Abhanga 3312
Persistently, even childishly, seeking a response from someone you love is itself a precious form of closeness, not something to be ashamed of.
The verse
जीवींचें कां नेणां । परि हे आवडी नारायणा ॥१॥
वाढवावें हें उत्तर । कांहीं लाज करकर ॥ध्रु.॥
कोठें वांयां गेले । शब्द उत्तम चांगले ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे बाळा । असतात प्रिय खेळा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Why-don't-know-jīva — Nārāyaṇa-fondness for-this. Let-uttara-grow; some-lāja-karakara. Where-good-words-vāyām? Tukā: to-bāḷa, priya-kheḷa-favored.
What it means
A short 3-verse text. Even-the-Lord-likes-this-child-play; respond, please.
For someone today
Tukārām wonders aloud why the Lord doesn't seem to notice what's in his heart, even though his fondness for Nārāyaṇa is plain. He asks for a response to keep growing between them, refusing to let shame or hesitation hold him back. He asks where all those good, kind words have gone. Comparing himself to a child, Tukārām says children love to be indulged and played with — and so, in the same way, he longs for the Lord's affectionate reply.
मराठी: तुकाराम विचारतात, देवाला माझ्या मनातले का कळत नाही? तरीही नारायणावरची माझी ही आवड खरी आहे. हे प्रत्युत्तर वाढतच राहावे, यात लाज किंवा संकोच बाळगण्याचे काहीच कारण नाही. ते चांगले, गोड शब्द कुठे हरवले, असे ते विचारतात. लहान मुलांना जसे खेळात लाडावून घेणे आवडते, तसेच तुकारामांनाही देवाकडून प्रेमळ प्रतिसादाची ओढ आहे.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's child-play-favored; respond-please