Abhanga 1931
Tukaram trusts that God cares for him like a parent even from a distance, yet still tells Hari that taking this long to help is something to be ashamed of.
The verse
आतां आशीर्वाद । माझा असो सुखें नांद ॥१॥ म्हणसी कोणा तरी काळें । आहेतसी माझीं बाळें ॥ध्रु.॥ दुरी दूरांतर । तरी घेसी समाचार ॥२॥ नेसी कधीं तरी । तुका म्हणे लाज हरी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Now (this) blessing — let mine abide in sukha. You say at some time — 'these are my children'. Even at far-far-distance — you take news. Will-take (us) sometime, surely — Tuka says — (have) shame, Hari.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आतां आशीर्वाद | "now (this) blessing" |
| माझा असो सुखें नांद | "let mine abide in sukha" |
| म्हणसी कोणा तरी काळें | "you say at some time" |
| आहेतसी माझीं बाळें | "'these are my children'" |
| दुरी दूरांतर | "even at far-far-distance" |
| तरी घेसी समाचार | "you take news" |
| नेसी कधीं तरी | "will-take (us) sometime, surely" |
| तुका म्हणे लाज हरी | "Tuka says — (have) shame, Hari" |
What it means
Blessing-let-mine-abide + you'll-take-us-sometime + have-shame-Hari abhang. Letter-sent-with-saints cluster.
The opening: ātām āśīrvāda — mājhā asō sukhē nāmda — now (this) blessing — let mine abide in sukha. Wishing-blessing-on-self: let-me-abide-in-sukha.
The you-say-children: mhaṇasī kōṇā tarī kāḷē — āhētasī mājhīm bāḷē — you say at some time — 'these are my children'. At-some-times you-do-say "these-are-my-children".
The far-distance: durī durāntara — tarī ghēsī samācāra — even at far-far-distance — you take news. The Lord even-at-cosmic-distance gathers-news of-bhaktas.
The shame-line: nēsī kadhīm tarī — Tukā mhaṇē lāja Hari — will-take (us) sometime, surely — Tuka says — (have) shame, Hari. Lāja = shame. You-will-take (= rescue/take-to-yourself) sometime, surely — but (until-then), have-shame, Hari. (= the delay-itself is-shameful for-the-Lord.)
[T]
For someone today
For today: now (this) blessing — let mine abide in sukha; you say at some time — 'these are my children'; even at far-far-distance — you take news; will-take (us) sometime, surely — Tuka says — (have) shame, Hari.
Where this applies
- When you trust that someone cares about you but feel frustrated they have not acted yet.
- When you remind a person of the relationship they claimed, like calling you family, to ask them to follow through.
- When you feel far away or forgotten but sense the other person still checks in on you.
- When you are bold enough to call out someone's delay even while still trusting them.