Abhanga 1229
For today: the test for Brahmin-hood is love of Hari-kīrtana, not lineage; one who lacks that love forfeits the title.
The verse
ब्राम्हण तो नव्हे ऐसी ज्यासी बुद्धी । पाहा श्रुतीमधीं विचारूनि ॥१॥ जयासी नावडे हरिनामकीर्तन । आणीक नृत्य न वैष्णवांचें ॥ध्रु.॥ सत्य त्याचे वेळे घडला व्यभिचार । मातेसी वेव्हार अंत्यजाचा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे येथें मानी आनसारिखें । तात्काळ तो मुखें कुष्ट होय ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: He is not a Brāhmaṇa — that buddhi — examine in the śruti. (One) to whom Hari-nāma-kīrtana is unpleasing, and the dance of vaiṣṇavas (likewise). Truly, at his time vyabhicāra was committed — the mother had relations with an antyaja. Tuka says: one who treats this otherwise — at once leprosy comes on his mouth.
मराठी: ब्राम्हण तो नाहीं — अशी बुद्धि — श्रुतींत विचारून पाहा. ज्याला हरि-नाम-कीर्तन आवडत नाहीं — आणि वैष्णवांचा नृत्य पण. खरें-च — त्याच्या (जन्माच्या) वेळेसच व्यभिचार घडला असेल — मातेला अंत्यजाशीं वेव्हार झाला असेल. Tukā म्हणे — हें जो ान-सारिखें (वेगळें) मानेल — त्याच्या मुखावर तत्काळ कुष्ट येईल.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ब्राम्हण तो नव्हे ऐसी ज्यासी बुद्धी | "he is not a Brāhmaṇa — to whom that buddhi (i.e. love of Hari-kīrtana) is" |
| पाहा श्रुतीमधीं विचारूनि | "see, examining in the śruti" |
| जयासी नावडे हरिनामकीर्तन | "to whom Hari-nāma-kīrtana is unpleasing" |
| आणीक नृत्य न वैष्णवांचें | "and the nṛtya of vaiṣṇavas" |
| सत्य त्याचे वेळे घडला व्यभिचार | "truly, at his (conception) time, vyabhicāra was committed" |
| मातेसी वेव्हार अंत्यजाचा | "the mother had vevhāra (relations) with an antyaja (lowest-caste)" |
| येथें मानी आनसारिखें | "(one who) treats this as ana-sārikhē (different / otherwise)" |
| तात्काळ तो मुखें कुष्ट होय | "at once kuṣṭha (leprosy) comes on his mouth" |
What it means
Tukaram's sharpest Brahmin-redefinition. The argument is śruti-grounded (pāhā śrutī-madhīm vicārūnī) — the test for Brahmin-hood is love of Hari-nāma-kīrtana and the vaiṣṇavas' dance. One who doesn't love these is not a Brahmin — and the explanation is brutal: at his conception, vyabhicāra was committed; the mother had relations with an antyaja (the very lowest-caste). The reverse-caste-claim is wielded with full force.
The closing curse — tatkāḷa tō mukhē kuṣṭha hōya — immediate leprosy on the mouth — is a traditional vāk-śāpa (verbal curse), here applied to anyone who treats this teaching ana-sārikhē (otherwise/differently).
This is the bhakti-revolutionary register that places warkari tradition at odds with strict Vedic varṇa-orthodoxy. Pairs directly with 1230 (the inverse claim: a low-caste-by-birth with bhakti is brahma chi).
[T]
For someone today
For today: the test for Brahmin-hood is love of Hari-kīrtana, not lineage; one who lacks that love forfeits the title.
Where this applies
- Brāhmaṇa-not-by-birth.* Brāhmaṇa-tō-navhē.
- Test-by-love-of-kīrtana.* Nāvaḍē-Hari-nāma-kīrtana.
- Reverse-caste-claim.* Mātēsī-vevhāra-antyaja.
- Leprosy-curse-on-disagreers.* Mukhē-kuṣṭha.