राम

विरह

Longing and Separation

400 abhangas

Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.

36

सुखें वोळंब दावी गोहा । माझें दुःख नेणा पाहा ॥१॥

He cheerfully shows off, feigning appetite, yet he does not see my real suffering. He has driven me mad with his charm a…

262

करावें गोमटें । बाळा माते तें उमटे ॥१॥

A mother wishes to do good for her child, and the child reflects that goodness back. She holds the child dearer than her…

263

कन्या सासुर्‍यासि जाये । मागें परतोनी पाहे ॥१॥

When the daughter leaves for her husband's home, she keeps turning back to look. My soul feels just the same: when will …

380

हरिबिन रहियां न जाये जिहिरा । कबकी थाडी देखें राहा ॥१॥

Without Hari, my heart cannot endure; how long must I stand here waiting? O my beloved, what fault have I committed? Why…

382

मनोजन्य व्यथा वेध जाला अंतरा । लवकरी आणा नंदाचिया कुमरा ॥१॥

The ache born in the mind has pierced my innermost being. Bring me the son of Nanda, quickly. O friends, O confidantes, …

383

मागें सांडोनि सकळ बोभाट । वंदीं पदांबुजें ठेवुनि ललाट वो ॥१॥

Leaving behind all clamor, bow and place your forehead at his lotus feet. Has anyone news of Govinda? Before, he hid; no…

384

परपरता तूं पळोनि जासी दुरी । अनावर या लौकिका बाहेरी वो ॥१॥

You keep running further and further away, beyond all worldly reach. You show so much tenderness, yet how long must I en…

407

आलियें धांवति धांवति भेट होइल म्हुण । तंव ते टळली वेळ वो माझा उरला सीण ॥१॥

I came running, hoping to meet him, but the moment passed and only grief remained. How shall I meet Hari now? My life br…

466

वाट पाहें बाहे निडळीं ठेवुनियां हात । पंढरीचे वाटे दृष्टी लागलें चित्त ॥१॥

I stand watching the road, hand raised to my forehead, my eyes and mind fixed upon the path to Pandharpur. When will I s…

509

आडकलें देवद्वार । व्यर्थ काय करकर ॥१॥

The temple door is shut; why make a fuss over nothing? Come, let us go home now and not keep this pointless vigil. God h…

519

भक्तिप्रतिपाळे दीन वो वत्सळे । विठ्ठले कृपाळे होसी माये ॥१॥

O Vitthala, you who cherish devotion, who are tender to the humble and full of mercy, O Mother. Have you forgotten me on…

520

तुजविण मज कोण वो सोयरें । आणीक दुसरें पांडुरंगे ॥१॥

Who is dear to me besides you, O Panduranga? There is no other. I wait longingly for your presence, counting the days an…

522

कोण पर्वकाळ पहासील तीथ । होतें माझें चित्त कासावीस ॥१॥

What auspicious occasion are you waiting for, what pilgrimage date? My heart has been in agony. Send me the gift of your…

523

कां हो देवा कांहीं न बोला चि गोष्टी । कां मज हिंपुटी करीतसा ॥१॥

Why, O God, do you not speak a single word to me? Why do you treat me with such contempt? My life hangs in my throat as …

524

उचित तें काय जाणावें दुर्बळें । थोरिवेचें काळें तोंड देवा ॥१॥

What does a poor man know of proper conduct? Greatness has turned its face dark, O God. I call out but no one at the doo…

526

न लगे हें मज तुझें ब्रम्हज्ञान । गोजिरें सगुण रूप पुरे ॥१॥

I have no need of your abstract knowledge of Brahman; your beautiful form with all its sweetness is enough for me. You a…

537

कां रे माझा तुज न ये कळवळा । असोनि जवळा हृदयस्था ॥१ ॥

Why does my plight not stir compassion in you, when you dwell so close, right within my heart? O Narayana, O Formless an…

539

नाहीं सुख मज न लगे हा मान । न राहे हें जन काय करूं ॥१॥

I find no pleasure in happiness, I have no use for honor, and people will not leave me alone; what am I to do? Comforts …

551

काय म्यां मानावें हरिकथेचें फळ । तरिजे सकळ जनीं ऐसें ॥१॥

What fruit of devotional singing should I believe in, if it is said that all people are thereby saved? For destruction h…

624

न बोलसी तें ही कळलें देवा । लाजसी आपुलिया नांवा। तुज मी नाहीं घालीत गोवा । भीड क…

