Abhanga 3796
Real surrender means trusting God's word for the outcome while still honestly asking for some response instead of silence.
The verse
विश्वास धरूनि राहिलों निवांत । ठेवूनियां चित्त तुझे पायीं ॥१॥
तरावें बुडावें तुझिया वचनें । निर्धार हा मनें केला माझा ॥ध्रु.॥
न कळे हें मज साच चाळविलें । देसी तें उगलें घेइन देवा ॥२॥
मागणें तें सरे ऐसें करीं देवा । नाहीं तरी सेवा सांगा पुढें ॥३॥
करावें कांहीं कीं पाहावें उगलें । तुका म्हणे बोलें पांडुरंगा ॥४॥
Literal translation
Held-viśvāsa-stayed-nivānta — chitta-at-your-feet. Whether-cross-or-sink-by-your-vachana — mana-made-nirdhāra. Don't-know — truly-tested — I'll-take-what-you-give-quietly. End-asking — or-set-more-sevā. Tukā: do-something-or-just-watch — speak-Pāṇḍurangā.
What it means
A 4-verse total-surrender text. Holding trust I have stayed silent, keeping the chitta at your feet. To-cross or to-sink — by your word — this resolve my mind has made. I don't know — I have been truly tested — I will take what you give without questioning. Either end the asking, or set me further service. Do something, or just watch — speak, Pāṇḍurangā. The phrase tarāvē-buḍāvē-by-your-vachana (whether I cross or sink is up to your word) is canonical śaraṇāgati. The final karāvēm-kāmhī-kī-pāhāvēm-uglē (do-something-or-just-watch) is the bhakta's gentle complaint of divine silence.
For someone today
Tukaram describes a quiet, tired kind of trust: he has stopped struggling and simply keeps his heart at God's feet, telling himself that whether he sinks or crosses over is now up to God's word, not his own effort. He admits he doesn't fully understand what's happening and feels tested, but says he will accept whatever comes without arguing. Still, he asks honestly for some response — either let this asking end, or give him clear work to do, but don't stay silent. It's a prayer that mixes surrender with the very human need to hear something back.
मराठी: तुकाराम इथे एक शांत, थकलेला विश्वास व्यक्त करतात: त्यांनी झगडणे सोडले आहे आणि फक्त आपले मन विठ्ठलाच्या पायी ठेवले आहे, आणि स्वतःला सांगतात की आता बुडणे किंवा तरणे हे स्वतःच्या प्रयत्नावर नव्हे तर देवाच्या शब्दावर अवलंबून आहे. काय चालले आहे हे पूर्ण कळत नाही आणि आपली परीक्षा घेतली जात आहे असे वाटते, तरी ते म्हणतात की जे मिळेल ते तक्रार न करता स्वीकारतील. तरीही ते प्रामाणिकपणे काही प्रतिसाद मागतात — एकतर ही मागणी संपू दे, किंवा स्पष्ट सेवा सांग, पण गप्प राहू नकोस. ही प्रार्थना शरणागती आणि उत्तर ऐकण्याची माणसाची स्वाभाविक गरज या दोन्हींचे मिश्रण आहे.
Where this applies
- When you've stopped fighting a hard situation and just want to trust that things will work out
- When you feel tested by life and don't understand why things are happening the way they are
- When you're waiting for guidance and want to say, honestly, that the silence is hard to bear
- When you need to accept an outcome without being sure it's the one you wanted