Abhanga 2936
Even devotion born of real anguish can speak boldly to God, reminding him that love and service deserve to be remembered and asking directly for things to be set right.
The verse
आमुचिया भावें तुज देवपण । तें कां विसरोन राहिलासी ॥१॥
समर्थासी नाहीं उपकारस्मरण । दिल्या आठवण वांचोनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
चळण वळण सेवकाच्या बळें । निर्गुणाच्यामुळें सांभाळावें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आतां आलों खंडावरी । प्रेम देउनि हरी बुझवावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Āmuchiyā bhāve tuja Deva-paṇa — by ourbhāva, (you have)Deva-paṇa(the status-of-being-Deva); te kām visarōn rāhilāsī — have you forgotten that, staying (here)? Samarthāsī nāhī upakāra-smaraṇa — thesamartha(powerful one) doesn't haveupakāra-smaraṇa(remembering favors received); dilyā āṭhavaṇa vāñchōnīyām — untilāṭhavaṇa(reminder) is given,vāñchōnīyām(with-asking). Chaḷaṇa vaḷaṇa sevakāñcyā baḷe — yourchaḷaṇa-vaḷaṇa(movement-and-turning) is by thesevaka's(servant's)baḷa(strength); nirguṇāñcyā-muḷe sāmbhāḷāve — thenirguṇa(formless-Lord) needs to-be-cared-for (because-of) (them). Tukā says: ātām ālōm khaṇḍāvarī — now I have come to thekhaṇḍa(the gap, the issue); prema deunī Harī bujhavāve — giveprema, Hari, andbujhavāve(pacify, settle).
What it means
A striking 3-verse bhakta-gives-Deva-his-Deva-paṇa radical claim. Āmuchiyā bhāve tuja Deva-paṇa — te kām visarōn rāhilāsī — by our bhāva, (you have) Deva-paṇa — have you forgotten this, staying? The radical-opening: the Lord's-Deva-paṇa (the very-status of being-Deva) comes-from-bhakta-bhāva. Without bhakta-bhāva, the Lord-isn't-Deva (in any practical-sense). Has the Lord forgotten this?
Samarthāsī nāhī upakāra-smaraṇa — dilyā āṭhavaṇa vāñchōnīyām — the samartha doesn't remember favors — until reminded with asking. The complaint: powerful-ones forget the favors-they've-received until-reminded. The Lord has-forgotten the bhakta's-bhāva-giving-him-Deva-paṇa.
Verse 2 (the striking-claim): Chaḷaṇa vaḷaṇa sevakāñcyā baḷe — nirguṇāñcyā-muḷe sāmbhāḷāve — (your) movement-and-turning is by the sevaka's strength — the nirguṇa is-cared-for by (the sevaka-because-of-its-source/cause). The radical-claim: even the Lord's-movement-and-turning is enabled-by-sevaka-strength. Without sevakas, the Lord-as-nirguṇa is unattended. (Compare 2891 bhakta-as-progenitor, 2837 bhāva-churns-nirguṇa.)
The close: Tukā mhaṇe ātām ālōm khaṇḍāvarī — prema deunī Harī bujhavāve — now I've come to the khaṇḍa (gap, breaking-point) — give prema, Hari, and settle (it). The petition: give prema and resolve the matter.
This is among the most-radical bhakta-causal-claims in the corpus. Pairs with 2891 (bhakta-progenitor), 2837 (bhāva-churns-nirguṇa), 2916 (Nārāyaṇa-without-me).
For someone today
It is our devotion that gives you your very status as God, Tukaram says boldly — have you forgotten that, sitting there so comfortably? Powerful people so often forget favors done for them until someone reminds them and asks. Even your movement in this world happens through the strength of your servants — it is because of us that the formless one is cared for and kept alive in people's hearts. Now, Tukaram says, I've reached my breaking point — give me your love, Hari, and set things right.
मराठी: आमच्या भावामुळेच तुला देवपण मिळाले आहे, तुकाराम धीटपणे म्हणतात — हे तू विसरून इथे आरामात बसला आहेस का? समर्थ माणसे आपल्यावरचे उपकार बरेचदा विसरतात, जोपर्यंत कोणी आठवण करून विनंती करत नाही. तुझे या जगातले चलनवलनही तुझ्या सेवकांच्या बळावरच चालते — आमच्यामुळेच निर्गुण असा तू लोकांच्या मनात जिवंत आणि सांभाळलेला राहतोस. आता, तुकाराम म्हणतात, मी माझ्या सहनशक्तीच्या शेवटच्या टोकाला पोहोचलो आहे — हरी, मला तुझे प्रेम दे आणि सगळे नीट कर.
Where this applies
- When you feel unseen or unappreciated after giving everything to a relationship or cause
- When you need the courage to speak honestly to God or someone you love about feeling taken for granted
- When you've reached an emotional breaking point and just want things to be made right