Abhanga 4372
If a relationship or devotion is accepted at all, it should be accepted fully, because half measures and hidden holding back cannot be borne.
The verse
आपुले वरदळ नेदा । एवढी गोविंदा कृपणता ॥१॥
यावर बा तुमचा मोळा । हा गोपाळा कळेना ॥ध्रु.॥
सेवा तरी घेतां सांग । चोरिलें अंग सहावेना ॥२॥
तुका जरी क्रियानष्ट । तरी कां कष्ट घेतसां ॥३॥
Literal translation
You-don't-give-vardaḷa — Govinda-such-krpaṇatā. What-mōḷa-Gōpāḷa-not-clear. If-take-sēvā-completely — chōrilēm-anga-can't-bear. Tukā-kriyā-naṣṭa — why-take-kaṣṭa.
What it means
A 3-verse playful-complaint text. You don't give your surplus — Govinda, such stinginess. Above that, what's your mode? — Gōpāḷa, it's not clear. If you take the service, take it completely; the part-hidden-from-view can't be borne. Tukā — if (he) is action-defective — then why are you taking the trouble? The double-bind argument: if I'm worthy of your sēvā, take it completely; if I'm action-defective, why are you bothering?
For someone today
Tukaram playfully teases God for being stingy, holding back and not giving fully of himself, and admits he cannot quite figure out what Govinda is really up to. He says plainly that if God is going to accept his devotion and service, he should accept it completely, because a service that is half hidden and half held back is unbearable to live with. Then he poses a sharp challenge, if he himself is seen as unworthy or lacking, why does God even bother putting in the effort at all. It is a lesson about honest, unguarded relationship, where holding back on either side only creates confusion, and love asks for full commitment, not half measures.
मराठी: तुकाराम गमतीने परमेश्वराला टोमणा मारतात, तो कंजूषपणा करतो, स्वतःला पूर्णपणे देत नाही, आणि कबूल करतात की गोविंद नक्की काय करतो आहे हे त्यांना नीट कळत नाही. ते स्पष्ट सांगतात, जर परमेश्वर त्यांची भक्ती आणि सेवा स्वीकारणार असेल, तर ती पूर्णपणे स्वीकारावी, कारण अर्धवट लपवलेली, अर्धवट रोखलेली सेवा सहन करणं अशक्य आहे. मग ते एक तीव्र प्रश्न विचारतात, जर स्वतःला अयोग्य किंवा उणा समजलं जात असेल, तर परमेश्वर तरी इतके कष्ट का घेतो. हा प्रामाणिक, बिनदिक्कत नात्याबद्दलचा धडा आहे, जिथे कोणत्याही बाजूने रोखून धरणं फक्त गोंधळ निर्माण करतं, आणि प्रेम अर्धवट नव्हे, पूर्ण बांधिलकी मागतं.
Where this applies
- When you feel a relationship, human or spiritual, is being given only half-heartedly and it frustrates you
- When you are unsure whether someone truly wants your commitment or is holding back
- When you want to be honest and even a little blunt about wanting full sincerity from someone
- When you question why someone keeps investing effort in you if they truly see you as unworthy