Abhanga 1858

For today: deva is compassionate, deva is compassionate — bears the clamor of many; deva is generous, deva is generous — for a little (offering) knows how to give much; deva is good, deva is good — Tuka has clung to the feet.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

Deva-deva-litany-praise abhang. Opens the 1858-1865 deva-deva litany cluster.

Each verse follows a tight folk-litany pattern: deva [adjective], deva [adjective] — explanation.

Verse 1 — dayāḷa: the deva bears-the-clamor-of-many bhaktas. (= the deva's dayā extends-to-all.)

Verse 2 — udāra: for-a-little-offering, the deva-knows how-to-give-much. (= the deva's generosity is disproportionate-to-the-offering.)

Verse 3 — cāngalā: Tuka has-clung-to-the-feet. (= the deva is good-and-Tuka-recognizes-it.)

The cluster (1858-1865) recites the many-aspects of the deva in folk-litany-form — praise alternating with comic-tease. This abhang is the opening pure-praise.

[T]

For someone today

For today: deva is compassionate, deva is compassionate — bears the clamor of many; deva is generous, deva is generous — for a little (offering) knows how to give much; deva is good, deva is good — Tuka has clung to the feet.

Where this applies

• When you feel drowned out among many voices asking for the same help or attention
• When you receive far more kindness than your small effort or offering deserved
• When you want to express plain, uncomplicated gratitude without a big argument behind it
• When you need a reason to simply hold on to your faith rather than analyze it

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