Denaaryaache Haat Hazaro

 

देणाऱ्याचे हात हजारो दुबळी माझी झोळी

The Good Lord gives with a thousand hands. My bag can’t hold it all. ( I need and can take only very little.)

On similar lines there is an abhang by Tukaram Maharaj.

पोटा पुरते देई विठ्ठला 

लई नाही लई नाही मागणे

I don’t ask for much Vitthala 

Just give enough to fill the stomach!

भाकरी ताजी अथवा शिळी

 देई मायबाप भुकेच्या वेळी

Whether the bread is fresh or stale 

Let it come when one is hungry!

वस्त्र नवं अथवा जुनं 

देवा देईं अंग भरून 

Whether the clothing is old or new

Give enough to cover the body.

देवा कळणा अथवा कोंडा

आम्हा देईं भुकेच्या तोंडा 

Whether grain or husk

Give enough to satisfy hunger

तुका म्हणे आतां 

नका करूं पायांपरता 

Tuka pleads to Vitthala do not turn anyone empty handed. 

The famous line from a song by the Marathi poet laureate G.D, Madgulkar came to mind as I wanted to write a follow up post to another. Right behind that I remembered Tukoba’s abhang.

Recently when I narrated the episode of my court hearing for the driving violation I got an overwhelming reaction from so many kind souls validating the mercy I received as a fair return of my prior deeds. Many even reached out to me offline. Indeed these are very big hearted to think that way.

 My first reaction as I shared with you was being stunned. What just happened? I asked myself. As it sunk in a bit more I broke down crying, overwhelmed with the sheer impact of kindness that had just occurred. I had expected far less than what I got. I had hoped the judge could reduce the fines a little bit or more importantly, at least prevent DMV points so my insurance doesn’t escalate. The judge was exceptionally benevolent but in my situation her powers were limited. She could neither reduce the fine nor prevent my DMV points. That’s when Providence stepped in ! 

But it got me thinking over the next few days. As far back as I can remember I have been saying every day in my prayers “tat sat bramharpanamastu”. Whatever I do, unselfish or selfish, good or bad, I offer it to Krishna, the Divine Lord ! Whatever merit ( punya) I accrue from good deeds may it be distributed evenly amongst all creation. I don’t even think it may have been anything significant after fifty some years. But whatever it is I will not keep anything for myself. My Krishna is enough for me. Punya is for others.

Now to think that I encashed the merit at the court hearing seems rather overwhelmingly selfish. It would be withdrawing a large chunk from the common bank savings account for my personal use !! A more reasonable way to look at it is that I have incurred a huge debt that I now need to carry forward and repay in whatever way I can. And I very well know that whatever I do will be merely a token. It is entirely beyond my capacity to repay any kindness I have received thus far on several thousands of occasions. 

As I mentioned to someone in the comments, I really think God is not too smart with give and take.  We do so little and get so much over and over again!! It is true देणाऱ्याचे हात हजारो !! The Giver has thousands of hands! 

The irony is that those who are poor are often more content than the rich. Reminds me of a real life story narrated by Mrs Sudha Murthy. She was visiting a temple in South India and met a priest who was blind. He was living in dire poverty. She offered to send him money so he could live better. To her surprise the man told her not to send anything. He said that presently the villagers send him food for each meal and take care of him knowing his disability. If they realize he has money they will stop helping him and instead have an eye on the money! 

They say one must think carefully before you ask anything. Because you may end up getting it ! 😄

When I returned from India 2 weeks back I overheard a news segment saying the Power Lotto amount had climbed to several millions because nobody got the winning numbers in the last round. A thought crossed my mind! May be I should try my luck ! Then what ? I can donate it for the causes I believe in. What if I get tempted to not give all of it away? I will have no incentive to work. The kids will have no incentive to work or to use their brains to practice medicine. That money will mess up everything! So I ended up doing what I always do, which is not buying a lottery ticket 😄

But I win the lottery every single time by just taking the holy name. 

Btw, the full song by Ga Di Madgulkar can be found on YouTube in the voice of Mr Sudhir Phadke. It was part of an old Marathi movie Prapanch.

The Tukaram Abhang discussed today also can be listened to on YouTube. There are many versions and singers but I would recommend listening to the rendition by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. 

Saree is a cotton weave from West Bengal. Pallu has beautiful floral pattern with Jamdani technique. Turquoise beautifully contrasts the pretty pink.