संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 4245 of 4582

Abhanga 4245

Tukārām's strong-by-surrender — śaraṇāgati-makes-baḷavanta; entered-house-placed-treasure-looted-by-embracing-feet canonical paradox of-power-by-surrender

The verse

जालों बळिवंत । होऊनियां शरणागत ॥१॥ केला घरांत रिघावा । ठायीं पाडियेला ठेवा ॥ध्रु.॥ हाता चढे धन । ऐसें रचलें कारण ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे मिठी । पायीं देउनि केली लुटी ॥३॥

Literal translation

Became-baḷavanta-by-being-śaraṇāgata. Entered-house — placed-ṭhēvā. Dhana-to-hand — such-design. Tukā: embraced-feet — made-luṭī.

What it means

A 3-verse strong-by-surrender paradox text. I became powerful — by becoming a refugee (taker-of-shelter). I entered the house; placed the treasure in its place. Wealth came to hand — such was the design. Tukā says: embracing the feet, I made a loot. The image-cascade: śaraṇāgati (helpless-shelter-taking) makes bhakta baḷavanta (powerful); entering Lord's house, the bhakta places-the-treasure (claims-it) and the dhana comes to hand; the feet-embrace becomes a luṭī (act-of-looting). The bhakta-as-clever-thief image. Pair with 4181 (Deva-made-rṇī-by-bhakti).

For someone today

Tukārām: surrender-makes-me-powerful — embracing-the-Lord's-feet I-loot-the-treasure.

Where this applies

Related verses