Abhanga 1719
For today: the desire-eye has seen much — at the end, the eye itself is abandoned; what trust is in these (sense-organs)? — consider and see; even with perfumes and anointings preserving, the hair has turned gray — you know it; the body, even when preserved, recedes — and slips back, taking everything with it; making cosmetic-care brings no real benefit to anyone; Tuka says — make the life simple — perfect (only) Hari.
The verse
इच्छेचें पाहिलें । डोळीं अंतीं मोकलिलें ॥१॥ यांचा विश्वास तो काईं । ऐसें विचारूनि पाहीं ॥ध्रु.॥ सुगंध अभ्यंगें पाळितां । केश फिरले जाणतां ॥२॥ पिंड पाळितां ओसरे । अवघी घेऊनि मागें सरे ॥३॥ करितां उपचार । कोणां नाहीं उपकार ॥४॥ अल्प जीवन करीं । तुका म्हणे साधीं हरी ॥५॥
Literal translation
English: The icchā has seen — the eye, at the end, abandoned. What trust in these? — consider and see. By perfumes-anointings, preserving — the hair turned (gray), one knows. Piṇḍa preserved, recedes — taking everything, slips back. Making upacāra — no upakāra to anyone. Make the life small (alpa-jīvana) — Tuka says — perfect Hari.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इच्छेचें पाहिलें | "icchā has seen" |
| डोळीं अंतीं मोकलिलें | "eye — at end — abandoned" |
| यांचा विश्वास तो काईं | "what trust — in these" |
| ऐसें विचारूनि पाहीं | "thus consider — and see" |
| सुगंध अभ्यंगें पाळितां | "by perfumes-anointings — preserving" |
| केश फिरले जाणतां | "hair turned — one knows" |
| पिंड पाळितां ओसरे | "piṇḍa preserved — recedes" |
| अवघी घेऊनि मागें सरे | "taking everything — slips back" |
| करितां उपचार | "making upacāra" |
| कोणां नाहीं उपकार | "no upakāra — to anyone" |
| अल्प जीवन करीं | "small life make" |
| तुका म्हणे साधीं हरी | "Tuka says — perfect Hari" |
What it means
Body-decay-anti-cosmetic + simple-life-perfect-Hari abhang.
The icchā-eye: icchēcēm pāhilēm — ḍōḷīm antīm mōkalilēm — the icchā has seen — at the end, the eye is abandoned. Eye-of-desire has-seen-much; at end-time, the eye abandons-(its-functioning).
The hair-graying: sugamdha abhyangē pāḷitām — kēśa phiralē jāṇatām — by perfumes-and-anointings preserving — yet the hair has turned (gray), one knows. Despite perfumes-and-oils, the body still-grayed.
The piṇḍa-recedes: piṇḍa pāḷitām ōsarē — avaghī ghē'uni māgē sarē — piṇḍa preserved, it recedes — taking everything, slips back. Despite all care, the body recedes-and-collapses, taking-everything-with-it.
The no-benefit: karitām upacāra — kōṇām nāhīm upakāra — making upacāra — no upakāra to anyone. Cosmetic-care benefits no-one.
The closing: alpa jīvana karīm — Tukā mhaṇē sādhīm Harī — make small life — Tuka says — perfect Hari. Alpa-jīvana = small / simple-life; sādhīm Harī = attain Hari (or perfect (your) Hari). Live simply; perfect (only) Hari.
[T]
For someone today
For today: the desire-eye has seen much — at the end, the eye itself is abandoned; what trust is in these (sense-organs)? — consider and see; even with perfumes and anointings preserving, the hair has turned gray — you know it; the body, even when preserved, recedes — and slips back, taking everything with it; making cosmetic-care brings no real benefit to anyone; Tuka says — make the life simple — perfect (only) Hari.
Where this applies
- Icchā-eye-abandoned-at-end.* Icchā-ḍōḷīm-antīm-mōkalilēm.
- Perfumes-anointings-but-hair-still-grays.* Sugamdha-abhyanga-kēśa-phira.
- Piṇḍa-recedes-takes-everything-slips-back.* Piṇḍa-ōsarē-māgē-sarē.
- No-real-benefit-from-cosmetic-care.* Upacāra-upakāra-na.
- Simple-life-perfect-Hari.* Alpa-jīvana-sādhīm-Harī.