Abhanga 404

English: Kānhō — alone, alone!

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

A gōpī-lost-in-the-vana-seeking-Hari abhang. Six claims:

1. कान्हो एकली रे एकली रे — तुजसवें चुकलें रे — भय वाटे वनीं मज अबळा धाकली रे — Kānhō, alone, alone! — got separated from You — fear in vana, abaḷā, dhākalī. The opening-cry: Kānhō, alone, alone! I got separated from You; fear in the vana, I am abaḷā (weak), dhākalī (small). The lost-and-frightened gōpī's-cry.

2. निघतां घरीं आई बा वारी — तुजसवें कां आलियें हरी — going out, āī-bā stopped — why have I come with You, Hari? The self-question: parents stopped me as I left; why did I come with You, Hari? Self-doubt about the journey.

3. लोक वाटा सांगती खोटा — परी मी चटा लागलियें — people give khōṭā vāṭā — but I am caṭā. The misdirection-claim: people give false-paths; but I am caṭā (firmly-caught) — to this (path / Hari). Despite misdirection, attached to the search.

4. पिकल्या बोरी जालें सामोरी — काय जाणें कोठें राहिला हरी — ripened bōrī came forward — what do I know where Hari stayed? The forest-distractions: ripened bōrī (jujube) — comes forward (tempting to pick); what do I know — where Hari stayed? Distractions in the search.

5. आड खुंट जालिया जाळी — काय जाणों कान्हें मांडिली रळी — thorns, jāḷī coming in — what raḷī Kānha set up? The obstruction-claim: thorns and bushes come in (the way); what raḷī (commotion / disturbance) has Kānha set up? Even the obstructions are His doing.

6. तुका म्हणे जाऊं आलिया वाटा — पाहों हरी पायीं न मोडे कांटा — Tuka says: let's go back the way we came — let's see Hari — thorns won't pierce. The closing-resolve: let's go back the way we came (= retrace); let's see Hari; thorns will not pierce the feet. Going-back-the-way and the deva-protects-the-feet.

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For someone today

This abhang names the gōpī-lost-in-vana-seeking-Hari register:

1. Bhakti can leave you alone in the vana*, frightened. Ekalī rē ekalī — bhaya vāṭē vanīm. The bhakti-journey can leave you separated from the deva, frightened in the wilderness. Honest-acknowledgment*.

2. Self-doubt arises: why did I come with Him? Tujasavē kām āliyē Hari? In the difficult-stretch, self-doubt about the journey arises. Don't shame the doubt.

3. People give khōṭā vāṭā; you are caṭā* anyway. Lōka vāṭā sāngatī khōṭā — parī mī caṭā lāgaliyē. World gives false-paths; the bhakta is firmly caught despite. Stay attached*.

4. Distractions and obstructions are part of His raḷī*. Pikalyā bōrī, āḍa khumṭa, jāḷī — Kānha māṇḍilī raḷī. Even the temptations (ripened-jujube) and obstructions (thorns, bushes) are part of His commotion. Don't despair the obstructions*.

5. Go back the way you came; thorns won't pierce. Jāūm āliyā vāṭā — pāhōm Hari pāyīm na mōḍē kāmṭā. The closing-resolve: retrace the steps to find Him; the thorns won't pierce the feet (in this Hari-seeking). The bhakta-feet are protected on the search-path.

For today: if you find yourself lost in the bhakti-vana, frightened — that is honest; self-doubt is allowed; world's false-paths don't sever the catching; recognize obstructions as His raḷī; retrace your steps and seek Hari; the thorns won't pierce.

This abhang is one of Tukaram's most-vivid forest-bhakti abhangs: the gōpī alone in the vana, the false-paths, the temptations, the obstructions, the resolve to retrace and find Him.

मराठी: ही ओवी gōpī-lost-in-vana-seeking-Hari register नाव सांगते:

1. Bhakti तुम्हाला vana* मध्ये एकटं, frightened सोडू शकते. एकली एकली — भय वाटे वनीं. Bhakti-journey तुम्हाला deva पासून separated, wilderness मध्ये frightened सोडू शकते. Honest-acknowledgment*.

2. Self-doubt येतो: मी त्याच्यासोबत का आले? तुजसवें कां आलियें हरी? Difficult-stretch मध्ये journey बद्दल self-doubt येतो. Doubt ला shame करू नका.

3. लोक khōṭā vāṭā देतात; तुम्ही तरीही caṭā*. लोक वाटा सांगती खोटा — परी मी चटा लागलियें. जग false-paths देतं; bhakta despite firmly caught. Attached राहा*.

4. Distractions आणि obstructions त्याच्या raḷī* चा भाग. पिकल्या बोरी, आड खुंट, जाळी — कान्हें मांडिली रळी. Temptations (ripened-jujube) आणि obstructions (thorns, bushes) त्याच्या commotion चा भाग. Obstructions ने despair नका*.

5. आल्या वाटेने परत जा; kāmṭā* टोचणार नाही. जाऊं आलिया वाटा — पाहों हरी पायीं न मोडे कांटा. Closing-resolve: Steps retrace करून त्याला शोधा; Hari-seeking मध्ये kāmṭā टोचणार नाही. Bhakta-feet search-path वर protected*.

आज: Bhakti-vana मध्ये lost, frightened असाल — हे honest; Self-doubt allowed; जगाचे false-paths catching तोडत नाहीत; Obstructions ला त्याच्या raḷī म्हणून ओळखा; Steps retrace करून Hari ला शोधा; kāmṭā टोचणार नाही.

Tukaram च्या most-vivid forest-bhakti abhangs पैकी एक: Gōpī एकटी vana मध्ये, false-paths, temptations, obstructions, retrace करून त्याला शोधण्याचा resolve.

Where this applies

• Lost in vana, frightened. Honest-acknowledgment.
• Self-doubt about the journey. Allowed.
• False-paths can't sever catching. Stay attached.
• Obstructions are His raḷī. Don't despair.
• Retrace; thorns won't pierce. Protected-feet.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2374
• Abhanga 2377 — English: Gentle, sweet bāla-rūpa — that form from Kāḷī-time.
• Abhanga 2387
• Abhanga 2402