Abhanga 410
English: Aren't there other ones — but they're very khōṭīm kuḍīm.
The verse
आणीक काय थोडीं । परि तें फार खोटीं कुडीं ॥१॥ सदा मोकळीं च गुरें । होती फजीत तीं पोरें ॥ध्रु.॥ सदा घालिता हुंबरी । एक एकांचे न करी ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे घरीं माय । वेळोवेळां मारी ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: Aren't there other ones — but they're very khōṭīm kuḍīm. Always-loose gurē — those pōrē — phajīta. Always — humbarī — one doesn't do another's. Tuka says: at home — māya — every-now-and-then beats.
मराठी: आणीक काय थोडीं — परि तें फार खोटीं कुडीं. सदा मोकळीं च गुरें — होती फजीत तीं पोरें. सदा घालिता हुंबरी — एक एकांचे न करी. तुकाराम म्हणतां — घरीं माय वेळोवेळां मारी.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आणीक काय थोडीं | "aren't there other ones?" |
| परि तें फार खोटीं कुडीं | "but they are very false-and-broken" |
| सदा मोकळीं च गुरें | "always-loose — gurē" |
| होती फजीत तीं पोरें | "those pōrē — phajīta" |
| सदा घालिता हुंबरी | "always — humbarī" |
| एक एकांचे न करी | "one doesn't do another's" |
| घरीं माय वेळोवेळां मारी | "at home — māya — every-now-and-then — beats" |
What it means
A short gōpī-elder-complaint about Krishna's cowherd-friends abhang. Three claims:
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आणीक काय थोडीं — परि तें फार खोटीं कुडीं — aren't there other ones — but they're very false-and-broken. The opening-rhetorical-question: aren't there other (cowherd-boys / friends) too? — but they are fāra khōṭīm kuḍīm (very false-and-broken / very deceptive-and-untrustworthy). Krishna's-friends are themselves untrustworthy.
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सदा मोकळीं च गुरें — होती फजीत तीं पोरें — always-loose gurē — those pōrē phajīta. The complaint-image: the gurē (cattle) are always loose (not contained); those pōrē (boys, the cowherd-friends) are phajīta (disgraced / put-to-shame). The cowherd-establishment is in disarray.
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सदा घालिता हुंबरी — एक एकांचे न करी — always humbarī — one doesn't do another's. The non-cooperation claim: always humbarī (mooing, calling-out chaotically); no one does another's (work). The cowherd-friends don't cooperate.
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तुका म्हणे घरीं माय — वेळोवेळां मारी — Tuka says: at home, māya, every-now-and-then beats. The closing-domestic-image: at home, the māya (mother) — every-now-and-then beats (the boys). The domestic-mother's discipline is the only restraint on the chaotic-cowherd-band.
[T]
For someone today
This abhang names the chaotic-cowherd-band-and-mother's-beating register:
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Krishna's friends are themselves untrustworthy. Phāra khōṭīm kuḍīm. Don't trust the bhakti-community to be perfect; the deva's friends are also flawed.
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The cowherd-establishment is in disarray. Sadā mōkaḷīm ca gurē — phajīta tī pōrē. Don't expect bhakti-community discipline; the cattle are loose, the boys are disgraced.
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Mooing without cooperating. Humbarī ēka ēkāñcē na karī. People announce loudly but don't help each other; recognize this honestly.
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The mother's beating is the only restraint. Gharīm māya vēḷōvēḷām mārī. The domestic / familial discipline is what restrains the chaotic-bhakti-friends. Don't underestimate the household-discipline.
For today: don't trust the bhakti-community to be perfect; the deva's friends are flawed too; don't expect community-discipline; expect chaos; recognize the humbarī without cooperation; honor the household-discipline that beats the chaotic-tendencies.
This abhang is Tukaram's affectionate-realism on the bhakti-community: the gōpī-elders' complaint is not against bhakti but against the cowherd-friends-establishment. The deva himself is not blamed; only the friends.
मराठी: ही ओवी chaotic-cowherd-band-and-mother's-beating register नाव सांगते:
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Krishna चे friends untrustworthy. फार खोटीं कुडीं. Bhakti-community perfect असेल trust नका; देवाचे friends पण flawed.
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Cowherd-establishment disarray मध्ये. सदा मोकळीं च गुरें — फजीत तीं पोरें. Bhakti-community discipline expect नका; cattle loose, boys disgraced.
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Mooing without cooperating. हुंबरी एक एकांचे न करी. लोक loudly announce करतात पण एकमेकांना help करत नाहीत; Honestly ओळखा.
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माईचं मारणं only restraint. घरीं माय वेळोवेळां मारी. Domestic / familial discipline chaotic-bhakti-friends restrain करते. Household-discipline underestimate नका.
आज: Bhakti-community perfect असेल trust नका; देवाचे friends flawed; Community-discipline expect नका; chaos expect करा; Cooperation शिवाय humbarī ओळखा; Chaotic-tendencies ला beat करणारी household-discipline honor करा.
Tukaram च affectionate-realism on bhakti-community: Gōpī-elders' complaint bhakti विरुद्ध नाही पण cowherd-friends-establishment विरुद्ध. Deva स्वतः blame नाही; फक्त friends.
Where this applies
- Bhakti-community is not perfect. Don't expect.
- Cattle loose, boys disgraced. Disarray.
- Humbarī without cooperation. Honest-fact.
- Mother's beating restrains. Domestic-discipline.