Abhanga 3416
Speak to God as a beloved child speaks to a parent, in imperfect words, and trust that the sincerity itself is what delights.
The verse
करूं स्तुती तरि ते निंदा । तुम्ही जाणां हे गोविंदा ॥१॥
आम्हां लडिवाळांचे बोल । करा कवतुकें नवल ॥ध्रु.॥
बोबड्या उत्तरीं । तुम्हा रंजवितों हरी ॥२॥
मागतों भातुकें । तुका म्हणे कवतुकें ॥३॥
Literal translation
My-stuti becomes-nindā — Govinda-knows. We-laḍivāḷas' bōla — make-kavatuka. Bōbaḍa-uttara — pleases-Hari. Asking-bhātuka — Tukā: as-kavatuka.
What it means
A short 3-verse baby-talk laḍivāḷa text. Any praise I give becomes its opposite; take our baby-words as charming-things; please be charmed; let me ask for the bhātuka (loved-child's-meal) as a delightful-game.
For someone today
Tukaram admits that any praise he offers God is bound to fall short, almost turning into an insult by comparison to God's greatness — but he trusts Govinda already understands this. So instead of polishing his words, he speaks like a beloved child speaks to a parent: in stumbling, imperfect, babbling language. A parent doesn't need perfect words from a child they adore; the very clumsiness is charming. Tukaram asks for what he needs the way a small child asks for a treat, playfully, without shame or self-consciousness.
मराठी: तुकाराम कबूल करतात की देवाची कितीही स्तुती केली तरी ती अपुरीच राहते, जणू देवाच्या मोठेपणापुढे ती निंदेसारखीच वाटते, पण गोविंदाला हे आधीच समजते असा त्यांना विश्वास आहे. म्हणून शब्द सुंदर करण्याऐवजी ते एखाद्या लाडक्या मुलासारखे बोबड्या, अपूर्ण भाषेत बोलतात. आई-वडिलांना आपल्या लाडक्या मुलाकडून परिपूर्ण शब्दांची गरज नसते, उलट तेच बोबडे बोलणे त्यांना आवडते. तुकाराम लहान मुलासारखे खेळकरपणे, कोणत्याही लाजेशिवाय जे हवे ते मागतात.
Where this applies
- When you feel your words are too clumsy or small to properly express love or gratitude
- When you hold back from prayer because you think it has to sound eloquent
- When you're embarrassed to ask for something simple, the way a child freely asks
- When you realize a relationship built on trust doesn't need polished performance