Abhanga 1199
English: The saint's greatness (mahimā) is very durgama — the work of mere word-people (śābdika) doesn't apply here.
The verse
संतांचा महिमा तो बहु दुर्गम । शाब्दिकांचे काम नाहीं येथें ॥१॥ बहु धड जरी जाली म्हैस गाय । तरी होईंल काय कामधेनु ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे अंगें व्हावें तें आपण । तरी च महिमान येईंल कळों ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: The saint's greatness (mahimā) is very durgama — the work of mere word-people (śābdika) doesn't apply here. Even if a buffalo became as strong as a cow — would she become kāma-dhēnu? Tuka says: one must oneself become it (anga = in body); only then will the mahimā come to be known.
मराठी: संतांचा महिमा फार दुर्गम — इथें शाब्दिकांचें (निव्वळ बोलणाऱ्यांचें) काम नाहीं. म्हैस फार धडधाकट झाली, तरी ती कामधेनु होईल काय? Tukā म्हणे — आपण-च अंगानें (स्व-अनुभवें) तें व्हावें — तरीच महिमा कळून येईल.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| संतांचा महिमा तो बहु दुर्गम | "saint-greatness is very durgama (hard-to-attain)" |
| शाब्दिकांचे काम नाहीं येथें | "the work of word-people (śabdika = mere talkers) doesn't apply here" |
| बहु धड जरी जाली म्हैस गाय | "even if buffalo became as strong (dhaḍa) as a cow" |
| तरी होईंल काय कामधेनु | "would she become kāma-dhēnu (the wish-cow)?" |
| अंगें व्हावें तें आपण | "one must oneself become it (anga = body, in person)" |
| तरी च महिमान येईंल कळों | "only then will the mahimā (greatness) come to be known" |
What it means
Anti-śābdika abhang. Mere word-people (śābdika — those who can talk about saints brilliantly) are dismissed: saint-greatness is durgama (hard country), not approached by speech. The buffalo-vs-kāmadhēnu image is sharp: even a strong-built buffalo (a dhaḍa-mhaisa) doesn't become the wish-fulfilling kāmadhēnu — talking like a saint isn't being one. Only anga-vhāvē (becoming-in-person) reveals the mahimā.
[T]
For someone today
For today: commentary on saints isn't sainthood — even a buffalo built like a cow doesn't become kāmadhēnu; only becoming-in-the-body shows you the greatness.
Where this applies
- Word-people-rejected.* Śābdika-kāma-nāhīm.
- Buffalo-cow-vs-kāmadhēnu.* Mhaisa-gāya-vs-kāmadhēnu.
- Become-it-yourself.* Angēm-vhāvē-tēm-āpaṇa.