संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 1179 of 4582

Abhanga 1179

For today: patanga-dīpa-parē; tana-kī-khāka — true bhakti is moth-to-flame, no half measures.

When the moth-to-flame self-burning is the bhakti image — and you have to recognize this register

The verse

पतंग जाय दीप परे रे । करे तनकी खाक ॥१॥

Literal translation

English: Patanga dīpa parētana-kī khāka.

मराठी: पतङ्ग जाऊन दिव्यांत पडतो — आणि तनाची खाक (= राख) करतो.

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi/Hindi Meaning
पतंग जाय दीप परे रे "patanga dīpa parē"
करे तनकी खाक "tana-kī khāka"

What it means

Sākhyā 12 of 30 — classic moth-to-flame bhakti image, shared with Kabīr and Sufi traditions (parvāna-šama'). The moth goes, falls into the lamp, makes its body ash. The bhakta annihilates the tana (body/self) in the divine flame — the ultimate self-offering image.

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For someone today

For today: patanga-dīpa-parē; tana-kī-khāka — true bhakti is moth-to-flame, no half measures.

Where this applies

Related verses