Abhanga 4311
Tukaram says no one else knows his heart, so he has given up fear and striving to rest entirely in remembering God, begging simply not to be forgotten.
The verse
आणीक कोणापुढें वासूं मुख सांग । कीं माझें अंतरंग कोण जाणे ॥१॥
पाहें तुजकडे येऊनि जाऊनी । पांडुरंगा मनीं विचारावें ॥ध्रु.॥
भय चिंता अवघे उद्योग सांडिले । आठवुनी पाउलें असें तुझीं ॥२॥
नका विसरूं मज वैकुंठनायका । विनवितो तुका बंदीजन ॥३॥
Literal translation
To-whom-else-open-mouth — who-knows-antaranga. Come-go-Pāṇḍuranga — vichārāvē-in-mana. Bhaya-chinta-udyōga-abandoned — remembering-feet. Don't-forget-me-Vaikuṇṭha-nāyaka — Tukā-bandī-jana-prays.
What it means
A 3-verse exclusive-resort prayer. Before whom else shall I open my mouth — who knows my heart-of-hearts? I look at you, coming and going, Pāṇḍuranga — consider this in your mind. Fear, anxiety, all efforts — I've abandoned, remembering your feet. Don't forget me, Vaikuṇṭha-Lord — Tukā prays, an imprisoned-one. The closing bandī-jana (prisoner) is striking — Tukārām as Lord's-bondsman.
For someone today
Tukaram asks who else he could possibly open his mouth to, since no one else truly knows what is in his heart. He says he watches for God constantly, coming and going, and asks Pandurang to hold him in mind. He has given up fear, worry, and all his own striving, choosing instead simply to remember God's feet. He ends calling himself a prisoner, begging not to be forgotten, which shows how completely he has placed his trust and identity in one relationship rather than spreading it thin across many efforts.
मराठी: तुकाराम महाराज विचारतात की मी दुसऱ्या कोणापुढे तोंड उघडू, कारण माझ्या मनातले खरे दुःख दुसरे कोणीच जाणत नाही. ते सांगतात की मी सतत तुझी वाट पाहतो, येता-जाता तुझ्याकडेच पाहतो, पांडुरंगा तू हे मनात ठेव. भीती, चिंता आणि स्वतःचे सर्व प्रयत्न त्यांनी सोडून दिले आहेत, आणि फक्त तुझ्या पावलांचे स्मरण करत राहतात. शेवटी ते स्वतःला बंदिजन म्हणतात आणि विनवतात की मला विसरू नकोस, यातून दिसते की त्यांनी आपला संपूर्ण भरवसा आणि अस्तित्व अनेक गोष्टींत विखुरण्याऐवजी एकाच नात्यावर ठेवले आहे.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's exclusive-resort + bandī-jana-prisoner canonical