Abhanga 3672
It is fair to call God out directly and ask why grace is being held back, since withheld kindness is wealth wasted, not wealth saved.
The verse
केवढा तो अहंकार । माझा तुम्हां नव्हे दूर ॥१॥
आतां कोण पडे पायां । तुमच्या अहो पंढरिराया ॥ध्रु.॥
कां जी कृपेनें कृपण । वेचत असे ऐसें धन ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे देवें । दुजियाचें पोतें न्यावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Great-ahankāra — not-far-from-you. Who-falls-at-your-pāya — Paṇḍharī-rāya. Why-krpā-krpaṇa — this-dhana-being-spent. Tukā: Deva — let-someone-else's-pōtē-be-taken.
What it means
A 3-verse sharp-petition. Great ahankāra — mine, but not far from you; who else will fall at your feet? Why are you miserly with kindness? This (kind-of) wealth is being wasted; let some-other-bhakta's load be taken (off-them) instead of mine.
For someone today
Tukaram scolds God directly here, half in complaint and half in confidence. He points out his own pride is enormous, yet it is not something God can pretend to be far from, since God is the one who has to deal with him. He asks pointedly, who else is going to fall at your feet if not me? Then he presses further, why be stingy with kindness, that kind of wealth is only wasted by being hoarded. This is bold, familiar prayer, the kind where you argue with God the way you'd argue with someone who truly loves you.
मराठी: तुकाराम इथे देवाला थेट खडसावतात, अर्धे तक्रारीच्या सुरात आणि अर्धे विश्वासाच्या सुरात. ते सांगतात की माझा अहंकार खूप मोठा आहे, पण तो तुझ्यापासून दूर नाही, कारण तुलाच माझ्याशी झगडायचे आहे. ते थेट विचारतात, तुझ्या पायावर मी नाही तर आणखी कोण पडणार? मग पुढे म्हणतात, कृपेच्या बाबतीत कंजूषपणा का करतोस, असले धन साठवून ठेवण्यानेच वाया जाते. ही धीट, आपलेपणाची प्रार्थना आहे, जशी आपण खरोखर प्रेम करणाऱ्या व्यक्तीशी वाद घालतो तशी.
Where this applies
- When you feel bold enough to argue with God instead of only praying politely
- When you sense your own ego is huge but trust that the person who loves you can still handle it
- When you feel God or life is being stingy with kindness toward you and you want to say so plainly
- When you realize hoarded generosity, kept back and never given, is wealth wasted rather than saved