Abhanga 134
English: You have been made free to walk — speak Vitthal, repeatedly.
The verse
चाल केलासी मोकळा । बोल विठ्ठल वेळोवेळां ॥१॥ तुज पापचि नाहीं ऐसें । नाम घेतां जवळीं वसे ॥ध्रु.॥ पंच पातकांच्या कोडी । नामें जळतां न लगे घडी ॥२॥ केलीं मागें नको राहों । तुज जमान आम्ही आहों ॥३॥ करीं तुज जीं करवती । आणिक नामें घेऊं किती ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे काळा । रीग नाहीं निघती ज्वाळा ॥५॥
Literal translation
English: You have been made free to walk — speak Vitthal, repeatedly. (It is as if) sin does not exist for you — the Name, when taken, dwells near. The five classes of cardinal-sins, even in crores — burn by the Name; does not take a moment. The things done before — don't dwell (on them) — we are jamāna (guarantors) for you. Do whatever you can — how many other names shall I take? Tuka says: the flames (rising from the Name) — Time has no entry-path.
मराठी: तुला मोकळी चाल केलीस; विठ्ठल वेळोवेळ बोल. पाप तुला नाहीच — नाम घेताच जवळ वसतं. पंच-पातकांच्या कोडी — नामाने जळतात — एका घडीसाठीही टिकत नाहीत. मागं केलं ते राहू नकोस; आम्ही तुझे जमान (हमीदार) आहोत. जी करता येत असतील ती कर — आणखी किती नामं घेऊ? तुकाराम म्हणतात — काळाला रीग नाही — ज्वाळा निघतात.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| चाल केलासी मोकळा | "you have been made free (to walk)" |
| बोल विठ्ठल वेळोवेळां | "speak Vitthal — repeatedly" |
| तुज पापचि नाहीं ऐसें | "(it is as if) sin does not exist for you" |
| नाम घेतां जवळीं वसे | "the Name, when taken, dwells near (you)" |
| पंच पातकांच्या कोडी | "the five-classes of cardinal-sins (in their crores)" |
| नामें जळतां न लगे घडी | "burn by the Name — does not take a moment" |
| केलीं मागें नको राहों | "the things done before — don't dwell (on them)" |
| तुज जमान आम्ही आहों | "we are jamāna (guarantors / sureties) for you" |
| रीग नाहीं निघती ज्वाळा | "the flames (rising) — Time has no entry" |
What it means
A bold Name-frees abhang. Three structural claims:
- Name burns sin in an instant — not gradually, not provisionally; न लगे घडी (does not take a moment). Crores of sins.
- We are guarantors — तुज जमान आम्ही आहों — the saints stand surety for the bhakta with the deity. The bhakta's debt has co-signers.
- Flames keep Time out — काळा रीग नाहीं निघती ज्वाळा — the rising flames of the Name leave no entry-point for Time/Death.
The closing image is the most striking: the Name's flames function as a barrier-fire against Time. Time approaches but cannot enter the bhakta's space. [T] [Tradition]
For someone today
This abhang is for the moment when you've been carrying past wrongs as if they are still operative. Tukaram's claim is uncompromising: the Name burns them in an instant. The saints stand as your jamāna (guarantor) — they have vouched for you. The bhakta's relationship with the deity is co-signed; you do not arrive alone. The image of flames-keeping-Time-out is the practice's gift: while the Name is burning, Time-and-Death have no path of entry. The application is direct: बोल विठ्ठल वेळोवेळां — speak Vitthal repeatedly — and let the past be burned in the burning.
मराठी: ही ओवी अशा क्षणासाठी जेव्हा तुम्ही मागच्या चुका अजूनही operative असल्याप्रमाणे उचलत आहात. तुकारामांचा निःसंदिग्ध दावा: नाम एका क्षणात जाळतं. संत तुमचे जमान — त्यांनी तुमची हमी घेतली आहे. भक्त-देव नात्याला co-signed — तुम्ही एकटे पोहोचत नाही. ज्वाळा-काळाला-बाहेर-ठेवण्याचं image साधनेची भेट: नाम जळत असताना — Time-Death ला प्रवेशाचा रस्ता नाही. lागू direct: बोल विठ्ठल वेळोवेळां — आणि मागचं जळण्यात जळू द्या.
Where this applies
- Carrying past sins as if operative. Name burns instantly.
- Wondering who guarantees you. Saints are jamāna.
- Time tightening. Flames don't let it in.