Abhanga 3908
Worn out from carrying his longing alone for so long, Tukaram asks Panduranga simply to take the burden and let him rest in nearness to God.
The verse
हा चि माझा नेम धरिला हो धंदा । यावरि गोविंदा भेटी द्यावी ॥१॥
हा चि माझा ध्यास सदा सर्वकाळ । न्यावयासी मूळ येसी कधीं ॥ध्रु.॥
डोळियांची भूक पहातां श्रीमुख । आलिंगणे सुख निवती भुजा ॥२॥
बहु चित्त ओढे तयाचिये सोई । पुरला हाकांहीं नवस नेणें ॥३॥
बहुबहु काळ जालों कासावीस । वाहिले बहुवस कळेवर ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे आतां पाडावें हें ओझें । पांडुरंगा माझें इयावरि ॥५॥
Literal translation
This-my-nēma-dhandā — give-bhēṭi-Govinda. Dhyāsa-sarva-kāḷa — when-mūḷa-to-take-me? Eye-hunger-Śrī-mukha — embrace-cools-arms. Chitta-pulled-to-that-sōī — no-navasa-fulfilled. Long-kāḷa-kāsāvīs — body-carried-much. Tukā: make-this-burden-fall — Pāṇḍurangā-on-you.
What it means
A 5-verse yearning-prayer. This is my vow, my (only) business: Govinda, please give me a meeting on this. This is my constant attention always — when will you send an escort to fetch me? My eyes' hunger is to watch your sacred face; the joy of your embrace will cool my arms. My mind is much-pulled toward that direction; I know no vow has been fulfilled (yet). For a long-long time I have been restless; my body has carried (this load) much. Now make this burden fall, Pāṇḍuranga — let me (be) yours. The make-burden-fall-on-you is the bhakti-release-prayer.
For someone today
Tukaram admits that meeting God has become his one true occupation, the single thing his mind returns to at every hour, and he keeps asking when someone will finally come to fetch him and bring him close. His eyes are hungry just to see that beloved face, and he imagines an embrace that would finally cool the ache in his arms. He confesses he has been restless for a very long time, carrying this weight in his own body far too long, and at last he simply asks Panduranga to take the burden off him and let him rest in that relationship.
मराठी: तुकाराम कबूल करतात की देवाची भेट हाच त्यांचा खरा व्यवसाय बनला आहे, प्रत्येक क्षणी मन ज्याकडे परत परत जाते ती एकच गोष्ट, आणि ते सतत विचारत राहतात की कधी कोणी येऊन त्यांना जवळ घेऊन जाईल. त्यांचे डोळे फक्त त्या प्रिय मुखाला पाहण्यासाठी भुकेले आहेत, आणि अशा आलिंगनाची ते कल्पना करतात जे त्यांच्या बाहूंची तळमळ शेवटी शांत करेल. ते कबूल करतात की खूप काळ ते अस्वस्थ राहिले आहेत, स्वतःच्या शरीरात हे ओझे फार काळ वाहत आहेत, आणि शेवटी ते फक्त पांडुरंगाला विनवतात की हे ओझे त्याने घ्यावे आणि त्यांना त्या नात्यात विसावा द्यावा.
Where this applies
- When longing for closeness with someone or something has become the main thing occupying your mind
- When you feel worn out from carrying an emotional burden by yourself for too long
- When you catch yourself simply wanting to see a loved one's face rather than achieve anything specific
- When you're ready to stop struggling alone and ask for help to finally carry the weight you've been holding