संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2376 of 4582

Abhanga 2376

English: When mother lets-go — where to go by force — one's own strength is not enough.

The verse

मायें मोकलिलें कोठें जावें बळें । आपुलिया बळें न वंचे तें ॥१॥ रुसोनियां पळे सांडुनियां ताट । मागें पाहे वाट यावें ऐसीं ॥ध्रु.॥ भांडवल आम्हां आळी करावी हे । आपणें माये धांवसील ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे आळी करुनियां निकी । देसील भातुकीं बुझाऊनि ॥३॥

Literal translation

English: When mother lets-go — where to go by force — one's own strength is not enough. Sulking, flee — abandon the plate — looking back at the path: "come this way". ★ Our capital is to-make-tantrum (āḷī) — you-yourself, mother, will-run ★. Tuka says: by good-tantrum — you'll pacify with toys.

What it means

★ THE BHAKTA-AS-CHILD'S-TANTRUM-TO-MOTHER-GOD ABHANG ★.

The mother-lets-go: māyē mōkalilē kōṭhē jāvē baḷē — āpuliyā baḷē na vañchē tēwhen mother lets-go — where to go by force — one's own strength is not enough. When-mother-lets-go, where-can-the-child-go-by-its-own-force? Its-own-strength is-not-enough.

The sulking-and-looking-back: rusōniyām paḷē sāṇḍuniyām tāṭa — māgē pāhē vāṭa yāvē aiśīmsulking, flee, abandon the plate — looking back at the path: 'come this way'. Sulking, the-child-flees, abandoning-the-plate-(food); but-looks-back at-the-path: '[Mother], come-this-way'.

★ THE FAMOUS CAPITAL-IS-TANTRUM ★: bhāṇḍavala āmhām āḷī karāvī hē — āpaṇē māyē dhāmvasīla★ our capital is to-make-tantrum (āḷī) — you-yourself, mother, will-run ★. Bhāṇḍavala = capital, business-asset. Āḷī = tantrum, child's-stubborn-demanding. ★ Our-only-capital is-to-make-tantrum (āḷī); you-yourself, Mother, will-run [to-us]. ★ The bhakta's-paradoxical-strategy: we-have-nothing-but-our-stubborn-demanding (tantrum); but-precisely-because-of-it, the-Mother-will-come-running.

The toy-pacification: Tukā mhaṇē āḷī karuniyām nikī — dēsīla bhātukī bujhāūniTuka says: by good-tantrum — you'll pacify with toys. Bhātukī = toys, child's-playthings. By-our-good-tantrum, you-(Mother)-will-pacify-us with-toys.

The image: The bhakta is-the-stubborn-child who-makes-tantrum, refuses-food, runs-away-while-looking-back; the-Lord-as-Mother is-compelled-by-this-very-tantrum to-come-running-and-pacify-with-divine-toys (= darshan, bhakti-experiences).

[T]

For someone today

For today: mother-lets-go, child can't go far on own strength; sulks, flees, looks back; ★ our capital is tantrum (āḷī) — Mother, you-yourself will run ★; by good-tantrum, you-pacify-with-toys.

Where this applies

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