Abhanga 4372
You-don't-give-vardaḷa — Govinda-such-krpaṇatā.
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
Tukārām: Govinda — if-you-take-my-service, take-it-fully; if-I'm-not-worthy, why-bother — take-a-stance.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's Govinda-stingy-of-vardaḷa; sēvā-half-take-or-full canonical