For someone today
This abhang corrects a common spiritual misconception: that the divine is patient and slow and the seeker must wait. Tukaram's claim (with scriptural-evidence) is opposite: the deity runs ahead of his vehicle when bhaktas call. The implication: don't manage the speed; call. The Draupadi-image is for emergencies — when help is desperately needed, the deity's response is faster than his own ordinary motion. The Parikshit-image is for finite-windows — when there are seven days left, the saint-grace fits the seven days.
मराठी: ही ओवी common आध्यात्मिक misconception ला सुधारते — देव patient आणि slow आहे आणि साधकाने वाट बघावी. तुकारामांचा (scriptural-evidence सह) दावा उलट: भक्तांनी हाक मारली की देव त्याच्या वाहनाच्या पुढे धावतो. lागू: speed manage करू नका; हाक मारा. द्रौपदी-image emergencies साठी — desperately मदत हवी असेल, देवाचा प्रतिसाद त्याच्या ordinary motion पेक्षा वेगवान. परीक्षित-image finite-windows साठी — सात दिवस उरले असतील — saint-grace सात दिवसांत बसते.
Where this applies
- Imagining deity as patient/slow. Garuda-left-behind.
- In distress, deity unmoved. Speed-of-call-meeting is otherwise.
- Love-faster-than-vehicle. Receive it.