Abhanga 1789
For today: deva is not grasped by hyperbolic-speech — speak the inner secret-bhāva of the mind with śuddhi; Paramānanda knows the inner-bhēda — that is the one with whom conversation must be had; Tuka says — if (you want) your own welfare, make the chitta with śuddha-bhāva.
The verse
लापनिकशब्दें नातुडे हा देव । मनिंचे गुह्य भाव शुद्ध बोला ॥१॥ अंतरिंचा भेद जाणे परमानंद । जयासी संवाद करणें लागे ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे जरी आपुलें स्वहित । तरी करीं चत्ति शुद्धभावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Deva is not grasped by lāpanika-śabda — speak the inner secret-bhāva of the mind with śuddhi. Paramānanda knows the inner-bhēda — the one with whom conversation must be had. Tuka says: if (you want) your own welfare, make the chitta with śuddha-bhāva.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| लापनिकशब्दें नातुडे हा देव | "by lāpanika-śabda (= hyperbolic / exaggerated speech) — this deva — is not grasped" |
| मनिंचे गुह्य भाव शुद्ध बोला | "the inner-secret-bhāva of the mind — speak with śuddhi" |
| अंतरिंचा भेद जाणे परमानंद | "the inner-bhēda — Paramānanda knows" |
| जयासी संवाद करणें लागे | "(the one) with whom — conversation — must be had" |
| तुका म्हणे जरी आपुलें स्वहित | "Tuka says — if — your own welfare (svahita)" |
| तरी करीं चत्ति शुद्धभावें | "then — make — the chitta — with śuddha-bhāva" |
What it means
Anti-hyperbole + svahita-with-śuddha-bhāva abhang.
The opening: lāpanika-śabdēm nātuḍē hā dēva — manīñcē guhya bhāva śuddha bōlā — deva is not grasped by hyperbolic-speech — speak the inner secret-bhāva with śuddhi. Lāpanika-śabda = hyperbolic / pompous speech (= the over-rhetorical bhakti-display, the verbose-stuti, the elaborate-stotra); manīñcē guhya bhāva = the inner-secret-bhāva of the mind; śuddha bōlā = speak with śuddhi (purity / clarity). The Lord is not-impressed-by elaborate-rhetoric; he wants the simple-secret-bhāva spoken-purely. (= anti-rhetorical-bhakti, pro-simple-honest-bhāva.)
The Paramānanda-line: antarīñcā bhēda jāṇē Paramānanda — jayāsī samvāda karaṇēm lāgē — Paramānanda knows the inner-bhēda — the one with whom conversation must be had. Antarīñcā bhēda = the inner-bhēda (= the inner-distinction / the secret-of-the-heart); Paramānanda = the supreme-bliss / Paramātmā. The Lord-of-paramānanda already knows-your-inner-secret; he is the one-with-whom you must-converse. No-need-for-rhetoric since-he-already-knows.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē jarī āpulēm svahita — tarī karīm citta śuddha-bhāvēm — Tuka says: if (you want) your own welfare, make the chitta with śuddha-bhāva. Svahita = one's own welfare; citta śuddha-bhāvēm = the chitta with śuddha-bhāva (= the heart with pure-feeling). For svahita, only śuddha-bhāva works.
This abhang is a short, sharp methodological-counsel: don't perform-elaborate-bhakti-rhetoric; the Lord knows-the-inner-bhāva; speak-simply-with-śuddha-bhāva.
[T]
For someone today
For today: deva is not grasped by hyperbolic-speech — speak the inner secret-bhāva of the mind with śuddhi; Paramānanda knows the inner-bhēda — that is the one with whom conversation must be had; Tuka says — if (you want) your own welfare, make the chitta with śuddha-bhāva.
Where this applies
- When you're tempted to use fancy or elaborate language to make your faith sound more sincere than it is
- When you feel pressure to perform devotion outwardly so others believe you are spiritual
- When you want a simpler, more honest way of talking to God instead of a rehearsed one
- When you worry your prayers aren't eloquent enough and forget that honesty matters more than style