Abhanga 1678
For today: we are not lazy idiots that you can simply walk past us; hey — the saints have given into our hand the secret of dispute; holding the way, we have become chiefs even without the tassel-of-credentials; Tuka says — Devā, I will dispute (with you) as my true service.
The verse
नव्हों गांढे आळसी । जो तूं आम्हांपुढें जासी ॥१॥ अरे दिलें आम्हां हातीं । वर्म वेवादाचें संतीं ॥ध्रु.॥ धरोनियां वाट । जालों शिरोमणि थोंट ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे देवा । वाद करीन खरी सेवा ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: We are not lazy gāṇḍhē — that you (could) go past us. Hey, given to us in hand — the secret of vēvāda by saints. Holding the way — we have become śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa. Tuka says: Devā — will dispute as kharī sēvā.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नव्हों गांढे आळसी | "we are not — lazy idiots" |
| जो तूं आम्हांपुढें जासी | "that (you suppose) — you — go past us" |
| अरे दिलें आम्हां हातीं | "hey, given — to us — in hand" |
| वर्म वेवादाचें संतीं | "the secret of dispute — by saints" |
| धरोनियां वाट | "holding the way" |
| जालों शिरोमणि थोंट | "we have become — śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa (chief without-tassel)" |
| तुका म्हणे देवा | "Tuka says — Devā" |
| वाद करीन खरी सेवा | "will dispute — as true sēvā" |
What it means
Dispute-as-true-service + saints-gave-the-secret abhang. Continues the vāda-positive register from 1677.
The opening: navhōm gāṇḍhē āḷasī — jō tūm āmhām-puḍhē jāsī — we are not lazy gāṇḍhē — (that) you (can) go past us. Gāṇḍhē = lazy-idiot, dim-witted-fool. We are not the kind of bhaktas you can simply walk past — we will obstruct your way.
The saint-gift: arē dilēm āmhām hātīm — varma vēvādācēm samtīm — hey, given to us in hand — the secret of vēvāda (= dispute) by saints. Varma = secret, vital-knowledge; vēvāda = dispute, contest. The saints have given the bhaktas the technique of arguing-with-the-Lord — this is not-our-invention but inherited-from-the-saints. (Striking: the saint-tradition includes the practice of vāda-with-Lord.)
The śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa: dharōniyām vāṭa — jālōm śirōmaṇi thōṇṭa — holding the way — we have become śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa. Śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa = chief-without-tassel = the chief disciple at the head of the procession, even without the formal-tassel-of-officialdom. (= we have become the leaders despite having no formal-credentials; the bhakta-as-vāda-warrior is the new-chief without orthodox-trappings.)
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē Devā — vāda karīna kharī sēvā — Tuka says: Devā — will dispute as true sēvā. Vāda karīna kharī sēvā = I will do dispute as my true service. My very-service to you is to dispute with you.
[T]
For someone today
For today: we are not lazy idiots that you can simply walk past us; hey — the saints have given into our hand the secret of dispute; holding the way, we have become chiefs even without the tassel-of-credentials; Tuka says — Devā, I will dispute (with you) as my true service.
Where this applies
- Not-lazy-idiots-can't-walk-past.* Gāṇḍhē-āḷasī-na-puḍhē-jāsī.
- Saints-gave-secret-of-dispute.* Varma-vēvādācēm-samtīm.
- Held-way-became-tasselless-chief.* Vāṭa-dharōniyām-śirōmaṇi-thōṇṭa.
- Dispute-is-true-service.* Vāda-kharī-sēvā.