Abhanga 85
This abhang is for moments when you've been doing relationship through procedure — titles, formality, hierarchy, claim-of-greatness — and noticing the actual meeting keeps not happening. Tukaram's prescription is plain: drop thorpana. Use words of feeling. The cow's economy is bhakti's economy; the relationship works at the lowly level when nothing else can reach.
The verse
वळितें जें गाई । त्यासि फार लागे काई ॥१॥ निवे भावाच्या उत्तरीं । भलते एके धणी वरी ॥ध्रु.॥ न लगती प्रकार । कांहीं मानाचा आदर ॥२॥ सांडी थोरपणा । तुका म्हणे सवें दीना ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: The cow that comes toward (you) — what (much) does she need? She settles at the words of feeling; any single owner suffices. No procedures are needed; no honor or formality. Tuka says: drop the greatness — be with the lowly.
मराठी: जी गाय वळते — तिला फार काय लागतं? भावाच्या उत्तराने ती नवते; भलता एकच धनी पुरतो. कोणतेही प्रकार लागत नाहीत; कुठलाही मानाचा आदर. तुकाराम म्हणतात — थोरपणा सांडा; दीनासोबत राहा.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वळितें जें गाई | "the cow that turns toward (you)" |
| त्यासि फार लागे काई | "what does she need (much for)?" (= little is required) |
| निवे भावाच्या उत्तरीं | "she settles at the words of feeling" |
| भलते एके धणी वरी | "any single owner suffices" |
| न लगती प्रकार | "no procedures are needed" |
| कांहीं मानाचा आदर | "any honor or formality" |
| सांडी थोरपणा | "drop the thorpana (greatness, big-self)" |
| सवें दीना | "be with the lowly" (दीन = lowly, helpless) |
What it means
A small image-poem about low-ground bhakti. The cow's responsiveness illustrates bhakti's economy: no procedure, no honor, no formality. What works on the cow is भावाची उत्तर — words of feeling. Tukaram's prescription: drop thorpana (greatness, big-self) and be with the lowly. The two moves are linked — thorpana is what blocks bhakti's plain-ground operation. Drop it and the relationship works as the cow-and-owner relationship works. [T]
For someone today
This abhang is for moments when you've been doing relationship through procedure — titles, formality, hierarchy, claim-of-greatness — and noticing the actual meeting keeps not happening. Tukaram's prescription is plain: drop thorpana. Use words of feeling. The cow's economy is bhakti's economy; the relationship works at the lowly level when nothing else can reach.
मराठी: ही ओवी अशा क्षणांसाठी जेव्हा तुम्ही नातं procedure द्वारे करत आहात — पदव्या, औपचारिकता, hierarchy, थोरपणाचा दावा — आणि प्रत्यक्ष भेट होत नाही. तुकारामांची सोपी सूचना: थोरपणा सांडा. भावाची उत्तरं वापरा. गायीची economy हीच bhakti ची economy; नातं lowly level वर चालतं — जिथे दुसरं काही पोहोचू शकत नाही.
Where this applies
- Meeting through procedure not happening. Drop the procedure.
- Performing thorpana and feeling lonely. The trade is invisible until you drop it.
- Naturally with the lowly. Recognize the gift.