Abhanga 3155
Tukaram teaches that it is alright to call out with unashamed longing and ask to be recognized, even when the longing feels embarrassingly persistent, because it comes from real love.
The verse
सरलियाचा सोस मनीं । लाजोनियां राहिलों ॥१॥
आवडीनें बोलावितों । येथें तें तों लपावें ॥ध्रु.॥
माझें तें चि मज द्यावें । होतें भावें जोडिलें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे विश्वंभरा । आळीकरा बुझावा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Saraliyāñcā sōsa manīm — the passed-fondness in mana; lājōnīyām rāhilōm — I stayed lājōnīyām (in shame). Āvaḍīne bōlāvitōm — with āvaḍī, (I am) calling; yethe te tōm lapāve — here, (you) should not hide. Mājhe te chi maja dyāve — give to me my own; hōte bhāve jōḍilē — (it was) bound by bhāva. Tukā mhaṇe Viśvambharā — Tukā says: Viśvambhara; āḷīkarā bujhāvā — recognize the cherished-one.
What it means
A 3-verse gentle-petition. Passed-fondness-keeps-me-shamed; I-call-with-āvaḍī; don't-hide; give-me-back-what-was-mine; recognize-the-pestering-cherished-one.
For someone today
Tukaram admits something very human here: he has been holding back out of shame, embarrassed by how strong his old longing still feels in his mind. And yet he calls out anyway, with real affection, and asks God not to hide from him. He asks for what was once his to be given back, since it was joined to him through devotion in the first place. He turns to Vishvambhara, the sustainer of the whole world, and simply asks to be recognized and understood, even though his persistence comes only from love.
मराठी: तुकाराम इथे एक अगदी माणसाला जाणवणारी गोष्ट कबूल करतात: मनात अजूनही रेंगाळणाऱ्या जुन्या ओढीची त्यांना लाज वाटते आहे, म्हणून ते स्वतःला आवरून धरत होते. तरीही ते प्रेमानेच देवाला हाक मारतात आणि लपून राहू नकोस अशी विनंती करतात. जे आधीच भावाने त्यांचे झाले होते ते परत द्यावे अशी ते मागणी करतात. विश्वंभराला, म्हणजे संपूर्ण विश्व सांभाळणाऱ्याला, ते फक्त एवढेच सांगतात की माझी ही ओढ प्रेमापोटीच आहे, हे ओळखावे.
Where this applies
- When you feel embarrassed by how strongly you still long for closeness with someone or something you love
- When you hesitate to keep asking because you fear you are being a bother
- When something that once felt freely given now feels distant or withheld
- When you simply want to be seen and understood by someone important to you