Abhanga 4568
God bears his devotees' burdens on his own head and stands guard over them, so their hearts never need to carry anxiety alone.
The verse
तो बोले कोमळ निष्ठ साहोनि । कोपतां गौळणी हास्य करी ॥१॥
करावया दास्य भक्तांचें निर्लज्ज । कवतुकें रज माथां वंदी ॥२॥
दिलें उग्रसेना मथुरेचें राज्य । सांगितलें काज करी त्याचें ॥३॥
त्यासि होतां कांहीं अरिष्टनिर्माण । निवारी आपण शरणागता ॥४॥
शरणागतां राखे सर्व भावें हरि । अवतार धरी तयांसाटीं ॥५॥
तयांसाटीं वाहे सुदर्शन गदा । उभा आहे सदा सांभाळित ॥६॥
तळमळ नाहीं तुका म्हणे चत्तिा । भक्तांचा अनंता भार माथां ॥७॥
Literal translation
Speaks-soft-bearing-niṣṭhura — angry-gauḷaṇī-laughs. For-bhaktas'-dāsya-nirlajja — kautuka-foot-dust-on-head. Ugrasena-Mathurā-rājya — tells-business-does. Ariṣṭa-comes-Lord-removes-for-śaraṇāgatas. Protects-bhāve — avatāra-for-them. Sudarśana-gadā-always-standing-watching. No-anxiety-chitta — Tukā: bhakta-bhāra-on-Anantā-head.
What it means
A 7-verse yamak-bandha — Lord-as-bhakta-protector. Key images: (a) for-the-sake-of-bhaktas' dāsya, the Lord becomes-nirlajja (shameless) — wearing-the-dust-of-bhaktas'-feet-on-his-head with-kautuka (delight) — radical inversion of Lord-as-servant-of-bhaktas, (b) Lord-tells-Ugrasena-the-business-he-does-for-him, (c) Sudarśana-and-gadā always-standing-watching for śaraṇāgatas, (d) closing: the bhaktas' burden is on the Anantā's head. Pair with 4565 (Kamsa-vadha-finale armed-protector), 4543 (Lord-clears-path-ahead).
For someone today
God speaks gently even when he has to bear harsh treatment, and when the gopis get angry with him, he simply laughs instead of taking offense. To serve his devotees, he sets aside all pride, even placing the dust from their feet on his own head with real delight. He gave Ugrasena the kingdom back and took care of everything on his behalf, and he stands guard for anyone who takes shelter in him, weapon in hand, always watching. Tukaram says God carries the whole weight of his devotees' troubles on his own head, so their hearts never need to be anxious.
मराठी: देव कठोर वागणूक सहन करतानाही मृदू बोलतो, आणि गोपी जेव्हा त्याच्यावर रागावतात तेव्हा तो राग न मानता फक्त हसतो. आपल्या भक्तांची सेवा करण्यासाठी तो सर्व अभिमान बाजूला ठेवतो, त्यांच्या पायाची धूळ स्वतःच्या डोक्यावर खऱ्या आनंदाने घेतो. त्याने उग्रसेनाला राज्य परत दिले आणि त्याच्यासाठी सर्व काही सांभाळले, आणि जो कोणी त्याला शरण येतो त्याचे रक्षण करण्यासाठी तो शस्त्र हातात घेऊन सदैव जागा राहतो. तुकाराम म्हणतात देव आपल्या भक्तांच्या सर्व अडचणींचा भार स्वतःच्या डोक्यावर घेतो, म्हणून त्यांच्या मनाला कधीही चिंता करण्याची गरज नसते.
Where this applies
- When someone treats you unfairly and you're tempted to respond with anger instead of patience
- When serving someone you love means setting your own pride aside completely
- When you're carrying anxiety about problems that feel too heavy to handle alone
- When you need reassurance that someone is actively watching over you and standing ready to help