Abhanga 4161
Tukaram speaks with quiet confidence here: what could possibly be lacking when someone like Panduranga watches over you? He says his own wishes never really go unmet, because he has such a father figure guarding his head. He wonders how such a compassionate one could ever abandon him, since mercy itself is on his own lips whenever he calls out. In the end he simply marvels at the wonder of having such a protector, the Lord of Vaikuntha, on his side.
The verse
काय न्यून आहे सांगा । पांडुरंगा तुम्हांपें ॥१॥
आमुची तों न पुरे इच्छा । पिता ऐसा मस्तकीं ॥ध्रु.॥
कैसी तुम्हां होय सांडी । करुणा तोंडीं उच्चारें ॥२॥
आश्चर्य चि करी तुका । हे नायका वैकुंठिंचिया ॥३॥
Literal translation
Kāya nyūna āhe sāngā — Pāṇḍurangā tumhāñpe — what is lacking, tell — Pāṇḍurangā, with you. Āmuchī tam na pure icchā — pitā aisā mastakīm — our wish does not fail-to-fill — with such a pitā on (our) head. Kaisī tumhām hōya sāṇḍī — karuṇā tōṇḍīm uchchāre — how can you abandon (us) — (when) karuṇā is uttered in (my) mouth. Āścharya chi karī Tukā — he nāyakā Vaikuṇṭhiñchiyā — Tukā wonders — O nāyaka of Vaikuṇṭha.
What it means
A 3-verse bhakti-confidence text. Nothing-could-be-lacking-with-you-Pāṇḍuranga; our-wish-fills-up-with-such-a-pitā-on-our-head; how-can-you-abandon-us-when-we-speak-karuṇā; Tukā-marvels — O-Lord-of-Vaikuṇṭha.
For someone today
Tukaram speaks with quiet confidence here: what could possibly be lacking when someone like Panduranga watches over you? He says his own wishes never really go unmet, because he has such a father figure guarding his head. He wonders how such a compassionate one could ever abandon him, since mercy itself is on his own lips whenever he calls out. In the end he simply marvels at the wonder of having such a protector, the Lord of Vaikuntha, on his side.
मराठी: तुकाराम इथे शांत विश्वासाने बोलतात: पांडुरंगासारखा कोणी पाठीशी असताना कशाची उणीव भासणार? आपले डोक्यावर असा पिता असल्यामुळे आपली इच्छा कधीच अपुरी राहत नाही, असे ते म्हणतात. इतका दयाळू असणारा आपल्याला कसा सोडून देईल, कारण करुणा तर स्वतःच्या मुखातही उमटते. शेवटी ते वैकुंठाच्या स्वामीसारखा रक्षक लाभल्याचे आश्चर्य व्यक्त करतात.
Where this applies
- When you feel anxious about the future and need reassurance that you are cared for
- When you doubt whether you'll be provided for and need to trust in a protector
- When you feel small and want the confidence of knowing someone greater watches over you
- When you marvel at how mercy keeps showing up in your life despite your own doubts