Abhanga 3678
True strength is measured by kindness to the humble, and that mercy is already known without needing elaborate pleading.
The verse
समर्थ या नांवें दिनांचा कृपाळ । हें तंव सकळ स्वामीअंगीं ॥१॥
मज काय लागे करणें विनवणी । विदित चरणीं सकळ आहे ॥ध्रु.॥
दयासिंधु तुम्हां भांडवल दया । सिंचावें आतां या कृपापीयूषें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे अवो पंढरिनिवासे । बहु जीव आसे लागलासे ॥३॥
Literal translation
Samartha-means-krpāḷa-of-dīnas — all-svāmī-anga. No-petition-needed — vidita-at-charaṇa. Dayā-sindhu — bhāṇḍavala-dayā — sprinkle-krpā-pīyūṣa. Tukā: Paṇḍharī-nivāsa — many-jīvas-ās-fastened.
What it means
A 3-verse petition with etymological-play. The word samartha means kindly-to-the-dīna — all of this is in the Master's body; I don't need to petition; everything is known at your feet; ocean-of-mercy, your capital is dayā — sprinkle this nectar of compassion now; many jīvas have their longing fastened to you.
For someone today
Tukaram plays with the word samartha, meaning mighty or capable, and says its true meaning is being kind to the humble, since that quality is already built into who God is. Because of this, he says he doesn't need to plead or explain himself with elaborate words, everything is already known at God's feet. He calls God an ocean of mercy whose entire wealth is compassion itself, and asks him to pour out that nectar of kindness now. He ends by saying that countless souls, not just himself, have fastened their hope and longing onto God.
मराठी: तुकाराम समर्थ या शब्दाशी खेळतात आणि सांगतात की त्याचा खरा अर्थ म्हणजे दीनांवर दया करणारा, कारण हा गुण देवाच्या स्वरूपातच अंगभूत आहे. म्हणूनच ते सांगतात की मला विस्ताराने विनवणी करण्याची गरज नाही, सर्व काही आधीच त्याच्या चरणी ज्ञात आहे. ते देवाला दयेचा सागर म्हणतात, ज्याचे संपूर्ण भांडवलच दया आहे, आणि आता ती कृपेची अमृतधारा वर्षावी अशी विनंती करतात. शेवटी ते सांगतात की केवळ आपणच नाही, तर असंख्य जीवांची आस देवाशी बांधली गेली आहे.
Where this applies
- When you assume real strength and kindness go together, not real strength and cruelty
- When you feel you don't need to over-explain your situation to someone who already understands you
- When you're waiting on mercy or a break from someone whose true nature is generous
- When you realize your hope isn't unique, countless others are quietly leaning on the same source of support