Abhanga 1738
A devotee held close to God's feet gains a fearless confidence that no argument can shake, because Hari's name held in the heart is sharp enough to be both shield and weapon.
The verse
काळाचे ही काळ । आम्ही विठोबाचे लडिवाळ ॥१॥ करूं सत्ता सर्वां ठायी । वसों निकटवासें पायीं ॥ध्रु.॥ ऐसी कोणाची वैखरी । वदे आमुचे समोरी ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे बाण । हातीं हरिनाम तीक्ष्ण ॥३॥
Literal translation
We are death-of-death — Viṭhobā's laḍivāḷa. We hold sattā in all places — dwell near-dwelling at (his) feet. Whose vaikharī can speak before us? Tuka says: in (our) hand, sharp Hari-nāma arrow.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| काळाचे ही काळ | "we — death-of-death" |
| आम्ही विठोबाचे लडिवाळ | "Viṭhobā's loved-ones (laḍivāḷa)" |
| करूं सत्ता सर्वां ठायी | "hold sattā — in all places" |
| वसों निकटवासें पायीं | "dwell — near-dwelling — at feet" |
| ऐसी कोणाची वैखरी | "such — whose vaikharī" |
| वदे आमुचे समोरी | "speaks — before us" |
| तुका म्हणे बाण | "Tuka says — arrow" |
| हातीं हरिनाम तीक्ष्ण | "in hand — Hari-nāma sharp" |
What it means
Bhakta-as-warrior-with-Hari-nāma-sharp-arrow abhang.
The opening: kāḷācē hi kāḷa — āmhī Viṭhōbācē laḍivāḷa — we are death-of-death — Viṭhobā's laḍivāḷa. Kāḷācē hi kāḷa = Time-of-Time / death-of-death (= we who-have-conquered Time); laḍivāḷa = the affectionate-darling, the indulged-favorite. We are Viṭhobā's-spoiled-favorites who-have-conquered-Time.
The sattā-everywhere: karūm sattā sarvām ṭhāyī — vasōm nikaṭa-vāsē pāyīm — hold sattā in all places — dwell near-dwelling at feet. Sattā = authority, sovereignty. We hold authority everywhere; we dwell as near-residents at his feet.
The challenge: aisī kōṇācī vaikharī — vadē āmucē samōrī — whose vaikharī can speak before us? Vaikharī = the gross-uttered-speech (the lowest of the four-speech-levels). Whose-speech-can-stand-against-us?
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē bāṇa — hātīm Hari-nāma tīkṣṇa — Tuka says: arrow — in hand — Hari-nāma sharp. The image: the bhakta as warrior-archer; the Hari-nāma is the sharp-arrow in his hand. (Compare 1689's bāṇa-nirvāṇīñcā.)
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For someone today
For today: we are the death of Death — Viṭhobā's spoiled-darlings; we hold authority in all places — dwelling as close-residents at his feet; whose speech can stand against us?; Tuka says — in our hand we hold the sharp arrow of the Hari-nāma.
Where this applies
- When you feel small or fearful in the face of criticism or clever arguments against your faith
- When you need a reminder that closeness to God can feel like real protection, not just an idea
- When you want a simple daily practice, repeating the name, that can act as your strength
- When you feel like an outsider and need to know devotion makes you cherished, not lesser