संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2480 of 4582

Abhanga 2480

Let people say what they will, because being cared for like a cherished child by a compassionate, all-giving divine mother is security enough.

When you're hurt by what people say about you and need to let it go.

When you feel unloved and want to hold onto the idea of being someone's pampered, protected child.

When you want to trust that you already have everything you need, the way a child trusts a parent who can grant any wish.

The verse

असोत लोकांचे बोल शिरावरी । माझी मज बरी विठाबाईं ॥१॥ आपंगिलें मज आहे ते कृपाळु । बहुत कनवाळु अंतरींची ॥ध्रु.॥ वेदशास्त्रें जिसी वर्णिती पुराणें । तिचें मी पोसणें लडिवाळ ॥२॥ जिचें नाम कामधेनु कल्पतरू । तिचें मी लेंकरूं तुका म्हणे ॥३॥

Literal translation

Let people's words be on my head — Viṭhābā'ī is fine for me. Kṛpāḷu has embraced me — much kanavāḷu inside. Whom Vedas-Śāstras-Purāṇas describe — I am her pampered-foster-child. Whose name is Kāma-dhēnu Kalpa-tarū — I am her child, Tuka says.

What it means

THE VIṬHĀBĀ'Ī-AS-KĀMA-DHĒNU-KALPA-TARŪ ABHANG.

The pampered-foster-child: vēda-śāstrē jisī varṇitī purāṇē — tichē mī pōsaṇē laḍivāḷa — whom Vedas-Śāstras-Purāṇas describe — I am her pampered-foster-child. Pōsaṇē = foster-child, raised-as-own. Whom the Vedas-Śāstras-Purāṇas describe — I am-her-pampered-foster-child (laḍivāḷa pōsaṇē). The bhakta's-confidence: I am-personally-raised by-the-mother-of-scriptures.

THE KĀMA-DHĒNU-KALPA-TARŪ IDENTIFICATION: jichē nāma Kāma-dhēnu Kalpa-tarū — tichē mī lēnkarūm — whose name is Kāma-dhēnu Kalpa-tarū — I am her child. Kāma-dhēnu = wish-fulfilling cow. Kalpa-tarū = wish-fulfilling tree. Viṭhābā'ī = the-Kāma-dhēnu + the-Kalpa-tarū — I-am-her-child. Both wish-fulfilling-mythic-mothers identified with Viṭhābā'ī.

[T]

For someone today

For today: let people's words be on head; I am the Vedas-Śāstras' pampered-foster-child ; Viṭhābā'ī is Kāma-dhēnu and Kalpa-tarū — I am her child .

Where this applies

When you're stung by gossip or criticism and need to remember whose opinion actually matters to you
When you feel unworthy of love and need the image of being someone's pampered, cherished child
When you want language for the feeling that a relationship with the divine gives you everything you truly need
When you compare your own worth to what the scriptures describe as great and want to feel personally held by that same tradition

Nāma (the Name) Bhakti