Even what You do not speak, I understand, O God. You feel shame on account of Your own reputation. I am not putting You …

631

न पवे सन्निध वाटते चिंता । वरि या बहुतांची सत्ता । नुगवे पडत जातो गुंता । कर्मा …

I feel anxious because You are not near, and on top of that the authority of so many worldly powers presses down. I cann…

638

कां हो माझा मानियेला भार । ऐसा दिसे फार । अनंत पावविलीं उद्धार । नव्हे चि थार मज…

Why, does my burden seem so heavy to You? Countless others have been delivered before. Am I the one who can never be sav…

639

मज ते हांसतील संत । जींहीं देखिलेती मूतिऩमंत । ह्मणोनि उद्वेगलें चित्त । आहा च भ…

The saints who have beheld You in visible form will laugh at me. This is why my heart is troubled; I appear to be a mere…

656

ऐक पांडुरंगा एक मात । कांहीं बोलणें आहे एकांत । आह्मां जरी तारील संचित । तरी उचि…

Listen, O Panduranga, to one thing. I have something to say in private. If my accumulated merit alone could save me, the…

668

कइप देखतां होइऩन डोळीं । सकळां भूतीं मूतिऩ सांवळी। जीवा नांव भूमंडळीं । जळीं स्थ…

When will I see with these eyes the dark-hued form in all beings, the one who bears the name "soul" throughout the earth…

763

आपुलें मागतां । काय नाहीं आह्मां सत्ता ॥1॥

When asking for what is rightfully ours, do we not have the authority? But for the sake of propriety, I have kept my wor…

764

असो आतां किती । तुज यावें काकुलती ॥1॥

How long must I keep pleading with You in supplication? My fate is strong indeed; perhaps You are helpless before it. I …

800

वाटुली पाहातां सिणले डोळुले । दाविसी पाउलें कइं वो डोळां ॥1॥

My eyes are weary from watching the road. When will You show Your feet to my gaze? You are the mother, the nurturing sha…

844

धांव घालीं आइऩ । आतां पाहातेसी काइऩ ॥1॥

Rush to me, O Mother. What are you waiting for? I have no patience left within me; separation has made me utterly wretch…

847

दर्शनाची आस । आतां ना साहे उदास ॥1॥

The longing for Your sight can no longer endure this separation. My soul has already gone to Your feet; only this lifele…

849

कां हो एथें काळ आला आह्मां आड । तुह्मांपाशीं नाड करावया ॥1॥

Has Death come between us as an obstacle, to separate me from You? Has some difficulty of understanding arisen? What str…

917

काय उणें जालें तुज समर्थासी । ऐसा मजपाशीं कोण दोष ॥1॥

What have You lost, O Almighty, and what fault do You find in me, that You will not accept me as Your own? I will take t…

950

प्रीतिभंग माझा केला पांडुरंगा । भिHरस सांगा कां जी तुह्मीं ॥1॥

You have broken my bond of love, O Panduranga. Why did You shatter the joy of devotion? Tell me. Therefore I hold nothin…

951

लटिका ऐसा ह्मणतां देव । संदेहसा वाटतसे ॥1॥

When I call God false, even that feels doubtful. Such has been my experience in this practice. The formless is a great b…

952

जैशासाठीं तैसें हावें । हें बरवें कळलेंसे ॥1॥

One must respond in kind to whatever comes. I have understood this well. You are indifferent, O Narayana; so I too shall…

953

बहुतां रीती काकुलती । आलों चित्तीं न धरा च ॥1॥

I have come pleading in many ways, yet You do not take me to heart. Why then, O God, should I nourish this false longing…

954

आश्चर्य तें एक जालें । मना आलें माझिया ॥1॥

One strange thing has come to my mind. I pleaded with a lifeless idol, and my plea went in vain. How can one not feel an…

956

पाठवणें पडणें पायां । उद्धार वांयां काशाचा ॥1॥

Sending messages and falling at feet brings no real deliverance. What truly matters is the meeting itself; only that wil…

958

संदेह निरसे तरि रुचिकर । फिक्यासी आदर चवी नाहीं ॥1॥

If doubt is removed, then the taste is delightful. The bland holds no appeal. Now do not deceive me with falsehood anymo…

960

उगें चि हें मन राहातें निश्चळ । तरि कां तळमळ साट होती ॥1॥

If the mind could simply remain still and steady, why would there be all this turmoil? I do not understand Your games an…

