Abhanga 3140
The wisdom and love that sants and spiritual guides give is a gift so great it can never be fully repaid, and it deserves deep, humble gratitude.
The verse
आजिचें हें मज तुम्हीं कृपादान । दिलें संतजन मायबापीं ॥१॥
आलीं मुखावाटा अमृतवचनें । उत्तीर्ण तीं येणें नव्हे जन्में ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे तुम्हीं उदार कृपाळ । शृंगारिलें बाळ कवतुकें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Ājiche he maja tumhīm krpādāna — today, you gave me this krpā-dāna; dile samta-jana māyabāpīm — (it was) given by sant-jana māyabāpa. Ālīm mukhāvāṭā amrta-vachane — from (your) mouth came amrta-vachanas; uttīrṇa tīm yeṇe navhe janme — I cannot discharge (the debt) by this janma. Tukā mhaṇe tumhīm udāra krpāḷa — Tukā says: you are udāra and krpāḷa; śrngārile bāḷa kavatuke — (you have) adorned the bāḷa with kavatuka.
What it means
A short 3-verse sant-gratitude by Tukārām. The claim: the sant-jana as-māyabāpa gave-me-krpā-dāna; their-mouth-released amrta-vachanas; this-janma-isn't-enough to-discharge-debt. Sants-are-udāra-and-krpāḷa; they-have-ornamented-this-bāḷa with-loving-play.
The bāḷa-śrngārana (child-adornment) image is striking — the sants treat the bhakta as a beloved child to be lovingly dressed in spiritual ornaments.
For someone today
Tukārām's sant-gratitude. Today, you gave (me) this gift of grace, O sant-people, my mother-father. From your mouth came nectar-words; I cannot discharge (this debt) by this birth. You are generous and compassionate — you have adorned the child with delight. The verse permits the bhakti-gratitude to sants-as-māyabāpa giving-amrta-vachanas.
Where this applies
- When someone wise has guided you and you want words to express how deeply grateful you feel
- When you realize a mentor or teacher gave you something you can never fully repay
- When you feel cared for like a cherished child by people who love you spiritually
- When you want to honor the people whose words changed the direction of your life