Abhanga 4298
Tukaram pleads with God not to withdraw grace right now, since he has no one else to turn to and is tired of waiting for tenderness.
The verse
हे चि वेळ देवा नका मागें घेऊं । तुम्हांविण जाऊं शरण कोणा ॥१॥
नारायणा ये रे पाहें विचारून । तुजविण कोण आहे मज ॥ध्रु.॥
रात्रहि दिवस तुज आठवूनि आहें । पाहातोसी काये सत्व माझें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे किती येऊं काकुलती । कांहीं माया चित्ती येऊं द्यावी ॥३॥
Literal translation
This-very-moment-don't-take-back. Whom-else-take-refuge. Night-day-remember — what-satva-test. Tukā: how-often-piteous — bring-some-māyā-in-chitti.
What it means
A 3-verse urgent-petition. This very moment, Deva — don't take it back. Apart from you, whom shall I take refuge with? Nārāyaṇa, come, consider — whom do I have apart from you? Night and day I remember you — what satva of mine are you testing? Tukā says: how often must I come mournfully — let some affection come into your heart. Pair with 4262 (mistaken-child-mother-father-bhrida).
For someone today
Tukaram is at the edge of his patience and pleads: do not withdraw your grace right now, this very moment, because there is no one else he can turn to. He reminds God that he remembers him night and day, and asks what more of a test this could possibly be. He ends almost begging, asking how many more times he must come pleading before some tenderness enters God's heart. This is the raw honesty of someone who has run out of other options and says so plainly.
मराठी: तुकाराम महाराज अगदी शेवटच्या क्षणी विनवणी करतात, हीच वेळ आहे, आता कृपा मागे घेऊ नकोस, कारण तुझ्याशिवाय मी कोणाकडे शरण जाऊ. ते सांगतात की रात्रंदिवस मी तुझी आठवण करतो, मग हे कोणते सत्व पाहतो आहेस. शेवटी जवळजवळ विनवणी करत विचारतात की किती वेळा असे केविलवाणे यायचे, थोडी तरी माया मनात येऊ दे. ज्याच्याकडे दुसरा पर्याय उरलेला नाही आणि तो हे उघडपणे मान्य करतो, अशा माणसाची ही प्रामाणिक साद आहे.
Where this applies
- When you feel you have exhausted every other option and only one hope remains
- When you are tired of waiting for a sign of care and want to say so plainly
- When you find yourself asking how much longer you must keep pleading before things change
- When you remind yourself that constant remembrance should count for something