Abhanga 3257
Like a father who wears himself out for his child and shields him from harm, the Lord's love is total, protective, and given freely without being asked.
The verse
बाप करी जोडी लेंकराचे ओढी । आपुली करवंडी वाळवूनी ॥१॥
एकाएकीं केलों मिरासीचा धनी । कडिये वागवूनी भार खांदीं ॥ध्रु.॥
लेवऊनी पाहे डोळा अळंकार । ठेवा दावी थोर करूनियां ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नेदी गांजूं आणिकांसी । उदार जीवासी आपुलिया ॥३॥
Literal translation
V1: bāpa makes-jōḍī for-lenkara's-oḍhā; withers his-own-karvaṇḍī. V2 (dhr.): ekā-ekī made-me mirās-heir; carrying-on-forearm, load-on-shoulder. V3: makes-wear-aḷankāra, looks-at-eye; shows-ṭhevā-making-thōra. V4: Tukā: doesn't-let-others-gāmjūm; udāra to-his-jīva.
What it means
A 3-verse father-image. Father-withers-his-marrow-for-child's-fondness; instantly-makes-heir; carries-on-forearm-and-shoulder; ornaments-the-child and-shows-the-treasure; doesn't-let-others-torment; generous-to-his-own.
For someone today
Tukaram paints the picture of a father who wears himself down, saving and scrimping, out of pure affection for his child. In an instant that father makes the child heir to everything he owns, carrying him on his forearm and the weight of the household on his shoulder. He decorates the child with ornaments and beams with pride, showing off this treasure to the world. And he will not let anyone else torment or trouble his own child, because he is endlessly generous toward the one he loves. This is how Tukaram pictures the Lord's love: total, protective, and given without being asked.
मराठी: तुकाराम एका वडिलांचे चित्र रंगवतात जे मुलावरील निखळ प्रेमापोटी स्वतःला झिजवतात, कष्ट करून साठवतात. क्षणार्धात तेच वडील मुलाला आपल्या सर्व मालमत्तेचा वारस बनवतात, त्याला दंडावर घेऊन घराचा सगळा भार खांद्यावर वाहतात. मुलाला अलंकार घालून ते कौतुकाने पाहतात आणि हा ठेवा जगाला मोठेपणाने दाखवतात. आणि आपल्या मुलाला कोणी छळू देत नाहीत, कारण ते आपल्या माणसासाठी अपार उदार असतात. अशा प्रकारे तुकाराम देवाच्या प्रेमाचे चित्र रेखाटतात - पूर्ण, संरक्षक, आणि न मागताच दिलेले.
Where this applies
- When a parent quietly sacrifices comfort and health so a child can have more
- When you feel unworthy of love that was given to you before you did anything to earn it
- When you need reassurance that someone stronger is shielding you from harm you cannot see
- When you wonder whether your struggles matter to anyone who could carry some of the weight