Abhanga 3656
Even after wasted years, staying faithful and asking to be fully accepted matters more than carrying your shortcomings alone.
The verse
तरीं भलें वांयां गेलों । जन्मा आलों मागुता । म्हणऊनि ठेलों दास । सावकास निर्भयें ॥१॥
उणें पुरें काय माझें । त्याचें ओझें तुम्हांसी ॥ध्रु.॥
सांभाळावें तें म्या काईं । अवो आईं विठ्ठले । मागें जया जाईं नें स्थळा । तुज गोपाळा विसरेंना ॥२॥
आपलें म्यां एकसरें । करुनि बरें घेतलें । तुका म्हणे नारायणा । आतां जाणां आपुलें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Even-wasted-born-again — stayed-as-dāsa-sāvakāśa-nirbhaya. Lack-fullness — its-weight-yours. Avō-āī-Viṭhṭhalē — wherever-go-don't-forget-Gōpāḷa. Made-my-own-ekasarē — Tukā: Nārāyaṇa — know-as-your-own.
What it means
A 3-verse petition with the rare feminine vocative Avō āī Viṭhṭhalē (Oh mother Viṭhṭhal). Even through many wasted births, I've stayed your fearless dāsa; my lack-or-fullness is your weight; wherever I've gone I haven't forgotten you; I've taken this as final — know this as your own.
For someone today
Tukaram admits that even after many wasted lives, born again and again, he has remained a steady, unafraid servant. He tells God that whatever he lacks or has achieved is not his own burden to carry, it belongs to God. Tenderly, he addresses Vitthal almost as a mother, saying that wherever his life has taken him, he has never forgotten. Having made his decision once and for all, he simply asks to be recognized as truly belonging.
मराठी: तुकाराम कबूल करतात की अनेक व्यर्थ गेलेल्या जन्मांनंतरही, वारंवार जन्म घेऊनही ते स्थिर आणि निर्भय सेवक म्हणून टिकून आहेत. आपली उणीव किंवा परिपूर्णता ही आपली स्वतःची जबाबदारी नसून ती देवाचीच आहे असे ते सांगतात. विठ्ठलाला जणू आईसारखे प्रेमळपणे संबोधून ते म्हणतात की जीवनाने कुठेही नेले तरी त्यांनी विसर पडू दिला नाही. एकदा निर्णय घेतल्यावर, आता आपले म्हणून स्वीकारावे एवढीच त्यांची विनंती आहे.
Where this applies
- When you feel you have wasted years of your life yet still choose to keep showing up faithfully
- When you want someone you trust to carry the weight of your shortcomings instead of facing them entirely alone
- When you think of someone who has been a tender, motherly presence in your life no matter how far you strayed
- When you have finally made peace with a decision and simply want to be fully accepted as belonging