Abhanga 3825
The one true request worth making is for your heart's affection to attach to the divine and for the joy of singing and dancing in devotion, since that alone brings contentment.
The verse
त्राहे त्राहे सोडवीं अनंता । लागों दे ममता तुझे पायीं॥१॥
एक चि मागणें देई तुझी गोडी । न लगे आवडी आणिकाची ॥ध्रु.॥
तुझें नाम गुण वर्णीन पवाडे । आवडीच्या कोडें नाचों रंगीं ॥२॥
बापा विठ्ठलराया हें चि देई दान । जोडती चरण जेणें तुझे ॥३॥
आवडीसारखें मागितलें जरी । तुका म्हणे करीं समाधान ॥४॥
Literal translation
Trāhi-trāhi-Ananta — let-mamatā-attach-to-your-feet. One-thing-asked — your-gōḍī — don't-want-other-āvaḍī. Describe-Name-guṇa-pavāḍē — dance-in-ranga-of-āvaḍī-kōḍē. Bāpā-Viṭṭhalarāyā-give-this-dāna — feet-jōḍatī. Asked-by-āvaḍī — give-samādhāna.
What it means
A 4-verse kīrtana-asking-prayer. Save, save — release me, Ananta — let my affection attach to your feet. One thing only I ask: give me your sweetness; I don't want any other preference. Let me describe your Name, your qualities, your heroic-songs; let me dance in the assembly with affection-longing. O father Viṭṭhalarāya, give this gift — by which I am joined to your feet. I have asked according to my own preference — please grant contentment. The prayer is intimate — the bhakta asking specifically for the kīrtana-mode of bhakti (Name + guṇa + pavāḍā + ranga-dance). Compare 2864 (clap-hands kīrtana).
For someone today
Tukaram cries out to be saved, asking for just one thing: that his heart's affection attach itself to God's feet, and that he taste God's own sweetness instead of chasing other desires. What he wants most is to sing God's name and qualities, tell the old heroic stories, and dance in the gathering with pure longing. He asks for this as a gift, a way of being joined to the divine, and admits he has simply asked for what he loves, hoping it will bring him peace.
मराठी: तुकाराम कळकळीने विनवणी करतात की आपल्याला वाचवावे, आणि फक्त एकच गोष्ट मागतात: आपल्या मनाची ओढ देवाच्या चरणांशी जुळावी, आणि इतर कशाची आवड न लागता देवाचीच गोडी चाखायला मिळावी. त्यांना सर्वात जास्त हवे आहे ते म्हणजे देवाचे नाव आणि गुण गावेत, वीरगाथा सांगाव्यात, आणि भक्तिभावाने कीर्तनाच्या रंगात नाचावे. हे त्यांनी एक दान म्हणून मागितले आहे, देवाशी जोडले जाण्याचा मार्ग म्हणून, आणि कबूल करतात की त्यांनी फक्त जे आवडते तेच मागितले आहे, त्यातून समाधान मिळावे अशी आशा बाळगून.
Where this applies
- When you want to stop chasing every desire and simply long for one true thing
- When someone finds real joy in singing, chanting, or dancing in devotion
- When you feel the pull to ask for connection with the divine rather than material gain
- When you need to admit honestly what you truly want instead of what you think you should want