Abhanga 3738
The one who holds the whole universe humbles himself out of pure love, and beyond every gift of wealth or fearlessness, his own companionship is the greatest gift of all.
The verse
उदार चक्रवर्ती । वैकुंठीचा भूपति । पुंडलिकाचिया प्रीती । विटेवरी राहिला ॥१॥
सर्वसिद्धीचा दातार । सवें आणिला परिवार । भक्त अभयंकर । घ्याघ्या ऐसें म्हणतसे ॥ध्रु.॥
जेणें हें विश्व निमिऩलें । महर्षीदेवा संस्थापिलें । एकवीस स्वर्गांतें धरिलें । सत्तामात्रें आपुलिया ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे कृपावंत । इच्छिले पुरवी अर्थ । रिद्धिसिद्धिमुक्ती देतसे । शेखीं संग आपुला ॥३॥
Literal translation
Udāra chakravartī — Vaikuṇṭhīñcā bhūpati — generous-emperor — lord of Vaikuṇṭha; Puṇḍalikāñciyā prītī viṭevarī rāhilā — for Puṇḍalika's prīti, (he) stayed on the brick. Sarva-siddhīñcā dātāra — savē āṇilā parivāra — dātāra of all siddhis — brought retinue along; bhakta abhayankara — ghyāghyā aise mhaṇatasē — bhakta-fear-remover, saying "take, take". Jeṇe he viśva nirmile — maharṣī-devā samsthāpile — who created this viśva — established maharṣis and devas; 21 svargāmte dharile — sattāmātre āpuliyā — held the 21 svargas — by his own sattā alone. Tukā mhaṇe krpāvanta — ichchhile puravī artha — Tukā says: krpāvanta — fulfills desired artha; rddhi-siddhi-mukti detasē — śekhī sanga āpulā — gives rddhi-siddhi-mukti — at-last (his) own sanga.
What it means
A 4-verse cosmic-Puṇḍalika-bhakti text by Tukārām.
The claim: Viṭhṭhal — the cosmic-emperor of-Vaikuṇṭha, creator-of-viśva, holder-of-21-svargas — stands-on-the-brick for-Puṇḍalika's-prīti, calling "ghyā-ghyā" (take, take). He gives rddhi-siddhi-mukti, and finally (most-precious-of-all) his-own-sanga.
The contrast is canonical: cosmic-authority + small-body-on-brick = Vārkarī-paradox. The closing-hierarchy is striking — gives-rddhi-siddhi-mukti, but-sanga (his-own-companionship) is-the-final-gift.
For someone today
Tukārām's cosmic Puṇḍalika claim. (He is) the generous emperor, the lord of Vaikuṇṭha; for Puṇḍalika's love, he stayed standing on the brick. The giver of all siddhi, he brought (his) retinue with him; remover of the devotee's fear, saying "take, take." He who created this viśva — established the maharṣis and the devas — held the 21 svargas by his own sattā alone. Compassionate one — fulfills the desired purpose; gives rddhi-siddhi-mukti, and at last (his) own company. The verse permits the canonical bhakti paradox: this cosmic emperor still stands on a brick out of love, and in the end his own presence is the final and greatest gift of all.
मराठी: तुकारामांचा हा विश्वव्यापी पुंडलिक-भक्तीचा दाखला. तो उदार चक्रवर्ती, वैकुंठाचा भूपती आहे; पुंडलिकाच्या प्रेमापोटी तो विटेवर उभा राहिला. सर्व सिद्धींचा दाता असूनही त्याने आपला परिवार सोबत आणला; भक्तांचे भय दूर करणारा तो "घ्या, घ्या" असे म्हणतो. ज्याने हे विश्व निर्माण केले, महर्षी-देवांची स्थापना केली, त्याने केवळ आपल्या सत्तेने एकवीस स्वर्ग धारण केले. कृपावंत असा तो — इच्छिलेला अर्थ पुरवतो; ऋद्धी-सिद्धी-मुक्ती देतो, आणि शेवटी स्वतःचा सहवासही देतो. या ओवीत भक्तीचा एक ठळक विरोधाभास दिसतो — विश्वाचा सम्राट असूनही तो प्रेमापोटी विटेवर उभा राहतो, आणि अखेरीस त्याची स्वतःची सोबतच सर्वांत मोठी देणगी ठरते.
Where this applies
- When someone truly powerful chooses humility and stays present for you out of pure love
- When you're offered many rewards but realize the presence of someone you love matters more than any of them
- When you feel awe at how someone great can also be so approachable and giving toward those who need them
- When you catch yourself chasing wealth or success and forget that companionship is the real gift