Abhanga 4070
Tukaram addresses Pandurang directly with a pointed, honest complaint: you hold power over everything, so why do lesser forces still seem to rule over us, when you're right here, close by? It's a very human question, voiced without pretending everything already feels resolved. Rather than staying silent about his frustration, he brings it straight to God's feet as a petition, trusting that honest asking is itself a valid form of devotion. He closes by simply requesting the fitting response now, showing that faith doesn't require hiding your confusion, only bringing it honestly to the one you trust.
The verse
पांडुरंगा कृपाळुवा दयावंता । धरिसील सत्ता सकळ ही ॥१॥
कां जी आम्हांवरी आणिकांची सत्ता । तुम्हासी असतां जवळिक ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे पायीं केलें निवेदन । उचित हें दान करीं आतां ॥३॥
Literal translation
Pāṇḍuranga-krpāḷu — holds-sattā-over-all. Why-others'-sattā-on-us — when-close-by. Tukā: niravēdana-at-feet — make-uchita-dāna.
What it means
A 3-verse sovereignty-prayer. Pāṇḍuranga, the compassionate-merciful — you hold all sovereignty. Why then do others' sovereignties prevail over us — when you are close by? At your feet, I have made my petition; make this fitting gift now. The complaint: if you're sovereign-and-close, why do other forces (Kāḷa, vyasanas, etc.) still rule us?
For someone today
Tukaram addresses Pandurang directly with a pointed, honest complaint: you hold power over everything, so why do lesser forces still seem to rule over us, when you're right here, close by? It's a very human question, voiced without pretending everything already feels resolved. Rather than staying silent about his frustration, he brings it straight to God's feet as a petition, trusting that honest asking is itself a valid form of devotion. He closes by simply requesting the fitting response now, showing that faith doesn't require hiding your confusion, only bringing it honestly to the one you trust.
मराठी: तुकाराम पांडुरंगाला थेट, स्पष्ट तक्रार करतात: तू सर्वांवर सत्ता ठेवतोस, मग तू इतका जवळ असतानाही आमच्यावर इतर लहान शक्तींचे राज्य का चालते? हा एक अगदी माणसासारखा प्रश्न आहे, सगळे आधीच सुटले आहे असे न भासवता विचारलेला. आपली निराशा गप्प बसून सहन करण्याऐवजी, ते ती थेट देवाच्या पायाशी विनंती म्हणून मांडतात, कारण प्रामाणिक विचारणा हीदेखील भक्तीचाच एक खरा प्रकार आहे यावर त्यांचा विश्वास आहे. शेवटी ते फक्त योग्य ते आता द्यावे अशी विनंती करतात, यावरून दिसते की श्रद्धेसाठी गोंधळ लपवावा लागत नाही, तो फक्त ज्याच्यावर विश्वास आहे त्याच्यासमोर प्रामाणिकपणे मांडावा लागतो.
Where this applies
- When you feel like smaller problems or habits still control your life despite believing in a greater power
- When you want to voice honest frustration or confusion to God instead of pretending everything is fine
- When you're waiting on help that feels overdue even though you trust it's within reach
- When you bring a direct request or complaint to someone you trust rather than staying silent