Abhanga 1269
Tukārām admits his strength has limits, but vows to hold his stand without turning back until the bond with God is fully honored and he can truly become like the one he loves.
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
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 tōmvarī — I've made this stand, for the jīva's sake, until the bhēṭī comes. Not infinitely — until the meeting. Lāgalōm tōm na phirēm pāṭhī — once attached, I won't turn back — and paḍiliyā gāṇṭhī vāñcūnī — without 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 hōvayā — at 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
- When you doubt whether your own willpower to keep a spiritual practice will actually last.
- When you've made a private promise to yourself and feel the pull to quit halfway.
- When a relationship or commitment feels half tied and you sense it needs to be fully acknowledged, not left loose.
- When you realize that just staying close to someone you admire isn't enough, and you want to actually grow into their likeness.