Abhanga 3397
Real devotion means falling at God's feet and asking for compassion again and again, without shame, until your longing is answered.
The verse
पदोपदीं पायां पडणें । करुणा जाण भाकावी ॥१॥
ये गा ये गा विसांवया । करुणा दयासागरा ॥ध्रु.॥
जोडोनियां करकमळ । नेत्र जळ भरोनि ॥२॥
तुका उभें दारीं पात्र । पुरवीं आर्त विठोबा ॥३॥
Literal translation
At-every-step fall-at-feet — know-karuṇā-bhākāvī. Come-come-O-rest — karuṇā-dayā-sāgar. Folding-lotus-hands, eyes-filled-with-tears. Tukā: stands-at-door-pātra — fulfill-ārta Viṭhōbā.
What it means
A short 3-verse beggar-petition. Standing at the door with folded hands and tearful eyes — fulfill my longing.
For someone today
Tukaram pictures himself falling at God's feet at every single step, asking humbly for compassion again and again, not just once but constantly. He calls out for God to come and be his rest, his resting place, addressing him as an ocean of mercy. He folds his hands like a lotus and his eyes fill with tears, standing at the door like a beggar holding out an empty bowl, hoping his deep longing will finally be answered. It is an image of complete, unembarrassed need, showing that real devotion can mean asking again and again without shame.
मराठी: तुकाराम स्वतःला प्रत्येक पावलावर देवाच्या पाया पडताना पाहतात, नम्रपणे पुन्हा पुन्हा करुणा मागताना, एकदाच नव्हे तर सतत. ते देवाला बोलावतात, ये आणि माझा विसावा हो, त्याला करुणा-दयासागर म्हणून संबोधतात. ते कमळासारखे हात जोडतात आणि डोळे अश्रूंनी भरतात, दारात भिकाऱ्यासारखे रिकामे पात्र घेऊन उभे राहतात, आशा करतात की त्यांची खोल आर्तता शेवटी पूर्ण होईल. ही पूर्ण, निःसंकोच गरजेची प्रतिमा आहे, जी दाखवते की खरी भक्ती म्हणजे लाज न बाळगता पुन्हा पुन्हा मागणे असू शकते.
Where this applies
- When you feel embarrassed about needing help again after already asking many times
- When you're worn down and just want somewhere safe to finally rest
- When you find yourself in tears, pleading for something you desperately need
- When you feel like a beggar at someone's door and wonder if it's shameful to keep asking