संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 1657 of 4582

Abhanga 1657

For today: I am watching the way — Hari, why don't you come yet? — why have you held a firm-resolution in your mind?; what shall I do? — patience doesn't come to my soul — what stake stands across the way blocking you?; hasn't my call-for-help fallen on your ear? — where, Cakra-pāṇi, are you stuck?; haven't you come to know the inner-gap between us? — the Compassionate-One hears much; the snack-package has been waiting many days — you haven't stroked me with affection; Tuka says — give me bhēṭī even just once — this burning-belly will then become cool.

When you'd petition Hari for delayed-darśana — vāṭa-pāhē; dhīra-doesn't-come; dhāvā-fallen-on-ear; bhātukē-waiting; one-bhēṭī-belly-cools

The verse

वाट पाहें हरि कां नये आझूनि । निष्ठ‍ कां मनीं धरियेलें ॥१॥ काय करूं धीर होत नाहीं जीवा । काय आड ठेवा उभा ठेला ॥ध्रु.॥ नाहीं माझा धांवा पडियेला कानीं । कोठें चक्रपाणी गुंतलेती ॥२॥ नाही आलें कळों अंतरा अंतर । कृपावंत फार ऐकतो ॥३॥ बहुता दिसांचें राहिलें भातुकें । नाहीं कवतुकें कृवाळिलें ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे देई एकवेळा भेटी । शीतळ हें पोटीं होइल मग ॥५॥

Literal translation

English: I watch the way — Hari, why don't (you) come yet? — why have you held niṣṭha in mind? What to do? — dhīra doesn't come to soul — what stake stands up to block? Has my dhāvā not fallen on (your) ear? — where is Cakra-pāṇi stuck? Have you not come to know the inner-gap? — the kṛpāvanta hears much. The bhātukē has been waiting many days — you haven't stroked (me) with affection. Tuka says: give one-time bhēṭī — this belly will become cool then.

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi Meaning
वाट पाहें हरि कां नये आझूनि "I watch the wayHariwhy doesn't comeyet"
निष्ठ‍ कां मनीं धरियेलें "niṣṭhawhyin mindheld"
काय करूं धीर होत नाहीं जीवा "what to dodhīradoesn't cometo soul"
काय आड ठेवा उभा ठेला "what stakestanding-upblocks"
नाहीं माझा धांवा पडियेला कानीं "notmy dhāvāfallenon (your) ear?"
कोठें चक्रपाणी गुंतलेती "whereCakra-pāṇiare stuck"
नाही आलें कळों अंतरा अंतर "not come to knowthe inner gap"
कृपावंत फार ऐकतो "kṛpāvantamuchhears"
बहुता दिसांचें राहिलें भातुकें "for many dayswaitingbhātukē"
नाहीं कवतुकें कृवाळिलें "notwith affectionstroked"
तुका म्हणे देई एकवेळा भेटी "Tuka says — give one-timebhēṭī"
शीतळ हें पोटीं होइल मग "coolthis bellywill becomethen"

What it means

Waiting-bhakta-petition abhang. A 5-verse multi-question directed at the delayed-Hari.

The opening: vāṭa pāhē Hari kām na yē ājhūni — niṣṭha kām manīm dhariyēlēmI watch the way — Hari, why don't (you) come yet? — why have you held niṣṭha in mind? Niṣṭha = firm-resolution / determined-resolve (= why have you resolutely-decided not to come?).

The dhīra-question: kāya karūm dhīra hōta nāhīm jīvā — kāya āḍa ṭhēvā ubhā ṭhēlāwhat to do? — dhīra doesn't come to soul — what stake (āḍa-ṭhēva) stands-up blocking? Āḍa = across, blocking; ṭhēvā = deposit / stake. What stake / obstacle stands across the way?

The dhāvā-question: nāhīm mājhā dhāvā paḍiyēlā kānīm — kōṭhē Cakra-pāṇi guṇtalētīhasn't my dhāvā fallen on (your) ear? — where is Cakra-pāṇi stuck? Dhāvā = the cry-for-help / prayer-call. (Compare 1611's Draupadīcā dhāvā.)

The inner-gap-question: nāhīm ālēm kaḷōm antarā antara — kṛpāvanta phāra aikatōhaven't (you) come to know the inner-gap? — the kṛpāvanta hears much. Antarā antara = the inner inner-gap (= the gap-between-bhakta-and-Lord). The Compassionate-One hears much (= my many appeals).

The bhātukē-waiting: bahutā disāñcēm rāhilēm bhātukēm — nāhīm kavatukē kṛvāḷilēmthe bhātukē has been waiting for many days — haven't stroked with affection. Kṛvāḷilēm = gently-stroked, fondled-with-affection. The snack-package (= mine for him? his for me?) has been waiting for many days; he hasn't stroked-me-with-affection. (Compare 1652's bhātukē-pāṭhavā request — same vocabulary.)

The closing: Tukā mhaṇē dē'ī ēka-vēḷā bhēṭī — śītaḷa hēm pōṭīm hō'īla magaTuka says: give one-time bhēṭī — this belly will become śītaḷa (cool) then. Śītaḷa hē pōṭa = cool-belly (= the inner-burning-anxiety quenched). Just one-time meeting will cool the burning-belly.

[T]

For someone today

For today: I am watching the way — Hari, why don't you come yet? — why have you held a firm-resolution in your mind?; what shall I do? — patience doesn't come to my soul — what stake stands across the way blocking you?; hasn't my call-for-help fallen on your ear? — where, Cakra-pāṇi, are you stuck?; haven't you come to know the inner-gap between us? — the Compassionate-One hears much; the snack-package has been waiting many days — you haven't stroked me with affection; Tuka says — give me bhēṭī even just once — this burning-belly will then become cool.

Where this applies

Related verses