Abhanga 1352
This human life, after countless lifetimes of wandering, is the rare chance to finally turn toward God, and recognizing that chance is what real wisdom means.
The verse
बहुतां जन्मां अंतीं । जोडी लागली हे हातीं ॥१॥ मनुष्यदेहा ऐसा ठाव । धरीं पांडुरंगीं भाव ॥ध्रु.॥ बहु केला फेरा । येथें सांपडला थारा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे जाणे । ऐसे भले ते शाहाणे॥३॥
Literal translation
At the end of many janmas — the gain has come into (this) hand. The manuṣya-deha is such a place — hold bhāva in Pāṇḍuranga. Much fērā has been done — here a thārā has been found. Tuka says: those who know — those bhalē are śāhāṇē.
मराठी: बहुतां जन्मांच्या अंतीं — जोडी हातीं लागली. मनुष्य-देहा सारखें ठाव — पांडुरंगीं भाव धर. बहु फेरा केला — येथें-च थारा सांपडला. Tukā म्हणे — जाणणारे — असे भले — ते-च शाहाणे.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| बहुतां जन्मां अंतीं | "at the end (antīm) of many janmas" |
| जोडी लागली हे हातीं | "the jōḍī (gain) has come (lāgalī) into (this) hand" |
| मनुष्यदेहा ऐसा ठाव | "manuṣya-deha is such a ṭhāva" |
| धरीं पांडुरंगीं भाव | "hold (dharīm) — bhāva — in Pāṇḍuranga" |
| बहु केला फेरा | "much fērā (cycling-around) was done" |
| येथें सांपडला थारा | "here — a thārā (resting-place) — has been found" |
| जाणे ऐसे भले ते शाहाणे | "those who know — those bhalē are śāhāṇē (wise)" |
What it means
Manuṣya-deha-end-of-many-janmas abhang. Foundational warkari teaching on the manuṣya-janma-saubhāgya (the good-fortune of human birth):
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Bahutām janmām antīm — jōḍī lāgalī hē hātīm — at the end of many janmas — the gain has come into (this) hand. The bhakta has cycled through many lives; now, in this manuṣya-deha, the gain is in hand.
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Manuṣya-dehā aisā ṭhāva — dharīm Pāṇḍurangīm bhāva — the manuṣya-deha is such a (special) ṭhāva (place); hold bhāva in Pāṇḍuranga. The human body is the only place from which Pāṇḍuranga can be held in bhāva — this is the opportunity.
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Bahu kēlā phērā — yēthē sāmpaḍalā thārā — much fērā (= round-trip / cycling) has been done;herea thārā (= resting-place / shelter) has been found. After all the cycling, here (= manuṣya-deha) is the thārā.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē jāṇē — aisē bhalē tē śāhāṇē — Tuka says — those who know (= recognize this opportunity) — thosebhalē(good-ones) areśāhāṇē(wise). Recognizing the saubhāgya of the human birth is wisdom itself.
[T]
For someone today
After countless lifetimes, this gain has finally come into your hands. The human body is a rare and precious place — hold devotion for Panduranga right here in it. You've wandered through so many cycles, and here at last you've found a place to rest. Tuka says: those who truly understand this are the ones who are truly wise.
मराठी: अनेक जन्मांच्या शेवटी हा लाभ आता तुझ्या हाती आला आहे. मनुष्यदेह हे एक दुर्मिळ, मौल्यवान ठिकाण आहे — इथेच पांडुरंगावर भाव धर. इतके फेरे मारून झाल्यावर, इथेच शेवटी विसाव्याचे ठिकाण सापडले आहे. तुका म्हणतात, जे हे खरेखुरे समजतात, तेच खरे शहाणे.
Where this applies
- When you feel like your daily life is too ordinary to matter for anything spiritual
- When you keep postponing a change of heart until some future, calmer stage of life
- When you've drifted through years without direction and finally sense a chance to settle into something meaningful
- When you want a simple reminder of why this particular life, right now, is worth taking seriously