Abhanga 1385
For today: the deity is bhakti-mad — comes when called, accepts paltry stipend, holds no shame over cheap firewood, takes ardha-nārī forms.
The verse
पाहा रे हें दैवत कैसें । भक्तिपिसें भाविक ॥१॥ पाचारिल्या सरिसें पावे । ऐसें सेवे बराडी ॥ध्रु.॥ शुल्क काष्ठीं गुरुगुरी । लाज हरि न धरी ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे अर्धनारी । ऐसीं धरी रूपडीं ॥३॥
Literal translation
See — what kind of daivata is this — bhakti-mad by the bhāvika. As soon as called, (he) reaches — such, the sēvā is barāḍī. For śulka-kāṣṭha — guruguri — Hari does not hold lāja. Tuka says: ardha-nārī — such rūpaḍīs he holds.
मराठी: पाहा रे — हें दैवत कैसें — भक्ति-पिसें — भाविकानें (बनलेलें). पाचारिल्या-सरिसें — पावे — असें — सेवा — बराडी (अल्प). शुल्क-काष्ठीं — गुरु-गुरीं (गुर-गुर) — लाज हरि न-धरी. Tukā म्हणे — अर्ध-नारी — ऐसीं — रूपडीं — धरी.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पाहा रे हें दैवत कैसें | "see — what kind of daivata is this" |
| भक्तिपिसें भाविक | "bhakti-pisē (bhakti-mad) — by the bhāvika (devotee)" |
| पाचारिल्या सरिसें पावे | "as soon as called (pācārilyā sariśē) — (he) reaches (pāvē)" |
| ऐसें सेवे बराडी | "such — sēvē (= service) — barāḍī (small-honor / small-coin / minor-stipend)" |
| शुल्क काष्ठीं गुरुगुरी | "for śulka-kāṣṭha (worthless-stick / cheap-firewood / paltry-fee) — guruguri (humming / hummed-acceptance)" |
| लाज हरि न धरी | "lāja — Hari does not hold (na dharī)" |
| अर्धनारी ऐसीं धरी रूपडीं | "ardha-nārī (half-female) — he holds such rūpaḍīs (forms / little-shapes)" |
What it means
Bhakti-mad-deity-takes-half-female-forms abhang. The opening: pāhā rē hē daivata kaisē — bhakti-pisē bhāvika — see what kind of daivata this is —bhakti-madby thebhāvika! The deity has been driven mad by the devotee — possessed by bhakti, like the bhakta is. The mutual-madness of bhakti.
The first mark: pācāriliyā sariśē pāvē — aisē sēvē barāḍī — as soon as called (pācārilyā), reaches; such — service isbarāḍī.Barāḍīliterally meansa small honor / a paltry stipend / a tiny grant. Hari acceptsbarāḍī-grade service — the smallest gesture is enough.
The second mark: śulka kāṣṭhīm guruguri — lāja Hari na dharī — forśulka-kāṣṭha(=worthless-stick— a cheap piece of firewood, or by extension, a very small fee) —guruguri(= the humming / pleased-grunt of acceptance) — Hari does not holdlāja(shame). Hari is not too-proud-to-receive-paltry-gifts. He accepts cheap firewood with a pleased hum.
The closing: ardha-nārī — aisīm dharī rūpaḍīm — ardha-nārī (half-female / half-feminine) — suchrūpaḍīs(= cute-little-forms) he holds. Ardha-nārī is classically Śiva-as-Ardhanārīśvara, half-Śiva-half-Pārvatī. Tukaram applies it to Vaiṣṇava-Pāṇḍuranga — Hari takes gender-fluid forms, not just male-warrior or male-king. The bhakti-mad deity has become like the bhakta-bride. (Compare P4 in observations: gender-fluid voice in the bhakta; here mirrored in the deity.)
[T]
For someone today
For today: the deity is bhakti-mad — comes when called, accepts paltry stipend, holds no shame over cheap firewood, takes ardha-nārī forms.
Where this applies
- When you feel your offering to God or to someone you love is too small or unworthy to matter
- When you hesitate to reach out because you have nothing grand or costly to give
- When you assume that deep love or devotion only responds to wealth, status, or proper form
- When you feel out of place because you do not fit neatly into expected categories