Abhanga 1598
A fair warning has been given, so use the time you still have to stay ready and alert, because the appointed moment will not wait.
The verse
अवघियांच्या आलों मुळें । एका वेळे न्यावया ॥१॥ सिद्ध व्हावें सिद्ध व्हावें । आधीं ठावें करितों ॥ध्रु.॥ जोंवरि ते घटिका दुरी । आहे उरी तो काळ ॥२॥ मंगळाचे वेळे उभे । असों शोभे सावध ॥३॥ अवघियांचा योग घडे । तरी जोडे श्लाघ्यता ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे पाहें वाट । बहु आट करूनि ॥५॥
Literal translation
To all of you, I have come as the mūḷa — to take all at one time. Be ready, be ready — I make it known beforehand. As long as that ghaṭikā is far, that kāḷa-time remains. At the mangala-time, standing — let us be worthily vigilant. If the yoga of all-of-you occurs, then ślāghyatā joins. Tuka says: watch the way, with much āṭa.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अवघियांच्या आलों मुळें | "to all of you — I have come — as mūḷa (summons-bringer)" |
| एका वेळे न्यावया | "at one time — to take" |
| सिद्ध व्हावें सिद्ध व्हावें | "be ready, be ready" |
| आधीं ठावें करितों | "beforehand — I make known" |
| जोंवरि ते घटिका दुरी | "as long as — that ghaṭikā (time-marker) — is far" |
| आहे उरी तो काळ | "there is — remaining — that time (kāḷa)" |
| मंगळाचे वेळे उभे | "at the mangala-time (auspicious moment) — standing" |
| असों शोभे सावध | "let us be — worthily — vigilant" |
| अवघियांचा योग घडे | "all-of-you — yoga — if it occurs" |
| तरी जोडे श्लाघ्यता | "then — joins — praiseworthiness" |
| तुका म्हणे पाहें वाट | "Tuka says — watch — the way" |
| बहु आट करूनि | "with much earnestness (āṭa)" |
What it means
Tuka-as-summons-bringer-for-all abhang. Vaikuṇṭha-gamana cluster — Tuka now turns from being-summoned to being-the-summons-bringer for others.
The opening: avaghiyāñcyā ālōm mūḷē — ēkā vēḷē nyāvayā — to all of you I have come as mūḷa — to take all at one time. Earlier (1587), Tuka asked the saints to send the mūḷa quickly. Here Tuka himself becomes the mūḷa (= summons-bringer) for all of you — to take you all at one time. (Striking-formulation: Tuka-as-divine-emissary-to-take-all-bhaktas-with-him.)
The readiness-call: siddha vhāvēm siddha vhāvēm — ādhī ṭhāvē karitōm — be ready, be ready — beforehand I make known. The advance-warning: don't be caught unprepared.
The time-availability: jōvarī tē ghaṭikā durī — āhē urī tō kāḷa — as long as that ghaṭikā is far, that kāḷa-time remains. Ghaṭikā = the appointed time-unit; kāḷa = (remaining) time. While the appointed-ghaṭikā is still far, you have time.
The vigilance-call: mangaḷāñcē vēḷē ubhē — asōm śōbhē sāvadha — at the mangala-time, standing — let us be worthily-vigilant. Stand vigilantly-as-befits at the auspicious-moment.
The yoga-condition: avaghiyāñcā yōga ghaḍē — tarī jōḍē ślāghyatā — if the yoga of all-of-you occurs, then praiseworthiness joins. Yoga = occurrence / juncture; if all of you meet the appointed-yoga, praiseworthiness (ślāghyatā) joins your account.
The closing-exhortation: pāhē vāṭa — bahu āṭa karūni — watch the way, with much earnestness (āṭa). Āṭa = insistence / earnestness / determination.
[T]
For someone today
For today: I have come to all of you as the summons-bringer — to take you all at one time; be ready, be ready, I make it known beforehand; as long as that time-marker is still far, time still remains; let us stand worthily-vigilant at the auspicious moment; if the yoga of all-of-you occurs, praise-worthiness joins; Tuka says — watch the way with much earnestness.
Where this applies
- When you know a deadline or a big change is coming and keep telling yourself there is still time
- When someone gives you fair warning and you have to decide whether to actually prepare or ignore it
- When a whole group needs to be ready together, not just one person
- When you catch yourself waiting until the last minute instead of staying alert now