Abhanga 3497
When worldly connection has become too painful to bear, it is honest to let it go, and to let your exhaustion turn into an honest plea for mercy.
The verse
व्हावया भिकारी हें आम्हां कारण । अंतरोनि जन जावें दुरी ॥१॥
संबंध तुटावा शब्दाचा ही स्पर्श । म्हणऊनि आस मोकलिली ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे दुःखें उबगला जीव । म्हणऊनी कीव भाकीं देवा ॥३॥
Literal translation
To-become-bhikārī — jana-should-go-far. Even-touch-of-śabda-must-break — released-the-āsa. Tukā: duḥkha-made-jīva-weary — therefore-beg-kīva, Deva.
What it means
A 3-verse radical-isolation petition. Let me become a beggar — people should keep their distance; even the touch of a word should break; my soul is fed up with sorrow — I beg pity.
For someone today
Tukaram wants to become a beggar for a reason: so that people keep their distance from him. He wants every connection to break, even the touch of a single word passing between him and others, and so he has let go of his hope for that kind of closeness. He admits plainly that sorrow has worn his soul down completely, and that weariness itself is what pushes him to beg God for mercy.
मराठी: तुकाराम एका कारणासाठी भिकारी होऊ इच्छितात, ते म्हणजे लोकांनी त्यांच्यापासून दूर राहावे. त्यांना प्रत्येक नाते तुटावे असे वाटते, अगदी एका शब्दाचा स्पर्शही नको, म्हणून त्यांनी अशा जवळिकीची आशा सोडून दिली आहे. ते स्पष्टपणे कबूल करतात की दुःखाने त्यांचा जीव पूर्णपणे थकून गेला आहे, आणि हा थकवाच त्यांना देवाकडे दयेची भीक मागायला भाग पाडतो.
Where this applies
- When you feel overwhelmed by social ties and crave real solitude
- When you are weary of relationships that keep bringing you pain instead of comfort
- When you consciously let go of expectations you once held toward other people
- When exhaustion from suffering finally becomes the very thing that turns you to prayer