963

तुह्मां होइऩल देवा पडिला विसर । आह्मीं तें उत्तर यत्न केलें ॥1॥

Perhaps You have forgotten, O God. We have tried our best with every word. You parade the title Redeemer of the Fallen. …

967

नाहीं उल्लंघिले कोणाचे वचन । मज कां नारायण दुरी जाला ॥1॥

I have not transgressed anyone's word. Why then has Narayana become distant from me? With an unsuspecting heart I keep c…

968

जीव जायवरी सांडी करी माता । हे तों आश्चर्यता बाळकाची ॥1॥

A mother endures the threat of death for the sake of her child. Such is the wonder of an infant's power. Is God so weak …

969

ह्मणउनी दास नव्हे ऐसा जालों । अनुभवें बोलों स्वामीपुढें ॥1॥

I have thus become unworthy of being called a servant. I speak from experience before my Lord. Why is there no answer, n…

976

तुमचा तुह्मीं केला गोवा । आतां चुकवितां देवा ॥1॥

You have entangled Yourself in Your own web. Now how will You escape, O God? How long can this game of deception continu…

1005

करिसी कीं न करिसी माझा अंगीकार । हा मज विचार पडिला देवा ॥1॥

Will You accept me or will You not? This question plagues me, O God. Will You show me Your feet or will You not? My mind…

1021

जीवनावांचूनि तळमळी मासा । प्रकार हा तैसा होतो जीवा ॥1॥

A fish writhes without water. Just so does my soul feel. Like a man who knows buried treasure is near but cannot find it…

1036

जीव खादला देवत । माझा येणें महाभूतें । झोंबलें निरुतें । कांहीं करितां न सुटे ॥1…

A demon has devoured my soul, this great elemental force. It has seized me entirely, and no effort can shake it loose. W…

1083

हिंडवुनि पोट भरी दारोदारीं । कोंडुनि पेटारी असेरया ॥1॥

Like a snake-charmer who entraps a serpent with music, leads it from door to door to fill his belly, and then shuts it i…

1106

सुटायाचा कांहीं पाहातों उपाय । तों हे देखें पाय गोवियेले ॥1॥

I was looking for a way to escape, but then I found my feet entangled. Caught in this trap of sorrow, my strength and wi…

1108

येगा येगा पांडुरंगा । घेइऩ उचलुनि वोसंगा ॥1॥

Come, O Panduranga, come! Take me up in Your arms. Though I belong to You, I appear as a stranger. Untangle this knot an…

1145

हरिसुं मिल दे एक हि बेर । पाछे तूं फिर नावे घर ॥1॥

O messenger, let me meet Hari just once, and after that you may go home. Listen to my plea, O go-between who has come to…

1147

कब मरूं पाऊं चरन तुम्हारे । ठाकुर मेरे जीवन प्यारे ॥1॥

When shall I die and find Your feet, O my Lord, my dearest life? The death that the world mourns is sweet to me. That de…

1212

पुसावेंसें हें चि वाटे । जें जें भेटे तयासी ॥1॥

I feel the urge to ask everyone I meet: will God show me His grace? Will He preserve my honor? All other concerns have b…

1220

तुजशीं संबंध चि खोटा । परता परता रे थोंटा ॥1॥

Your relationship with me is fundamentally false, O God. Retreating again and again, You remain out of reach. What is th…

1221

या चि हाका तुझे द्वारीं । सदा देखों रिणकरी ॥1॥

At Your door I see only debtors calling out and calling. You always impose penalties and fines. O God, You are a great m…

1222

आह्मी जाणों तुझा भाव । दृढ धरियेले पाव ॥1॥

We know Your nature. We have seized Your feet firmly. We will not be shaken off when You try to escape, nor will we acce…

1223

रिण वैर हत्या । हें तों न सुटे नेंदितां ॥1॥

Debt, enmity, and bloodshed do not end by mere indifference. You know this well, O Panduranga, for You preach it to the …

1224

नाहीं मागितला । तुह्मां मान म्यां विठ्ठला ॥1॥

I never asked for any honor from You, O Vitthal. Yet what humiliation You have brought upon me, placing me in the hands …

1226

बोलतों निकुरें । नव्हेत सलगीचीं उत्तरें ॥1॥

I speak harshly. These are not the words of familiarity. My mind is enraged by hearing of others' suffering. Whatever co…

