Abhanga 1759
For today: I call myself yours — but I don't truly know you — what kind of life is mine?; then, whose support shall I take — to keep myself steady?; what have I just heard in words — without ever meeting (you), Viṭhṭhalā?; Tuka says — now — give me abhaya (the gift-of-fearlessness), Paṇḍhari-nāthā.
The verse
तुझा म्हणवून तुज नेणें । ऐसें काय माझें जिणें ॥१॥ तरि मज कवणाचा आधार । करोनियां राहों धीर ॥ध्रु.॥ काय शब्दीं चि ऐकिला । भेटी नव्हतां गा विठ्ठला ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे आतां । अभय देई पंढरिनाथा ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: Calling yours — not knowing you — what kind of life is mine? Then, whose ādhāra (shall I take) — to keep dhīra? What — just in words — heard — without bhēṭī, Viṭhṭhalā? Tuka says: now — give abhaya, Paṇḍhari-nāthā.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तुझा म्हणवून तुज नेणें | "calling yours — not knowing you" |
| ऐसें काय माझें जिणें | "what kind of life — is mine" |
| तरि मज कवणाचा आधार | "then — whose ādhāra — (to me)" |
| करोनियां राहों धीर | "to keep dhīra" |
| काय शब्दीं चि ऐकिला | "what just-in-words — heard" |
| भेटी नव्हतां गा विठ्ठला | "without bhēṭī, Viṭhṭhalā" |
| तुका म्हणे आतां | "Tuka says — now" |
| अभय देई पंढरिनाथा | "give abhaya — Paṇḍhari-nāthā" |
What it means
Yours-but-not-knowing-you + give-abhaya abhang.
The opening paradox: tujhā mhaṇavūna tuja nēṇē — aisēm kāya mājhēm jiṇē — calling yours, not knowing you — what kind of life is mine? I claim to be yours, but I don't really-know you; what's the worth of such a life?
The ādhāra-question: tarī maja kavaṇācā ādhāra — karōniyām rāhōm dhīra — whose ādhāra (shall I take) — to keep dhīra? Without knowing you, whose support keeps me steady?
The just-in-words: kāya śabdīm chi aikilā — bhēṭī navhatām gā Viṭhṭhalā — what — just in words — heard — without bhēṭī, Viṭhṭhalā? I have only heard you in words; haven't met you.
The closing-petition: Tukā mhaṇē ātām — abhaya dē'ī Paṇḍhari-nāthā — Tuka says: now — give abhaya, Paṇḍhari-nāthā. Abhaya = the gift-of-fearlessness.
[T]
For someone today
For today: I call myself yours — but I don't truly know you — what kind of life is mine?; then, whose support shall I take — to keep myself steady?; what have I just heard in words — without ever meeting (you), Viṭhṭhalā?; Tuka says — now — give me abhaya (the gift-of-fearlessness), Paṇḍhari-nāthā.
Where this applies
- Yours-but-not-knowing-life-question.* Tujhā-mhaṇavūna-nēṇē-jiṇē.
- Whose-ādhāra-to-keep-dhīra.* Kavaṇācā-ādhāra-dhīra.
- Just-heard-in-words-not-met.* Śabdīm-aikilā-bhēṭī-na.
- Now-give-abhaya-Paṇḍhari-nāthā.* Ātām-abhaya-Paṇḍhari-nāthā.