Abhanga 1635
For today: to us — Hari's servants — there is no fear at all in any of the three worlds; Deva stands behind-and-ahead — he unravels the very puzzle of distress; as he is made-in-heart, so he becomes — he runs alongside, holding our side; Tuka says — let us simply be in sukha, and sing Viṭhobā with our mouths.
The verse
आम्हां हरिच्या दासां कांहीं । भय नाहीं त्रैलोकीं ॥१॥ देव उभा मागें-पुढें । उगवी कोडें संकट ॥ध्रु.॥ जैसा केला तैसा होय । धांवे सोय धरोनि ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे असों सुखें । गाऊं मुखें विठोबा ॥३॥
Literal translation
To us, Hari's dāsas, no fear at all in three-lokas. Deva stands māgē-puḍhē — unravels the kōḍē of sankaṭa. As he is made, so he becomes — runs holding the sōya. Tuka says: let us be in sukha — sing Viṭhobā with mouth.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आम्हां हरिच्या दासां कांहीं | "to us — Hari's dāsas — any" |
| भय नाहीं त्रैलोकीं | "fear — not — in three-lokas" |
| देव उभा मागें-पुढें | "Deva — stands — behind-and-ahead" |
| उगवी कोडें संकट | "unravels — the puzzle (kōḍē) — of sankaṭa" |
| जैसा केला तैसा होय | "as he is made — so he becomes" |
| धांवे सोय धरोनि | "runs — holding the side (sōya)" |
| तुका म्हणे असों सुखें | "Tuka says — let us be — in sukha" |
| गाऊं मुखें विठोबा | "let us sing — with mouth — Viṭhobā" |
What it means
Hari-dāsa-no-fear-Deva-behind-and-ahead abhang. Companion to 1625 (where the Lord shadowed-the-bhakta in every state); here the bhakta-collective declares its no-fear-status.
The opening: āmhām Hariciyā dāsām kāhīm — bhaya nāhīm trailōkīm — to us, Hari's dāsas, no fear at all in three-lokas. The collective-bhakta-voice (āmhām = "to us"); no fear in any of the three-worlds.
The Deva-position: Deva ubhā māgē-puḍhē — ugavī kōḍē sankaṭa — Deva stands behind-and-ahead — unravels the puzzle of sankaṭa. Kōḍē = puzzle, riddle, knot; Deva himself unties the riddle of distress.
The malleable-Lord: jaisā kēlā taisā hōya — dhāvē sōya dharōni — as he is made, so he becomes — runs holding the side. Jaisā kēlā taisā hōya = as one makes him (in heart), so he becomes (= the Lord takes the form the bhakta gives him); dhāvē sōya dharōni = runs holding the side (= runs alongside, supporting).
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē asōm sukhē — gā'ūm mukhē Viṭhōbā — Tuka says: let us be in sukha — let us sing Viṭhobā with our mouth. Just being-in-sukha and singing — the simple-final-program.
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For someone today
For today: to us — Hari's servants — there is no fear at all in any of the three worlds; Deva stands behind-and-ahead — he unravels the very puzzle of distress; as he is made-in-heart, so he becomes — he runs alongside, holding our side; Tuka says — let us simply be in sukha, and sing Viṭhobā with our mouths.
Where this applies
- When fear about the future keeps you from feeling settled even though nothing bad has actually happened yet
- When you feel alone in a difficult situation and need to trust that support is present even when unseen
- When you notice how your own image of God or a trusted presence shapes how supported you actually feel
- When you want a simple way to stay steady, like returning to a chant or a name instead of spiraling in worry