संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2543 of 4582

Abhanga 2543

God's love, like a mother's, delights even in clumsy devotion and judges no one by their faults, wanting only their wellbeing.

When you feel embarrassed by how imperfect or unpolished your devotion or effort is.

When you worry you'll be judged for your faults instead of accepted as you are.

When you find yourself waiting, thirsty and uncertain, for grace to arrive.

The verse

लेंकरा लेववी माता अळंकार । नाहीं अंतपार आवडीसी ॥१॥ कृपेचें पोसणें तुमचें मी दीन । आजि संतजन मायबाप ॥ध्रु.॥ आरुषा उत्तरीं संतोषे माउली । कवळूनि घाली हृदयात ॥२॥ पोटा आलें त्याचे नेणे गुणदोष । कल्याण चि असे असावें हें ॥३॥ मनाची ते चाली मोहाचिये सोईं । ओघें गंगा काईं परतों जाणे ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे कोठें उदार मेघां शिक्त । माझी तृषा किती चातकाची ॥५॥

Literal translation

Mother adorns the child with ornaments — no end to love. Kṛpā's foster-child — saints today are mother-father. At clumsy-words mother is content — embraces in heart. Womb-born — knows no guṇa-dōṣa — only wishes wellbeing. Mind's-walk on love-side — does Gangā know how to return. Tuka says: where is the generous cloud's-power — my chātaka-thirst.

What it means

THE MOTHER-BHAKTI ABHANG. Beautiful mother-child sequence.

The clumsy-words: āruṣā uttarīm santōṣē mā'ulī — kavaḷūni ghālī hṛdayānta — at clumsy-words mother is content — embraces in heart. Even-the-child's-clumsy-speech delights the-mother.

[T]

For someone today

For today: mother delights in clumsy-words — embraces in heart; womb-born known by mother-without guṇa-dōṣa-thought.

Where this applies

When you feel judged for your imperfect or clumsy attempts at devotion
When you doubt whether you deserve love because of your flaws
When you're a parent and want a model for unconditional love
When you're waiting anxiously for grace or help that feels overdue