संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2408 of 4582

Abhanga 2408

Call out and God comes running like a mother to her child; say the Name first and love for it will follow on its own.

When you doubt whether calling out to God actually does anything

When you feel you must first work up genuine love before you can start practicing devotion

When you need reassurance that a caring response follows sincere calling

The verse

पाचारितां धावे । ऐसी ठायींची हे सवे ॥१॥ बोले करुणा वचनीं । करी कृपा लावी स्तनीं ॥ध्रु.॥ जाणे कळवळा । भावसिद्धींचा जिव्हाळा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे नाम । मागें मागें धांवे प्रेम ॥३॥

Literal translation

Calling-out, he runs — such is the habit-of-this-place. Speaks compassion in words — gives kṛpā, places at the breast. Knows the heart-pain — the affection of bhāva-siddhi. Tuka says: Name — behind it runs prēma.

What it means

THE NAME-RUNS-PRĒMA-FOLLOWS ABHANG.

The Lord-runs-on-call: pāchāritām dhāvē — aiśī ṭhāyīñchī hē savē — calling-out, he runs — habit of this place. The Lord-runs at-being-called; that's the-habit-of-this-place (= Pandharpur).

The Mother-image: karī kṛpā lāvī stanīm — gives kṛpā, places at the breast. Gives kṛpā, places-the-bhakta at-the-Mother's-breast.

THE CLOSING: Tukā mhaṇē nāma — māgē māgē dhāmvē prēma — Tuka says: Name — behind it runs prēma. Name [goes first], prēma runs-after-it. The order: utter the Name, prēma will-follow.

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For someone today

For today: call-out — he runs; Mother places at the breast; utter the Name — prēma runs behind .

Where this applies

When you feel too unworthy or unmoved to pray because you don't feel loving enough yet
When you doubt that calling out to God actually brings any response
When you keep postponing devotion because you're waiting to feel devoted first
When you need comfort and want reassurance that someone rushes toward you when you call