Abhanga 1671
Tukaram playfully threatens to make a public scene and cling tight until God responds, then reminds God that his well known reputation for saving devotees leaves no need for further fuss.
The verse
धरूनि पालव असुडीन करें । मग काय बरें दिसे लोकीं ॥१॥ काय तें विचारा ठायींचें आपणां । जो हा नारायणा अवकाश ॥ध्रु.॥ अंतर पायांसी तो वरी या गोष्टी । पडिलिया मिठी हालों नेदीं ॥२॥ रुसलेती तरी होईंल बुझावणी । तांतडी करूनि साधावें हें ॥३॥ सांपडलिया आधीं कारणासी ठाव । येथें करूं भाव दृढ आतां ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे तुझे ठाउके बोभाट । मग खटपट चुकली ते ॥५॥
Literal translation
Holding the pālava, I will pull it off with hand — then what fitting will appear in the world? Consider what of your-own-place — which is Nārāyaṇa's leisure. Inner is at feet — then over these matters, the embrace placed won't let (you) move. If (you) sulk, then soothing will be needed — with hurry, this must be accomplished. Once caught, firstly the cause has place — here will make bhāva firm now. Tuka says: your bobhāṭa is known — then the khaṭa-paṭa is missed.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| धरूनि पालव असुडीन करें | "holding — cloth-edge (pālava) — will pull off — with hand" |
| मग काय बरें दिसे लोकीं | "then — what fitting — appears — in world" |
| काय तें विचारा ठायींचें आपणां | "what consider — of your-own-place" |
| जो हा नारायणा अवकाश | "which — Nārāyaṇa — leisure" |
| अंतर पायांसी तो वरी या गोष्टी | "inner at feet — over these matters" |
| पडिलिया मिठी हालों नेदीं | "embrace placed — will not let move" |
| रुसलेती तरी होईंल बुझावणी | "if (you) sulk — will be soothing" |
| तांतडी करूनि साधावें हें | "with hurry — should accomplish" |
| सांपडलिया आधीं कारणासी ठाव | "caught — firstly — cause — has place" |
| येथें करूं भाव दृढ आतां | "here — will make — bhāva firm now" |
| तुका म्हणे तुझे ठाउके बोभाट | "Tuka says — your — known — bobhāṭa" |
| मग खटपट चुकली ते | "then — fuss — missed" |
What it means
Threat-and-strategic-sulking abhang.
The cloth-pulling-threat: dharūni pālava asuḍīna karē — maga kāya barēm disē lōkīm — holding the cloth-edge, I will pull it off with my hand — then what fitting (look) will appear in the world? Pālava = the loose-end of the dhōtī or sārī; asuḍaṇē = to tear-pull-off. I will pull off your cloth-edge — then how will you look in front of people? (Striking-folk-image of bhakta as a child threatening to embarrass the parent in public.)
The leisure-question: kāya tēm vicārā ṭhāyīñcēm āpaṇām — jō hā Nārāyaṇā avakāśa — consider what of your-own-place — which is Nārāyaṇa's leisure. Avakāśa = leisure / opportunity. Consider whether you have the leisure-of-your-own-stillness — Nārāyaṇa's leisure (= can you remain at-leisure when I'm causing this scene?)
The embrace-immobilization: antara pāyāmsī tō varī yā gōṣṭī — paḍiliyā miṭhī hālōm nēdī — the inner is at feet — then over these matters, embrace placed won't let move. Inner-heart at your feet; placed an embrace; won't let you move now.
The sulk-strategy: rusalētī tarī hō'īla bujhāvaṇī — tāmtaḍī karūni sādhāvēm hēm — if (you) sulk, soothing will be needed — must accomplish with hurry. (= if you sulk, I'll have to do bujhāvaṇī (soothing); better to accomplish this quickly without that.)
The closing-claim: Tukā mhaṇē tujhē ṭhā'ukē bōbhāṭa — maga khaṭa-paṭa cukalī tē — Tuka says: your bobhāṭa is known — then the khaṭa-paṭa is missed. Bobhāṭa = loud-rumor / great-renown (= the Lord's-renown as bhakta-vatsala / patita-pāvana); khaṭa-paṭa = fuss, agitation. Once your-public-renown-of-being-saver-of-bhaktas is invoked, the fuss-is-missed (= it's settled without further-fuss; you have to fulfill your bobhāṭa).
[T]
For someone today
For today: holding your cloth-edge, I will pull it off with my hand — then what fitting look will you have in the world?; consider what of your-own-place, which is Nārāyaṇa's leisure (= are you really at-leisure to ignore me now?); my inner is at your feet — over these matters, the embrace placed won't let you move; if you sulk, soothing will be needed — better to accomplish this quickly; once caught, firstly the cause has place — here I will make my bhāva firm now; Tuka says — your loud-renown is known — then the fuss is missed.
Where this applies
- When you feel like making a public fuss because someone keeps ignoring your genuine need
- When you decide to hold on tightly and refuse to let go until you get a real response
- When you worry that hesitating or sulking will only cost you more effort later
- When you remind someone of their known character or reputation to encourage them to act now