Abhanga 3309
Real closeness with the divine comes through plain mutual affection, not rivalry or scorekeeping, even though your own intentions keep shaping your life's results.
The verse
आहो उभा विटेवरी । भरोवरी चुकविली ॥१॥
निवारलें जाणें येणें । कोणा कोणें रुसावे ॥ध्रु.॥
संकल्पासी वेचे बळ । भारे फळ निर्माण ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे उभयतां । भेटी सत्ता लोभाची ॥३॥
Literal translation
Standing-on-vīṭā, bharōvarī-avoided. Coming-going-cleared; who-be-angry? Samkalpa-spends-bala, fruit-made. Tukā: between-us, bhēṭī by-sattā-of-lōbha.
What it means
A 3-verse text. The Lord-on-brick-doesn't-rival; our-bhēṭī is-by-mutual-fondness.
For someone today
Vitthal simply stands on his brick, plain and unassuming, avoiding any contest of greatness with anyone. Because of this closeness, the whole cycle of coming and going has quieted down, so there is no longer anyone to be angry at or blame. Our own intentions still spend our strength and produce their results, that part of life keeps happening. But Tukaram says the actual meeting between devotee and God comes through the plain power of mutual affection, not through rivalry, comparison, or proving who deserves more.
मराठी: विठ्ठल फक्त विटेवर साधेपणाने उभा आहे, कोणाशीही मोठेपणाची स्पर्धा न करता. या जवळिकेमुळे येणे-जाणे शांत झाले आहे, त्यामुळे आता कोणावर रागवायचे किंवा कोणाला दोष द्यायचे असे उरलेले नाही. आपले स्वतःचे संकल्प अजूनही आपली शक्ती खर्च करतात आणि फळ निर्माण करतात, हे चालूच राहते. पण तुकाराम म्हणतात की भक्त आणि देव यांची खरी भेट स्पर्धेने किंवा हिशोबाने नाही, तर निखळ प्रेमाच्याच सामर्थ्याने घडते.
Where this applies
- When you keep trying to prove yourself worthy of someone's love through competition or achievement
- When you realize a genuine bond doesn't need scorekeeping or comparison to be real
- When old resentment about who owes whom finally settles and dissolves
- When you notice your own choices keep shaping your life even after you've let go of blame