Abhanga 418

All sincere devotion points to the same one divine reality, but different roles and vessels serve different purposes, so stop comparing and let each thing shine where it belongs.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

A all-Jeṣṭhā-devī-equality-of-vessels-by-bhāva ḍānkā abhang. Within the ḍānkā cluster. Five claims:

1. अवघ्या जेष्ठादेवी — कोण पूजनाचा ठाव — धरितां चि भाव — कोठें नाहींसें जालें — all Jeṣṭhā-devī — what ṭhāva of pūjana? — holding bhāva — nowhere is lacking. The opening-equality-claim: all areJeṣṭhā-devī(the eldest-deity, primal-feminine); what particularṭhāvaof pūjana? — whenbhāvais held, nothing is lacking anywhere. All deity-forms are the same Jeṣṭhā-devī when bhāva is the test.

2. दिसे सारिखें सारिखें — परि तें कारणीं पारिखें — appears sārikhē-sārikhē — but in kāraṇa, different. The appearance-vs-cause distinction: (deity-forms) appear similar; but inkāraṇa(cause / function), they differ. Surface-similarity, depth-difference.

3. तळीं गेलें देखें — वरी टोले न साहाती — falling below, recognize — top ṭōlē can't withstand. The test-by-burden claim: what falls below, recognize; those above cannot withstand theṭōlē(blows / loads). Test the deity-forms by burden; those-above cannot bear; those-below can. (The low-position-bears-more paradox.)

4. पट एका शिरीं — यथाविधीनें त्या येरी — बसकोळ्या घागरी डेरे रांझण गाडगीं — cloth on one — by yathā-vidhi — the others — basket-pots, jars, vessels, large-pots, small-pots. The vessel-list image: cloth (turban / sacred-cloth) on one's head — byyathā-vidhi(proper-rule); the other vessels — basket-pots, jars, vessels, large-pots, small-pots. Different vessels for different functions; each by yathā-vidhi.

5. तुका म्हणे माना — येथें कोणीं रुसावें ना — आपुलाल्या स्थानां — जेथें त्या चि शोभल्या — Tuka says: recognize — no one sulks here — at her own sthāna — each shines. The closing-resolution: recognize this; no one should sulk; at her ownsthāna(place) — each shines. Don't compare-and-sulk; each vessel shines at her own place.

[T]

For someone today

Tukaram looks at all the different forms devotion takes, the different names and images people worship, and says that underneath, when sincerity is the test, they are all the same eldest goddess. But he is careful not to flatten all the differences: things can look alike on the surface while serving very different purposes underneath. He even points out a small paradox, that what sits low and bears the weight often withstands more than what sits proudly on top, so do not assume a humble position means a weaker one. Different vessels exist for different jobs, and none of them needs to do everyone else's work. So do not sulk or compare yourself to another person's place or role, because each thing, and each person, truly shines when it is in its own proper spot.

मराठी: तुकाराम भक्तीच्या वेगवेगळ्या रूपांकडे पाहतात, वेगवेगळी नावे आणि वेगवेगळ्या मूर्ती लोक पूजतात, आणि म्हणतात की मनापासूनचा भाव हीच खरी कसोटी असेल, तर या सगळ्यांच्या तळाशी तीच एक जेष्ठा देवी आहे. पण ते सगळे फरक पुसून टाकत नाहीत, कारण वरून सारखे दिसणाऱ्या गोष्टी आतून अगदी वेगळे काम करू शकतात. ते एक गंमतीशीर विरोधाभासही सांगतात, खालच्या जागी असलेली गोष्ट वरच्या शोभिवंत गोष्टीपेक्षा जास्त भार सोसते, म्हणून नम्र स्थान म्हणजे कमजोर स्थान असे मानू नये. वेगवेगळ्या भांड्यांची वेगवेगळी कामे असतात, आणि प्रत्येकाने दुसऱ्याचे काम करायची गरज नसते. म्हणून कोणी रुसू नये किंवा दुसऱ्याच्या जागेशी स्वतःची तुलना करू नये, कारण प्रत्येक गोष्ट, आणि प्रत्येक व्यक्ती, स्वतःच्या योग्य जागी खरोखर शोभून दिसते.

Where this applies

• All Jeṣṭhā-devī by bhāva. Anti-sectarian.
• Surface-similar, kāraṇa-different. Don't be fooled.
• Low-bears-more. Strength-paradox.
• Vessels for functions. Don't expect all from all.
• Each shines at her own sthāna. No sulking.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2374 — Rather than scattering devotion among many lesser deities who demand offerings, Tukaram sa
• Abhanga 2377 — This detailed meditation on Vitthal standing on a brick at Pandharpur, out of love for his
• Abhanga 2387 — Accept whatever life brings with reverence, and place the burden on God rather than carryi
• Abhanga 2402 — For today: happily take rebirths — IF among the Paṇḍharī-Vārkarīs ; Hari-dāsas' company is