Abhanga 476
Here Tukaram turns to Rakhumai, Vitthal's consort, and asks her to put in a good word for him and send along whatever is left over from the offerings at God's own place. He pictures himself sitting with mouth open like a hungry chick, longing for just one small mouthful of that grace — he isn't asking for much, only a taste. He offered his love, and in return God became someone who gives back doubly, so Tukaram's answer is simple: just keep speaking the name of Vitthal.
The verse
तुम्ही तरी सांगा कांहीं । आम्हांविशीं रखुमाबाई ॥१॥ कांहीं उरलें तें ठायीं । वेगीं पाठवुनी देई ॥ध्रु.॥ टोकत बैसलों देखा । इच्छीतसें ग्रासा एका ॥२॥ प्रेम देउनि बहुडा जाला । तुका म्हणे विठ्ठल बोला ॥३॥
Literal translation
You at least say something — about us — Rakhumā-bāī. What's left at the ṭhāya — quickly send-and-give. I sat ṭōkata — wishing for one grāsa. Gave prema, became bahuḍā — Tuka says: speak Viṭhṭhala.
मराठी: तुम्ही तरी सांगा कांहीं आम्हांविशीं रखुमाबाई — कांहीं उरलें तें ठायीं वेगीं पाठवुनी देई. टोकत बैसलों देखा — इच्छीतसें ग्रासा एका. तुकाराम म्हणतां — प्रेम देउनि बहुडा जाला — विठ्ठल बोला.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तुम्ही तरी सांगा कांहीं आम्हांविशीं रखुमाबाई | "you at least say something — about us — Rakhumā-bāī" |
| कांहीं उरलें तें ठायीं वेगीं पाठवुनी देई | "what's left at the ṭhāya — quickly send-and-give" |
| टोकत बैसलों देखा इच्छीतसें ग्रासा एका | "sat ṭōkata — wishing for one grāsa" |
| प्रेम देउनि बहुडा जाला | "gave prema, became bahuḍā" |
| तुका म्हणे विठ्ठल बोला | "Tuka says: speak Viṭhṭhala" |
What it means
A short Rakhumāī-petition-for-leftover-prasāda abhang. Companion to 0475's kāḷā-festival — here, the bhakta who didn't get-into-the-saint-pankti petitions Rakhumāī (Viṭhobā's-consort, Lakṣmī-form) to send leftover-prasāda. Three claims:
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तुम्ही तरी सांगा कांहीं आम्हांविशीं रखुमाबाई — कांहीं उरलें तें ठायीं वेगीं पाठवुनी देई — you at least say something — about us — Rakhumā-bāī — what's left at Your place — quickly send-and-give. The opening-petition: you at least,Rakhumā-bāī, say something about us; whatever has been left at Your place — send it quickly. The bhakta uses the consort-mediator role.
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टोकत बैसलों देखा — इच्छीतसें ग्रासा एका — sat ṭōkata — wishing for one grāsa. The waiting-with-mouth-open image: I have sat —ṭōkata(with mouth-open, like a bird-chick or beggar); wishing for onegrāsa(mouthful / morsel). Mouth-open-bird image.
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प्रेम देउनि बहुडा जाला — तुका म्हणे विठ्ठल बोला — gave prema, became bahuḍā — Tuka says: speak Viṭhṭhala. The closing-claim: thepremawas given; (the deva) becamebahuḍā(one-who-returns / who-gives-back / who-doubles); Tuka says: speak Viṭhṭhala. The deva returns / doubles the prema; the closing-instruction isspeak the Name.
[T]
For someone today
Here Tukaram turns to Rakhumai, Vitthal's consort, and asks her to put in a good word for him and send along whatever is left over from the offerings at God's own place. He pictures himself sitting with mouth open like a hungry chick, longing for just one small mouthful of that grace — he isn't asking for much, only a taste. He offered his love, and in return God became someone who gives back doubly, so Tukaram's answer is simple: just keep speaking the name of Vitthal.
मराठी: इथे तुकाराम विठ्ठलाची पत्नी रखुमाईकडे वळतात आणि तिला त्याच्यासाठी एक चांगला शब्द टाकायला सांगतात, आणि देवाच्या स्वतःच्या घरातल्या नैवेद्यातलं जे काही उरलं असेल ते पाठवायला विनंती करतात. ते स्वतःला भुकेल्या पिल्लासारखं तोंड उघडून बसलेलं कल्पितात, फक्त त्या कृपेचा एक घास मिळावा म्हणून आतुर — त्यांना फार काही नको, फक्त एक चव हवी आहे. त्यांनी आपलं प्रेम दिलं, आणि त्याबदल्यात देव दुप्पट परत देणारा बनला, म्हणून तुकारामांचं उत्तर साधं आहे: फक्त विठ्ठलाचं नाव घेत राहा.
Where this applies
- Rakhumāī as mediator. When direct-access hard.
- Leftover-from-Your-place asked. Don't be ashamed.
- Mouth-open for one grāsa. Waiting-bird-chick.
- Prema-given doubles. Bhakti-economy.