Abhanga 3885
Admitting he knows nothing of proper devotion, Tukaram simply hands over his whole being and asks God, whose very name means Lord of the Destitute, to remove his fear.
The verse
अभयदान मज देई गा उदारा । कृपेच्या सागरा पांडुरंगा ॥१॥
देहभाव तुझ्या ठेवियेला पायीं । आणीक मी कांही नेणें दुजें ॥ध्रु.॥
सेवा भक्ति भाव नेणें मी पतित । आतां माझें हित तुझ्या पायीं ॥२॥
अवघा निरोपिला तुज देहभाव । आतां मज पाव पांडुरंगा ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे तुजें नाम दिनानाथ । तें मज उचित करीं आतां ॥४॥
Literal translation
Give-abhaya-dāna — krpā-sāgara-Pāṇḍurangā. Deha-bhāva-placed-at-feet — no-other. Don't-know-sevā-bhakti — patita — hita-at-feet. Gave-whole-deha-bhāva — come-to-me. Tukā: your-Name-Dīnanātha — make-it-fit-for-me-now.
What it means
A 4-verse fear-removal prayer. Give me the fear-removal-gift, generous one — ocean-of-compassion, Pāṇḍuranga. I have placed my body-and-state at your feet; I know no other. I don't know service, devotion, devotion-state — I am fallen; my welfare is at your feet now. I have handed over the whole body-and-state to you; come to me now, Pāṇḍuranga. Your Name is Dīnanātha — make it fit for me now. The closing argument — your Name is Dīnanātha — make it real — is the reputation-leverage form (cf. 3824, 3832 samartha-bears-the-cost).
For someone today
Tukaram simply asks for freedom from fear, calling on God as the generous ocean of compassion. He confesses he doesn't have the polish of proper service, devotion, or spiritual technique, he calls himself fallen and admits he doesn't know how to do any of this correctly. Instead of trying to earn his way with skill, he has handed over his whole existence, body and state, entirely to God, holding nothing back. His closing argument is disarmingly direct: God's own name means Lord of the Destitute, so he simply asks God to live up to that name now, for him.
मराठी: तुकाराम भीतीतून मुक्ती मागतात, देवाला उदार, कृपेचा सागर म्हणून हाक मारतात. ते कबूल करतात की त्यांच्याकडे सेवा, भक्ती किंवा साधनेचे कौशल्य नाही, ते स्वतःला पतित म्हणतात आणि हे नीट कसे करायचे हे आपल्याला माहीत नाही असे मान्य करतात. कौशल्याने काही कमवण्याऐवजी, त्यांनी आपले संपूर्ण अस्तित्व, देहभाव, काहीही राखून न ठेवता देवाच्या चरणी अर्पण केले आहे. त्यांचा शेवटचा युक्तिवाद अगदी सरळ आहे: देवाचे नावच दीनानाथ आहे, म्हणून ते फक्त इतकीच विनंती करतात की देवाने आता त्यांच्यासाठी त्या नावाला जागावे.
Where this applies
- When you feel unqualified or clumsy at prayer, meditation, or spiritual practice but want to reach out anyway
- When fear is overwhelming you and you need to ask directly for it to be lifted
- When you've stopped trying to earn help through perfect performance and simply hand over your whole situation
- When you're holding someone to their own stated identity or reputation to ask for what you need