Abhanga 2414
Devotion means keeping your arms open and your feet moving toward what you love, even when the road is rough.
The verse
पसरूनि राहिलों बाहो । सोयी अहो तुमचिये ॥१॥ आतां यावें लागवेगें । पांडुरंगे धांवत ॥ध्रु.॥ बैसायाची इच्छा कडे । चाली खडे रुपताती ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे कृपाळुवा । करीन सेवा लागली ॥३॥
Literal translation
I've stayed with arms outstretched — to your way. Now come quickly — Pāṇḍuranga running. Sitting-desire aside — walking, stones prick. Tuka says: kṛpāḷu — I'll do the service started.
What it means
THE ARMS-OUTSTRETCHED-WAITING ABHANG.
THE OPENING IMAGE: pasarūni rāhilōm bāhō — sōyī ahō tumachiyē — I've stayed with arms outstretched — to your way. I-have-stayed with-arms-outstretched (waiting-for-embrace); turned-toward-your-way. The waiting-bhakta-image — like a child waiting for parent's arms.
The walking-difficulty: chālī khaḍē rupatātī — walking, stones prick. Stones-prick the-feet as-I-walk — the bhakta's-journey-toward-the-Lord is-not-easy.
[T]
For someone today
For today: arms outstretched, turned toward your way; Pāṇḍuranga come running; sitting-desire aside; stones prick on walking; kṛpāḷu, I'll do the service.
Where this applies
- When you are waiting for someone you love to reach out first and the waiting itself feels like an act of faith
- When the easy, comfortable choice is to sit still but you know you need to keep moving toward what matters
- When a difficult path leaves you sore or hurting but you choose to keep walking anyway
- When you have already committed to a duty or service and want to see it through despite discomfort