Abhanga 3838
True devotion asks for very little beyond quiet inner remembrance, accepting your own burdens without fear and without demanding anything more from the divine.
The verse
होईंल तो भोग भोगीन आपुला । न घलीं विठ्ठला भार तुज ॥१॥
तुम्हांपासाव हें इच्छीतसें दान । अंतरींचें ध्यान मुखीं नाम ॥ध्रु.॥
नये काकुलती गर्भवासांसाटीं । न धरीं हें पोटीं भय कांहीं ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे मज उदंड एवढें । न वांचावें पुढें मायबापा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Hōīmla tō bhōga bhōgīna āpulā — whatever the bhōga — I will endure my own; na ghaḷīm Viṭhṭhalā bhāra tuja — will not put the bhāra on you, Viṭṭhalā. Tumhāmpāsāva he ichchhītsē dāna — from you, I wish this dāna; antarīmñce dhyāna mukhīm nāma — inner dhyāna, Name in mouth. Naye kākulatī garbhavāsāmsāṭīm — don't come kākulati for garbhavāsa; na dharīm he pōṭīm bhaya kāmhīm — don't keep any bhaya in belly. Tukā mhaṇe maja udamḍa evaḍhe — Tukā says: this much udamḍa for me; na vāmchāve puḍhe māyabāpā — don't let (me) live further, māyabāpā.
What it means
A canonical 3-verse surrender-and-restraint text by Tukārām.
The argument: I-bear-my-own-bhōga; don't-load-you-with-burden. I-want-only inner-dhyāna and-Name-in-mouth. I-don't-come-kākulati for-escape-from-garbha-vāsa. I-keep-no-fear. This-much-is-enough — don't-let-me-live-further.
The restraint is striking: the bhakta-doesn't-ask-for-escape-from-rebirth, doesn't-fear, only-asks-for-inner-dhyāna and-Name-in-mouth. The closing-request don't-let-me-live-further is a striking-paradox — the-life-of-bhakti is-enough; further-life is-unwanted-burden.
For someone today
Tukārām's surrender and restraint. Whatever the bhōga — I will endure my own; (I) will not put the burden on you, Viṭhṭhala. From you, I wish (only) this gift — inner contemplation, the Name in (my) mouth. (I) don't come begging for escape from womb-dwelling; (I) don't keep any fear in (my) belly. This much large-amount is enough — don't let (me) live further, māyabāpā. The verse permits this canonical bhakti restraint: he asks for nothing but quiet inner meditation and the Name.
मराठी: तुकारामांची ही समर्पण आणि संयमाची भावना. जे भोग यायचे ते मी स्वतः भोगेन — विठ्ठला, तुझ्यावर हा भार टाकणार नाही. तुझ्याकडून मला फक्त एवढेच हवे — अंतरंगात ध्यान आणि मुखात नाम. गर्भवासातून सुटकेसाठी मी विनवणी करत नाही; मनात कसलीही भीती बाळगत नाही. एवढे खूप झाले — यापुढे मला जगवू नकोस, माय-बापा. या ओवीत भक्तीचा हा संयम मांडला आहे — फक्त अंतरंगातील ध्यान आणि नाम एवढेच मागणे.
Where this applies
- When you decide to face your own hardships without expecting someone else to fix them
- When you realize you want closeness and quiet remembrance more than any grand outcome
- When someone stops fearing what the future holds and accepts things as they come
- When you recognize that a small, steady devotion is enough for you and you need nothing more