Abhanga 498

A protector this caring and unpretentious, who helps before being asked and honors a pure heart with humility, gives you no real excuse to stay away.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

A bhōḷā-rājā-stands-un-summoned abhang. The deva-of-the-gōpīkās image. Four claims:

1. कृपाळु भक्तांचा — ऐसा पति गोपिकांचा — kṛpāḷu of bhaktas — such pati of gōpīkā-s. The opening-claim: the deva iskṛpāḷu(compassionate) of bhaktas; such is thepati(lord, husband) of thegōpīkā-s (the cowherd-women of Vṛndāvana). Kṛṣṇa-of-the-gōpīkās-image as model of bhakta-grace.

2. उभा न पाचारितां दारीं — न संगतां काम करी — standing un-summoned at the door — does the work without being asked. The un-summoned-helper-claim: He stands at the door without beingpācāritām(summoned, called); He does thekāma(work, task) without beingsamgatām(told). Pre-emptive-help-without-request. The deva does not wait for the bhakta to ask.

3. भाव देखोनि निर्मळ — रजां वोडवी कपाळ — seeing nirmaḷa-bhāva — places kapāḷa on rajām. The self-abasement-claim: seeingnirmaḷa(pure)bhāva (stance);He vōḍavī (places, brings down) His kapāḷa (forehead) on the rajām (dust = of the bhakta's feet).The deva places his forehead on the dust of the pure-bhakta's feet.Bhakta-superior-deva-self-abasing.

4. तुकयाबंधु म्हणे न भजा — कां रे ऐसा भोळा राजा — Tukyā-bamdhu says: why don't you bhajan such a bhōḷā rājā? The closing-challenge: Tukyā-bamdhu says:na bhajā(don't you bhajan) — why such abhōḷā rājā (simple-king, naive-king)?A king who is bhōḷā (simple, naive, easily-touched), who comes un-summoned, who places his forehead on dust — why-would-you-not-bhajan-Him?

[T]

For someone today

This verse describes a God who acts like a loving, unpretentious protector, closer to family than a distant lord. He shows up at your door before you even ask, and does what needs doing without being told. When he sees a pure, honest heart, he responds with striking humility, even resting his own forehead in the dust at that person's feet. The verse closes with a simple, pointed question: given how open-hearted and unpretentious this protector is, why wouldn't you turn toward him?

मराठी: ही ओवी अशा देवाचे वर्णन करते जो प्रेमळ आणि साधा रक्षणकर्ता आहे, दूरच्या राजासारखा नव्हे तर घरातल्या माणसासारखा जवळचा. तुम्ही विचारण्याआधीच तो दारात येऊन उभा राहतो आणि सांगितल्याशिवाय काम करतो. जेव्हा तो शुद्ध, प्रामाणिक मन पाहतो तेव्हा तो विलक्षण नम्रतेने प्रतिसाद देतो, अगदी त्या व्यक्तीच्या पायाच्या धुळीवर आपले कपाळ टेकवतो. ओवीच्या शेवटी एक साधा, थेट प्रश्न विचारला आहे: इतका मनमोकळा आणि साधा रक्षणकर्ता असताना तुम्ही त्याच्याकडे का वळत नाही?

Where this applies

• Patiofgōpīkā-s. Kṛṣṇa-image.
• Un-summoned at door. Pre-emptive.
• Kapāḷaonrajām. Self-abasement.
• Bhōḷā rājā — bhajan. No excuse.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2467 — What looks like your whole world, like a fig to the insect living inside it, is only a tin
• Abhanga 4481 — Tukaram promises that sincerely calling on the Lord's name, knowingly or unknowingly, with
• Abhanga 4482 — Tukaram teaches that no ritual equals sincerely speaking the Lord's name, that self-center
• Abhanga 4497 — Tukaram describes a life so soaked in devotion that Krishna's presence fills every ordinar