Abhanga 1355
For today: channel your best śaktis toward the suffering; the uttama-kāraṇa yields both fruit and resolution; alpa-samtōṣī finds in the right direction; sahaja sangama is uttama.
The verse
आर्तभूतांप्रति । उत्तम योजाव्या त्या शक्ति ॥१॥ फळ आणि समाधान । तेथें उत्तम कारण ॥ध्रु.॥ अल्पें तो संतोषी । स्थळीं सांपडे उदेसीं ॥२॥ सहज संगम । तुका म्हणे तो उत्तम ॥३॥
Literal translation
Toward the ārta-bhūtas — channel the uttama śaktis. Phala and samādhāna — there is the uttama kāraṇa. The alpa-samtōṣī — at the place — finds (it) in the right-direction. Sahaja sangama — Tuka says — that is uttama.
मराठी: आर्त-भूतांप्रति — त्या उत्तम शक्ति योजाव्या. फळ आणि समाधान — तिथेंच उत्तम कारण. अल्पें तो संतोषी — स्थळीं सांपडे — उदेसीं. सहज संगम — Tukā म्हणे — तो उत्तम.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आर्तभूतांप्रति | "toward the ārta (suffering) bhūtas" |
| उत्तम योजाव्या त्या शक्ति | "channel — the uttama (best) — those śaktis" |
| फळ आणि समाधान | "(where there is) phaḷa and samādhāna" |
| तेथें उत्तम कारण | "there — is the uttama kāraṇa" |
| अल्पें तो संतोषी | "the alpa-samtōṣī (one satisfied with little)" |
| स्थळीं सांपडे उदेसीं | "at the place (sthaḷīm) — finds (sāmpaḍē) — in the right-direction (udēsa)" |
| सहज संगम तुका म्हणे तो उत्तम | "sahaja sangama — Tuka says — that is uttama" |
What it means
Channel-best-śaktis-toward-suffering abhang. The opening: ārta-bhūtāmprati — uttama yōjāvyā tyā śakti — toward theārta(suffering / longing) bhūtas — channel theuttama(best) of (your) śaktis. The bhakta's best powers should not be displayed for show; they should be channeled toward those who are ārta (afflicted, longing).
The principle: phaḷa āṇi samādhāna — tēthē uttama kāraṇa — (where there is) phaḷa (fruit) and samādhāna (resolution / satisfaction) — there is the uttama (best) kāraṇa. The test of a kāraṇa (cause / endeavor): does it produce both phaḷa and samādhāna? Not just fruit, not just satisfaction, but both.
The character-image: alpē tō samtōṣī — sthaḷīm sāmpaḍē udēsīm — thealpa-tō-samtōṣī(thecontent-with-little) — at the place — finds (it) in the rightudēsa(direction). The one who's content with little doesn't seek-many-places; he finds the right thing in the one place, in the right direction.
The closing: sahaja samgama — Tukā mhaṇē tō uttama — thesahaja sangama(= natural / easy meeting) — Tuka says — that isuttama. The natural-meeting (without forcing, without contrivance) is the best meeting. (= forced-sangama isn't the best; sahaja-sangama is.)
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For someone today
For today: channel your best śaktis toward the suffering; theuttama-kāraṇayields both fruit and resolution; alpa-samtōṣī finds in the right direction; sahaja sangama is uttama.
Where this applies
- When you have real talent or resources and are deciding whether to use them for recognition or for people in genuine need
- When a project gives you results but leaves you unsettled, and you wonder if it was actually worth it
- When you feel behind because you have less than others and want a reason to stop chasing more
- When you're forcing a friendship, partnership, or connection that doesn't come easily and wondering why it feels off
- When you're deciding where to focus your energy among many people who all seem to need help