Abhanga 2139
God's love is pictured as a mother's playful tenderness combined with a protector's readiness to guard the devotee with real strength.
The verse
कृपावंता दुजें नाहीं तुम्हां पोटीं । लाडें बोलें गोठी सुख मातें ॥१॥ घेउनि भातुकें लागसील पाठी । लाविसील ओंठीं ब्रम्हरस ॥ध्रु.॥ आपुलिये पांख घालिसी पाखर । उदार मजवर कृपाळू तूं ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे आम्हांकारणें गोविंदा । वागविसी गदा सुदर्शन ॥३॥
Literal translation
Compassionate one, no other in your belly — playful talk, sweet things, sukha to me. Taking bhātukē, you'll follow at heels — touch the lip with Brahma-rasa. You'll spread your own wings as canopy — generous, compassionate to me. Tuka says: for our sake, Govinda — you bear gadā-and-Sudarśana.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कृपावंता दुजें नाहीं तुम्हां पोटीं | "compassionate one, no other in your belly" |
| लाडें बोलें गोठी सुख मातें | "playful talk, sweet things, sukha to me" |
| घेउनि भातुकें लागसील पाठी | "taking bhātukē, you'll follow at heels" |
| लाविसील ओंठीं ब्रम्हरस | "touch the lip with Brahma-rasa" |
| आपुलिये पांख घालिसी पाखर | "you'll spread your own wings as canopy" |
| उदार मजवर कृपाळू तूं | "generous, compassionate to me" |
| तुका म्हणे आम्हांकारणें गोविंदा | "Tuka says — for our sake, Govinda" |
| वागविसी गदा सुदर्शन | "you bear gadā-and-Sudarśana" |
What it means
Playful-Lord-with-bhātukē + wings-as-canopy + bears-gadā-Sudarśana-for-us abhang.
The opening — playful-compassion: kṛpā-vantā dujē nāhīm tumhām pōṭīm — lāḍē bōlē gōṭhī sukha mātē — compassionate one, no other in your belly — playful talk, sweet things, sukha to me. No-other-in-your-belly-but-this-bhakta; playful-talk, sweet-things, sukha-given.
The bhātukē-and-Brahma-rasa: ghē'uni bhātukē lāgasīla pāṭhī — lāvisīla ōṇṭīm Brahma-rasa — taking bhātukē, you'll follow at heels — touch the lip with Brahma-rasa. Bhātukē = small gift / prasāda. You'll-take-bhātukē, follow-at-my-heels (like a mother); touch-my-lip with Brahma-rasa.
The wings-canopy: āpuliyē pānkha ghālisī pākhara — udāra majavara kṛpāḷū tūm — you'll spread your own wings as canopy — generous, compassionate to me. Pākhara = canopy / protection. You-spread-your-wings as-canopy over-me. Bird-mother-image.
The closing — Lord-bears-weapons-for-us: Tukā mhaṇē āmhāmkāraṇē Gōvindā — vāgavisī gadā Sudarśana — for our sake, Govinda — you bear gadā-and-Sudarśana. Govinda carries gadā (mace) and-Sudarśana (discus) for-our-sake. The Lord's-weapons are-for-protecting-bhaktas.
[T]
For someone today
For today: compassionate one, no other in your belly — playful talk, sweet things, sukha to me; taking bhātukē, you'll follow at heels — touch the lip with Brahma-rasa; you'll spread your wings as canopy — generous, compassionate to me; Tuka says — for our sake, Govinda — you bear gadā-and-Sudarśana.
Where this applies
- When you feel unseen and wonder whether anyone truly delights in your presence
- When you need reminding that tenderness and protection can come from the same source
- When you picture a mother's care and want to understand divine love in familiar terms
- When you feel unguarded and need to trust that something is watching over you