1239

भावबळें कैसा जालासी लाहान । मागें संतीं ध्यान वणिऩयेलें ॥1॥

By the power of devotion, You became small. The saints of old have described Your meditation. Show me that vision now, O…

1240

कृपाळु ह्मणोनि बोलती पुराणें । निर्धार वचनें यांचीं मज ॥1॥

The Puranas say You are merciful. Their words are my certainty. I know no other strategy. I simply fall where Your secre…

1241

1242. कइप मात माझे ऐकती कान । बोलतां वचन संतां मुखीं ॥1॥

When will my ears hear the saints say that Panduranga has accepted me? Only then will my soul find courage. Therefore I …

1247

ऐसी वाट पाहे कांहीं निरोप कां मूळ । कंा हे कळवळ तुज उमटे चि ना ॥1॥

I wait like this, watching for some message, some sign. Does no compassion stir in You at all? O Panduranga, Dweller of …

1248

कां गा किविलवाणा केलों दीनाचा दीन । काय तुझी हीन शिH जालीसी दिसे ॥1॥

Why have You made me so wretched, the lowliest of the low? Has Your power somehow diminished? I feel ashamed to call mys…

1250

कामें नेलें चित्त नेदी अवलोकुं मुख । बहु वाटे दुःख फुटों पाहे हृदय ॥1॥

Desire has stolen my mind and will not let me gaze upon your face. Great sorrow wells up, and my heart feels ready to bu…

1252

न संगतां तुह्मां कळों येतें अंतर । विश्वीं विश्वंभर परिहार चि न लगे ॥1॥

Without my telling you, you know the depths of my heart, O Lord of all. No defense is needed before the one who pervades…

1263

बहुक्षीदक्षीण । आलों सोसुनियां वन ॥1॥

Through many hardships and wanderings I have come, enduring the wilderness. O Vithoba, let me rest and fall at your feet…

1265

तुमची तों भेटी नव्हे ऐसी जाली । कोरडी च बोली ब्रह्मYाान ॥1॥

Your meeting, O Lord, seems never to come. All this talk of Brahman-knowledge is just dry words. Now, O God, I feel I sh…

1272

पडियेलों वनीं थोर चिंतवनी । उसीर कां आझूनि लावियेला ॥1॥

I have fallen in the forest in great anguish. Why have you delayed so long? Come, O Vitthala, come! My life-breath is br…

1273

आपुले गांवींचें न देखेसें जालें । परदेसी एकलें किती कंठूं ॥1॥

Nothing from my own homeland can be seen anymore. How long shall I endure this foreign land alone? Therefore I watch the…

1307

पाहातोसी काय । आतां पुढें करीं पाय ॥1॥

What are you waiting for? Now step forward. Let me place my head upon your feet. I stand here with folded hands. Make th…

1411

नाहीं आलें भिHसुख अनुभवा । तो मी Yाान देवा काय करूं ॥1॥

I have not yet tasted the bliss of devotion in my own experience. Of what use then is mere knowledge, O God? O Lord, do …

1412

मागतां विभाग । कोठें लपाल जी मग ॥1॥

When I come to claim my share, where will you hide? The saints are witnesses to these words; they know the secret signs.…

1428

माझी मेलीं बहुवरिं । तूं कां जैसा तैसा हरी ॥1॥

My forefathers have all died, yet you, O Hari, remain just as you are. How have you survived, Vitthoba? Tell me. Before …

1498

ऐसें कां जालें तें मज ही न कळे । कीर्तनाचे रळेपळे जगीं ॥1॥

Why has it come to this? Even I cannot understand it. The sacred art of kirtan has been reduced to petty quarrels in the…

1501

तुह्मी बैसलेती निर्गुणाचे खोळे । आह्मां कां हे डोळे कान दिले ॥1॥

You sit wrapped in your formless state. Then why did you give us eyes and ears? I cannot bear to hear your glory being d…

1522

सद्गदित कंठ दाटो । येणें फुटो हृदय ॥1॥

Let my throat choke with feeling; let my heart burst open with this. O Vitthala, let the one gain of contemplating you b…

1532

पंढरीची वाट पाहें निरंतर । निडळावरी कर ठेवूनियां ॥1॥

I gaze constantly toward the road to Pandhari, my hand shading my brow. Send word to my people back home: why have I bee…

1534

पाहें मजकडे भरोनियां दृष्टी । बहुत हिंपुष्टी जालों माते ॥1॥

Look at me with your full gaze, O Mother, for I have grown very weak and forlorn. My soul longs to nurse at your breast.…

