Abhanga 2147
For today: dātā of the proper — compassionate, you, Ananta; why don't you run — when your Name is uttered?; what strength-strategy — don't you have power in body?; Tuka says — you are Viśvambhara — why is my interior empty?
The verse
उचिताचा दाता । कृपावंता तूं अनंता ॥१॥ कां रे न घालिसी धांव । तुझें उच्चारितां नांव ॥ध्रु.॥ काय बळयुक्ति । नाहीं तुझे अंगीं शक्ति ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे तूं विश्वंभर । ओस माझें कां अंतर ॥३॥
Literal translation
Dātā of the proper — compassionate, you, Ananta. Why don't you run — when your Name is uttered? What strength-strategy — don't you have power in body? Tuka says: you are Viśvambhara — why is my interior empty?
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उचिताचा दाता | "dātā of the proper" |
| कृपावंता तूं अनंता | "compassionate, you, Ananta" |
| कां रे न घालिसी धांव | "why don't you run" |
| तुझें उच्चारितां नांव | "when your Name is uttered" |
| काय बळयुक्ति | "what strength-strategy" |
| नाहीं तुझे अंगीं शक्ति | "don't you have power in body" |
| तुका म्हणे तूं विश्वंभर | "Tuka says — you are Viśvambhara" |
| ओस माझें कां अंतर | "why is my interior empty" |
What it means
Viśvambhara-why-don't-you-run + why-is-my-interior-empty abhang. PROVOCATIVE BHAKTA-QUESTION.
The opening — invocation: uchitāchā dātā — kṛpā-vantā tūm Anantā — dātā of the proper — compassionate, you, Ananta. Dātā-of-uchita; compassionate-Ananta.
The why-don't-you-run question: kām rē na ghālisī dhāmva — tujhē uchchāritām nāmva — why don't you run — when your Name is uttered?. Your-Name-is-uttered; why-don't-you-come-running?. Tukārām's recurring-challenge: the Name is-said-to-summon-the-Lord; where-are-you?.
The power-question: kāya baḷa-yukti — nāhīm tujhē angīm śakti — what strength-strategy — don't you have power in body?. Don't-you-have-the-strength-to-come?.
THE CLIMACTIC PARADOX: Tukā mhaṇē tūm Viśvambhara — ōsa mājhē kām antara — you are Viśvambhara — why is my interior empty?. Viśvambhara = the one-who-fills-the-cosmos. Ōsa = empty, desolate. You-fill-the-cosmos; why-then-is-my-interior empty?. The bhakta's-direct-challenge to the Lord's-omnipresence-doctrine.
[T]
For someone today
For today: dātā of the proper — compassionate, you, Ananta; why don't you run — when your Name is uttered?; what strength-strategy — don't you have power in body?; Tuka says — you are Viśvambhara — why is my interior empty?
Where this applies
- When your prayers feel unanswered and you want to voice that frustration honestly instead of pretending
- When you feel spiritually empty despite believing God is everywhere
- When you need permission to question or challenge your faith without abandoning it
- When you demand real presence instead of settling for ritual words alone