संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2505 of 4582

Abhanga 2505

For today: keep this gift — held the feet ; take service by my hand — this is the request .

When you realize you would rather ask for one simple thing than pile on burdens and worries.

When you want the privilege of serving someone with your own hands rather than being served.

When you think of yourself as devoted to someone or something and just want that one bond to be honored.

The verse

हें चि जतन करा दान । धरुनी चरण राहिलों तो ॥१॥ आणीक कांहीं न घलीं भार । बहुत फार सांकडें ॥ध्रु.॥ घ्यावी माझ्या हातें सेवा । हे चि देवा विनवणी ॥२॥ तुका तुमचा म्हणवी दास । तेणें आस पुरवावी ॥३॥

Literal translation

Keep this gift — held the feet, stayed. No other burden — many troubles. Take service by my hand — this is the request, Dēvā. Tuka calls himself your dāsa — fulfill this hope.

What it means

THE TAKE-SERVICE-BY-MY-HAND REQUEST ABHANG.

The simple-request: ghyāvī mājhyā hātē sēvā — hē chi Dēvā vinavaṇī — take service by my hand — this is the request. Take service-by-my-hand; this-is the-request, Dēvā. The bhakta's-modest-petition — to-be-allowed-to-serve.

[T]

For someone today

For today: keep this gift — held the feet; take service by my hand — this is the request.

Where this applies

When you catch yourself asking God or life for more and more things instead of one honest, simple wish.
When you feel weighed down by responsibilities you never actually wanted and realize you would rather carry less.
When you want the chance to serve someone you love with your own hands rather than just receive from them.
When you think of yourself as someone's devoted helper and simply want that role to continue.

Bhakti no-other-burden-many-troubles