Abhanga 3381
Real closeness gives you the right to insist on help plainly, the way a child demands attention from a parent, without settling for being put off.
The verse
मायबापापुढें लेंकराची आळी । आणीक हे पाळी कोण लळे ॥१॥
सांभाळा जी माझीं विषमें अनंता । जवळी असतां अव्हेर कां ॥ध्रु.॥
आणिकांची चाले सत्ता आम्हांवरी । तुमची ते थोरी काय मग ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आलों दुरोनि जवळी । आतां टाळाटाळी करूं नये ॥३॥
Literal translation
Māyabāpāpuḍhē lemkarāchī āḷī — āṇīka he pāḷī koṇa laḷe — before the parents, the child's tantrum — who else indulges such fits? Sāmbhāḷā jī mājhī viṣame Anamtā — javaḷī asatām avhera kām — take care, O Ananta, of my difficulties — being near, why the slight? Āṇikāmchī chāle sattā āmhāmvarī — tumchī te thorī kāya maga — (if) others' authority rules over us — what then of your greatness? Tukā mhaṇe ālōm duroni javaḷī — ātām ṭāḷā-ṭāḷī karūm naye — Tukā says: I came from far to near — now don't put me off.
What it means
A 3-verse child-before-parent petition. The two leverages: (1) only parents indulge a child's tantrum — you are that, so attend; (2) if others' authority rules over me, your reputation suffers. The third verse seals it with I have already come; do not delay further.
For someone today
Childlike claiming: the bond grants the right to demand. To stand near and still ignore is the only true neglect.
Where this applies
- When you feel comfortable enough with someone to demand their attention without holding back
- When you point out that a person's own reputation is tied to how they treat you
- When you have finally worked up the courage to ask directly for help after avoiding it for a long time
- When you feel the closeness of a relationship gives you the right to insist rather than just hope