Abhanga 4140
Bōdhya-avatāra mājhiyā adrṣṭā — Buddha-avatāra in my sight; mauna mukhe niṣṭhā dhariyelī — mauna has held niṣṭhā at mouth.
The verse
बोध्यअवतार माझिया अदृष्टा । मौन्य मुखें निष्ठा धरियेली ॥१॥
लोकांचियेसाटीं शाम चतुर्भुज । संतांसवें गुज बोलतसां ॥ध्रु.॥
आलें कलियुग माझिया संचिता । डोळां हाकलितां न पडेसी ॥२॥
म्यां च तुझें काय केलें नारायणा । कां नये करुणा तुका म्हणे ॥३॥
Literal translation
Bōdhya-avatāra mājhiyā adrṣṭā — Buddha-avatāra in my sight; mauna mukhe niṣṭhā dhariyelī — mauna has held niṣṭhā at mouth. Lōkāñciyesāṭīm śyāma chaturbhuja — for people, shyāma-chaturbhuja; samtāmsavē guja bōlatasām — with sants, (you) speak secret. Āle kaliyuga mājhiyā samchitā — Kaliyuga came by my samchita; ḍōḷām hākalitām na paḍesī — even staring with eyes, (you) don't fall (to sight). Myām cha tujhe kāya kele Nārāyaṇā — what have I done to you, Nārāyaṇa; kām naye karuṇā Tukā mhaṇe — Tukā says: why doesn't karuṇā come.
What it means
Tukārām treats the Buddha-avatāra (10th) as mauna-vowed — speaks only-secretly-with-sants, shows-shyāma-chaturbhuja-form to-the-world. The bhakta complains: Kaliyuga is from his samchita; the Lord doesn't appear even-to-staring-eyes.
For someone today
The bhakta-complaint that-the-Buddha-avatāra-of-Kali-yuga-is-too-silent for-the-staring-eye.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's Buddha-avatāra-silent; talks-only-with-sants recognition