1535

तुज ह्मणतील कृपेचा सागर । तरि कां केला धीर पांडुरंगा ॥1॥

They call you an ocean of mercy. Then why have you delayed so long, O Panduranga? Does my suffering still not move you t…

1545

आळवीन स्वरें । कैशा मधुरा उत्तरें ॥1॥

I will call out in sweet tones, with tender, beautiful words. Come, O Panduranga, come! Give me the nourishing milk of y…

1546

सकिळकांचें समाधान । नव्हे देखिल्यावांचून ॥1॥

The satisfaction of all will not come without beholding your form. Show me your form now, adorned with four arms. Come w…

1589

आरोनियां पाहे वाट । कटकट सोसेना ॥1॥

I climb up and gaze at the road; I can bear the anguish of waiting no longer. I ask every passerby for news; my heart is…

1610

कोठे गुंतलासी द्वारकेच्या राया । वेळ कां सखया लावियेला ॥1॥

Where have you become entangled, O King of Dwaraka? Why have you delayed, dear friend? Uphold your own promise as protec…

1611

कोठें गुंतलासी कोणांच्या धांवया । आली देवराया निद्रा तुज ॥1॥

Where are you caught up? Whose calls are you answering? Has sleep overtaken you, O Lord? Are you entangled in the love o…

1621

काय तुझें वेचे मज भेटी देतां । वचन बोलतां एक दोन ॥1॥

What does it cost you to grant me an audience? What expense is there in speaking a word or two? Am I stealing your form,…

1642

अंतरींचें जाणां । तरि कां येऊं दिलें मना ॥1॥

If you knew my heart from the start, why did you let this longing enter my mind? I came to serve you; will you now cast …

1646

काय करील तें नव्हे विश्वंभर । सेवका दारिद्र लाज नाहीं ॥1॥

What is there that the sustainer of the world cannot do? Is he not ashamed that his own servant suffers in poverty? The …

1654

जाय तिकडे लागे पाठीं । नाहीं तुटी आठवाची ॥1॥

Wherever I go, the memory of Him follows me without a break. He has stolen my mind, which was my only capital. He showed…

1656

वाट पाहें हरि कां नये आझूनि । निष्ठ‍ कां मनीं धरियेलें ॥1॥

I watch the road, but Hari, why have you not come yet? Why have you hardened your resolve against me? My heart finds no …

1657

नाहीं दिलें कधीं कठिण उत्तर । तरी कां अंतर पडियेलें ॥1॥

I have never spoken a harsh word to you, so why has this distance fallen between us? This separation is unbearable, for …

1663

क्षेम देयाला हो । स्फुरताती दंड बाहो ॥1॥

My arms tremble with eagerness to embrace you. Come quickly now, lift your feet and hasten your steps. Abandon that grac…

1664

जेणें वेळ लागे । ऐसें सांडीं पांडुरंगे ॥1॥

O Panduranga, set aside whatever causes delay. Let throat meet throat, and take my longing into yourself. Do not bother …

1669

करावा कांटाळा नव्हे हें उचित । आधीं च कां प्रीत लावियेली ॥1॥

It is not right for you to grow weary of me, for it was you who first kindled this love. You know the power of your own …

1734

यावें माहेरास । हे च सर्वकाळ आस ॥1॥

My constant longing is to come home to the mother's house. I wish to eat the leftovers of the saints' meal to my heart's…

1736

आह्मां गांजी जन । तरि कां मेला नारायण ॥1॥

If the world oppresses us, is Narayana then dead? We have been left orphaned and exposed, without a roof or a shelter. I…

1755

माझिया संचिता । दृढ देखोनि बिळवंता । पळसी पंढरिनाथा । भेणे आतां तयाच्या ॥1॥

Seeing the strength of my accumulated karma, O mighty one, You flee, O Lord of Pandhari, afraid of its force. Now I see …

1756

लोकमान देहसुख । संपित्तउपभोग अनेक । विटंबना दुःख । तुझिये भेटीवांचूनि ॥1॥

Worldly honor, bodily comfort, wealth, and countless pleasures are all torment and misery without meeting You. So grant …

1757

तुझा ह्मणवून तुज नेणें । ऐसें काय माझें जिणें॥1॥

To call myself Yours and yet not know You: what kind of life is this? Then on whose support shall I steady my heart? Hav…

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