संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2385 of 4582

Abhanga 2385

In deep distress it is honest to ask God directly for a clear answer, either help or a plain admission of defeat, rather than staying stuck in ambiguity.

When you are in real distress and decide to ask directly for help instead of staying vague

When you feel stuck between hope and despair and want a clear answer rather than more waiting

When you openly admit your distress instead of pretending you are fine

The verse

करावा उद्धार किंवा घ्यावी हारी । एका बोला स्थिरी राहें देवा ॥१॥ निरसनें माझा होईंल संदेह । अवघें चि आहे मूळ पायीं ॥ध्रु.॥ राहिलों चिकटूण कांहीं चि न कळे । कोणा नेणों काळे उदय भाग्य ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे बहु उद्वेगला जीव । भाकीतसें कीव देवराया ॥३॥

Literal translation

Do uplift or accept defeat — stand firm in one word, Dēvā. By resolution, my doubt will go — all is at the root-feet. I stay stuck, can't know — when fortune will rise. Tuka says: jīva much-distressed — I appeal for mercy, Dēva-rāyā.

What it means

THE DEMAND-FOR-DECISIVE-RESPONSE ABHANG.

THE OPENING DEMAND: karāvā uddhāra kimvā ghyāvī hārī — ēkā bōlā sthirī rāhē Dēvā — do uplift or accept defeat — stand firm in one word, Dēvā. Either uplift-(me) or accept-defeat; stand-firm in-one-word, Dēvā. The bhakta's-ultimatum: don't-stay-ambiguous — either-save-me or-admit-defeat.

The doubt-resolved: nirasanē mājhā hō'īmla sandēha — avaghē chi āhē mūḷa pāyīm — by resolution, my doubt will go — all is at the root-feet. By-decisive-resolution, my-doubt will-go; all (= my-everything) is at-the-root-feet (of-the-Lord).

The stuck-state: rāhilōm chikaṭūṇa kāmhīm chi na kaḷē — kōṇā nēṇōm kāḷē udaya bhāgya — I stay stuck, can't know — when fortune will rise. I-stay-stuck (chikaṭūṇa), don't-know-anything; when-fortune will-rise — who-knows.

The mercy-appeal: Tukā mhaṇē bahu udvēgalā jīva — bhākītasē kīva Dēva-rāyā — Tuka says: jīva much-distressed — I appeal for mercy. Jīva much-distressed; I-appeal-for-mercy, Dēva-rāyā.

[T]

For someone today

For today: uplift or accept defeat — stand firm in one word; resolution removes doubt; I stay stuck; jīva distressed — appeal for mercy.

Where this applies

When you are in real distress and tempted to pretend everything is fine instead of asking directly for help
When you feel stuck between hope and despair and want a clear answer instead of more uncertainty
When you are frustrated by not knowing when your circumstances will change
When you need permission to be honestly demanding in prayer rather than politely vague

Bhakti