संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3281 of 4582

Abhanga 3281

This is a verse of total surrender. Tukaram tells God plainly that from here on, the effort must be God's own, because he himself has nothing left to offer but trust. He says he has placed his complete faith at the Divine's feet and simply stayed there, knowing no other approach or method. In the end, he confesses honestly that he has come seeking refuge, admitting he does not even know the proper way to ask for it; he can only show up and rely.

When you've tried every method you know and have to admit you can't fix things yourself.

When you feel unsure how to pray or ask for help but need to reach out anyway.

When you're ready to let go of controlling the outcome and simply trust.

The verse

यत्न आतां तुम्ही करा । मज दातारा सत्तेनें ॥१॥ विश्वास तो पायांवरि । ठेवुनि हरी राहिलों ॥ध्रु.॥ जाणत चि दुजें नाहीं । आणीक कांहीं प्रकार ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे शरण आलों । नेणें बोलों विनवितां ॥३॥

Literal translation

Now-you-do-yatna for-me, dātāra, by-sattā. Viśvāsa-on-feet, stayed. Don't-know-other. Tukā: came-śaraṇa, don't-know-petition.

What it means

A short 3-verse complete-surrender text. I-don't-know-how — you-must-do.

For someone today

मराठी: हा संपूर्ण शरणागतीचा अभंग आहे. तुकाराम देवाला स्पष्टपणे सांगतात की आतापासून प्रयत्न तुम्हीच करा, कारण माझ्याकडे विश्वासाशिवाय दुसरे काही देण्यासारखे उरलेले नाही. मी माझा संपूर्ण विश्वास तुझ्या पायांशी ठेवला आहे आणि तिथेच थांबलो आहे, दुसरा कोणताही मार्ग मला माहीत नाही, असे ते सांगतात. शेवटी ते प्रामाणिकपणे कबूल करतात की मी शरण आलो आहे, पण योग्य प्रकारे विनवणी कशी करावी हेही मला माहीत नाही, मी फक्त हजर राहून विश्वास ठेवू शकतो.

Where this applies

When you've tried every method you know and finally have to admit you can't fix things yourself.
When you feel awkward or unsure about how to pray or ask for help, but need to reach out anyway.
When you're ready to let go of controlling the outcome and simply trust.
When you realize the only thing left to offer in a difficult situation is your honest presence and faith.