Abhanga 3117
Tukaram lists five everyday acts of human kindness, rescuing, healing, clearing the path, carrying the tired, and asks God to show him the same compassion.
The verse
घालिती पव्हया । वाटे अनाथाच्या दया ॥१॥
तैसें कां हें नये करूं । पांडुरंगा आम्हां तारूं ॥ध्रु.॥
रोगियासी काढा । देउनि वारितील पीडा ॥२॥
बुडत्यासाटीं उडी । घालितील कां हे जोडी ॥३॥
सारितील कांटे । पुढें मागिलांचे वाटे ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे भार । घेती भागल्यांचा फार ॥५॥
Literal translation
Ghālitī pavhayā — (some) put out pavhayās; vāṭe anāthāñcyā dayā — for the dayā of anātha. Taise kām he naye karūm — why doesn't this come to (be) done likewise; Pāṇḍurangā āmhām tārum — Pāṇḍurangā, (be) our tāru. Rōgiyāsī kāḍhā — to the rōgī, kāḍha; deunī vāritīla pīḍā — giving, they clear pīḍā. Buḍatyāsāṭīm uḍī — for the drowning, uḍī; ghālitīla kām he jōḍī — they put out — for the assembling. Sāritīla kāmṭe — they clear the thorns; puḍhe māgilāñce vāṭe — ahead on the māgila (later)'s path. Tukā mhaṇe bhāra — Tukā says: bhāra; ghetī bhāgalyāñcā phāra — (they) take much of the tired.
What it means
A canonical 5-image philanthropy-pleading text by Tukārām.
The 5 sevā-images as-bhakti-model (asking-the-Lord-to-do-the-same-for-us): 1. Throw-pavhayās (rafts, ferry-floats) — for anātha-dayā 2. Give kāḍhā (decoction) to-rōgī — clears-pīḍa 3. Put-out-uḍī (jump) for-drowning 4. Clear-thorns ahead on-margila (followers')-path 5. Take-bhāra (load) of-the-tired
The framing: humans-do-these-philanthropy-acts; why-doesn't-the-Lord, who-is-our-tāru-(boat), do-likewise?
This is a striking-and-rare philanthropy-as-bhakti-model text. The bhakta-shows-the-Lord 5 specific-human-virtues and-asks do-the-same-for-us. The verse-frames-philanthropy as-sacred-imitation-of-Lord's-deeds.
For someone today
Tukārām's 5-philanthropy-images pleading. (Some) put out rafts — for the compassion of (the) orphans. Why doesn't this come to (be) done likewise — Pāṇḍurangā, (be) our boat? To the sick, they give decoction; (it) clears the affliction. For the drowning, they put out (a) jump — to assemble (rescue). They clear the thorns ahead — on the path the followers (will travel). They take the load of the tired. The verse offers the classic pattern of devotion expressed as philanthropy, built on five acts of service.
मराठी: तुकाराम पाच दयाळू कृत्यांच्या उदाहरणांतून देवाकडे विनवणी करतात. काही लोक अनाथांच्या कणवेपोटी तराफे उभारतात, आजारी माणसाला औषध देऊन त्याचे दुःख दूर करतात, बुडणाऱ्यासाठी उडी घेतात, पुढे चालणाऱ्यांसाठी वाटेवरचे काटे दूर करतात आणि थकलेल्यांचे ओझे स्वतः उचलतात. मग तुकाराम विचारतात, हेच माणसे करू शकतात, तर पांडुरंगा तूही आमचा असाच आधार का होऊ नयेस? अशा प्रकारे हा अभंग भक्तीलाच परोपकाराचे रूप देणारा एक आदर्श नमुना उभा करतो.
Where this applies
- When you're waiting for help and can point to ordinary people who show exactly the kindness you need
- When you want to ask for support by describing concrete acts of kindness rather than vague pleas
- When you're the one who could clear a path or carry a load for someone weaker or more tired than you
- When you need a reminder that compassion shown by everyday people is itself a model for how you can pray or hope to be treated