संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2551 of 4582

Abhanga 2551

Aware that death follows close behind, call on the divine as a compassionate mother who will come to you at the final, decisive moment.

When the thought of mortality pushes you to focus urgently on what truly matters.

When you feel exhausted and afraid facing something unknown that lies ahead of you.

When you want a comforting, motherly presence to be with you at a decisive, frightening moment.

The verse

म्हणऊनी लवलाहें । पाय आहें चिंतीत ॥१॥ पाठिलागा येतो काळ । तूं कृपाळू माउली ॥ध्रु.॥ बहु उसंतीत आलों । तया भ्यालों स्थळासी ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे तूं जननी । ये निर्वाणीं विठ्ठलें॥३॥

Literal translation

Therefore quickly — contemplating feet. Kāla comes following — you are kṛpāḷu mother. Much come exhausted — fearful of that place. Tuka says: you mother — come at nirvāṇa, Viṭhṭhalē.

What it means

THE KĀLA-FOLLOWING + VIṬHṬHALĒ-MOTHER-AT-END ABHANG.

[T]

For someone today

For today: kāla follows — you are kṛpāḷu mother — come at nirvāṇa.

Where this applies

When the awareness of mortality suddenly makes you want to focus on what matters most
When you feel exhausted and afraid facing something unknown ahead
When you want to call on a comforting, motherly presence during a frightening moment
When you're thinking about how you want to be met at the very end of life