Abhanga 220

A single honest call is enough to bring help running, and your imperfect, stumbling words are what actually reach and please the one you call on.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

A master-runs-to-the-call abhang. Five movements:

1. अंतरली कुटी मेटी — भय धरूनियां पोटीं — the kuṭī-meṭī was internalized — carrying fear in the belly. The bhakta is in fear-state; the kuṭī-meṭī (cottage-and-stake — perhaps the inner shelter-and-anchor) has been internalized — the safe-place is inside.

2. म्हणतां जगजेठी — धांवें करुणाउत्तरीं — sayingjagajeṭhī— (he) runs in compassion-response. The call is the single-word jagajeṭhī. The deity runs — in karuṇā-uttarī (compassion-as-response). The call-and-response mechanic.

3. बाप बळिया शिरोमणी — उतावळि या वचनीं — पडलिया कानीं — धांवा न करी आळस — father, strong, crown-jewel — impatient at this word — fallen on the ear, runs — does no laziness. The master's character: strong (capable), śiromaṇi (crown-jewel, supreme), utāvaḷi (impatient — to come) at this word, runs without laziness once the call falls on the ear.

4. बळ दुनी शरणागता — स्वामी वाहों नेदी चिंता — आइतें चि दाता — पंगतीस बैसवी — doubles strength to theśaraṇāgata— master does not let worry be carried — ready giver — seats (us) at the row. Four protective-actions: doubles the bhakta's strength, prevents worry-being-carried, gives readily, seats us at the pangatī (the meal-row, the equal-with-others seat).

5. वाहे खांदीं पाववी घरा — त्याच्या करी येरझारा — बोबड्या उत्तरा — स्वामी तुकया मानवे — carries on shoulder — brings home — makes round-trips — Tuka's lisping word — pleases the master. The physical-care: carries on shoulder, brings home, makes the round-trips on our behalf. And the closing-claim: Tuka's bobaḍyā (lisping, imperfect) word — pleases the master. The imperfect-utterance is sufficient. The master does not require eloquence; the lisp pleases.

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For someone today

Tukaram says that when fear sits in your belly, you don't need a long, polished prayer to be helped — a single call, one name spoken toward God, is enough. He describes God not as distant and unmoved but as impatient to come the moment that call reaches his ear, running without any delay or laziness. Once you turn to him as a refugee, he doubles your strength, takes the worry off your shoulders, gives freely, and even carries you home on his shoulder like family. And you don't need eloquent words to reach him — Tukaram says his own stumbling, imperfect speech is what pleases his master, so don't hold back your call just because it isn't well formed.

मराठी: तुकाराम महाराज सांगतात की पोटात भीती असली तरी मदत मागण्यासाठी लांबलचक, नटवलेली प्रार्थना लागत नाही — एकच हाक, देवाकडे बोललेलं एकच नाव पुरेसं आहे. ते देवाचं वर्णन दूर आणि निर्विकार असं करत नाहीत, तर तो हाक कानावर पडताच धावत येणारा, उतावीळ असणारा असं करतात, कसलाही उशीर किंवा आळस न करता. एकदा तुम्ही शरण गेलात की तो तुमचं बळ दुप्पट करतो, तुमच्या मनावरची काळजी उतरवतो, मुक्तहस्ते देतो, आणि खांद्यावर घेऊन घरी पोहोचवतो, जणू आपलंच माणूस. आणि त्याच्यापर्यंत पोहोचायला सुंदर शब्दांची गरज नाही — तुकाराम म्हणतात की त्यांचं स्वतःचं अडखळणारं, अपूर्ण बोलणंच त्यांच्या स्वामींना आवडतं, म्हणून शब्द नीट जुळत नाहीत म्हणून हाक मारणं थांबवू नका.

Where this applies

• Single-word call: jagajeṭhī. Enough.
• Master is impatient and runs without laziness. Active register.
• Concrete protections. Don't abstract.
• Lisping word pleases. Don't withhold for imperfection.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2387 — Accept whatever life brings with reverence, and place the burden on God rather than carryi
• Abhanga 2494 — Living in devotion turns an ordinary day into a festival and removes the fear of birth and
• Abhanga 2540 — Even the smallest, most helpless creature that cries out to God in danger is sheltered and
• Abhanga 4581 — Tukaram closes his songs by confessing his own unworthiness and boldness, offering everyth