संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 1269 of 4582

Abhanga 1269

For today: take the holding-stand for the jīva's sake until the bhēṭī comes; once attached, no turning back without the knot being undone.

When you've taken the holding-stand and won't turn back without the knot undone — until the bhēṭī comes

The verse

आम्हांपाशीं याचें बळ । कोण काळवरी तों ॥१॥ करूनि ठेलों जीवेंसाटीं । होय भेटी तोंवरि ॥ध्रु.॥ लागलों तों न फिरें पाठी । पडिल्या गांठी वांचूनि ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे अवकाशें । तुमच्या ऐसें होवया ॥३॥

Literal translation

English: With us — this baḷa — until what kāḷa? I have made (this stand) for the jīva's sake — until the bhēṭī comes. Once attached, I won't turn the back — without the fallen gāṇṭhī (being undone). Tuka says: at the avakāśa — to become like you.

मराठी: आमच्या-कडे — हें बळ — कुठल्या काळापर्यंत? जीवें-साठीं — हें ठरवून ठेवलें — भेटी होईपर्यंत. एकदा लागलों — पाठी फिरत नाहीं — पडलेली गांठ सोडल्याशिवाय. Tukā म्हणे — अवकाशें (मोकळ्या वेळेंत) — तुमच्या-सारिखें होण्यासाठीं.

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi Meaning
आम्हांपाशीं याचें बळ "with us — this baḷa (strength)"
कोण काळवरी तों "until which kāḷa?"
करूनि ठेलों जीवेंसाटीं "I have made (this stand) — for the jīva's sake"
होय भेटी तोंवरि "until the bhēṭī comes"
लागलों तों न फिरें पाठी "once attached (lāgalōm) — won't turn the back (pāṭhī)"
पडिल्या गांठी वांचूनि "without the fallen gāṇṭhī (knot) (being undone)"
अवकाशें तुमच्या ऐसें होवया "at avakāśa (opportunity) — to become like you"

What it means

Holding-stand abhang. The opening question is honest: kōṇa kāḷavarī tōm?until which kāḷa will the holding-strength last? The bhakta admits the strength has limits.

The vow: karūnī ṭhēlōm jīvē-sāṭīm — hōya bhēṭī tōmvarīI've made this stand, for the jīva's sake, until the bhēṭī comes. Not infinitely — until the meeting. Lāgalōm tōm na phirēm pāṭhīonce attached, I won't turn back — and paḍiliyā gāṇṭhī vāñcūnīwithout the (fallen) knot being undone. The gāṇṭhī here is the knot already-tied between the bhakta and Hari; it must be ratified (loosened-and-rebound, or formally acknowledged) for the bhakta to be released.

The closing — avakāśē tumacyā aisē hōvayāat the avakāśa (free moment), to become like you. The bhakta-bride's marriage-aspiration: at the next opportunity, to become like you (not just close-to-you).

[T]

For someone today

For today: take the holding-stand for the jīva's sake until the bhēṭī comes; once attached, no turning back without the knot being undone.

Where this applies

Related verses