Abhanga 4033
Even prayer alone may not stop a restless mind from rushing toward its own downfall, so cry out directly for God to step in and save you now.
The verse
प्राथिऩतां ही राहेना । आदरें पतना नेऊं पाहे ॥१॥
न दिसे कोणी आवरी । आणीक दुजा तयासी ॥ध्रु.॥
घालूं पाहे बा हे उडी या भवडोहीं ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे चक्रपाणी । काय अजोनि पाहातोसी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Even-after-prayer-mind-not-stays — eagerly-to-patana. No-one-restrains — no-other. About-to-jump-into-bhava-pond. Tukā: Chakrapāṇi — what-still-watching.
What it means
A 3-verse mind-fall urgency text. Even after praying, (the mind) doesn't stay; with eagerness, it goes to downfall. No one is seen to restrain it; no other (besides you) for him. It is about to jump into this becoming-pond. Chakrapāṇi — what are you still watching? The vivid image of mind-about-to-jump-into-bhava-ḍōha (the pond of becoming) — and the prayer what-still-watching — is the bhakta's final-second urgency-cry.
For someone today
Tukaram describes a mind that keeps racing toward its own ruin no matter how much he prays, refusing to settle down. No one else is there to hold it back, and he realizes only God can. He pictures his own mind about to leap into the deep, dangerous pool of worldly existence, unable to stop itself. In desperation, he calls out to Chakrapani, God who holds the discus, asking why he is still just watching instead of stepping in to save him.
मराठी: तुकाराम सांगतात की कितीही प्रार्थना केली तरी मन स्वतःच्याच नाशाकडे धावते, ते शांत होत नाही. त्याला थांबवायला कोणीही दिसत नाही, आणि त्यांना जाणवते की फक्त देवच हे करू शकतो. ते मनाची कल्पना करतात, जे या संसाराच्या खोल, धोकादायक डोहात उडी घ्यायला निघाले आहे, स्वतःला रोखू शकत नाही. हताश होऊन ते चक्रपाणीला हाक मारतात, विचारतात की तू अजून नुसता बघतोयस का, वाचवायला का येत नाहीस.
Where this applies
- When you keep praying or trying to calm your mind but it still races toward trouble
- When you feel powerless to stop yourself from a destructive pattern
- When you realize willpower alone is not enough and you need to ask for real help
- When you are in a crisis moment and need to cry out rather than stay quiet and wait