Abhanga 1843
For today: shake the stake — first make it strong; then with that support, all-doing is good; sukha-duḥkha bears — doesn't break in joy or sorrow; Tuka says — first die-in-life and remain.
The verse
हालवूनि खुंट । आधीं करावा बळकट ॥१॥ मग तयाच्या आधारें । करणें अवघें चि बरें ॥ध्रु.॥ सुख दुःख साहे । हर्षामर्षी भंगा नये ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे जीवें । आधीं मरोनि राहावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Shake the stake — first make it strong. Then, with that support, all-doing is good. Sukha-duḥkha bears — doesn't break in joy or sorrow. Tuka says: first die-in-life — and remain.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| हालवूनि खुंट | "shake the stake" |
| आधीं करावा बळकट | "first — make it strong" |
| मग तयाच्या आधारें | "then with that support" |
| करणें अवघें चि बरें | "all-doing is good" |
| सुख दुःख साहे | "sukha-duḥkha bears" |
| हर्षामर्षी भंगा नये | "doesn't break — in joy and sorrow" |
| तुका म्हणे जीवें | "Tuka says — in life" |
| आधीं मरोनि राहावें | "first die — and remain" |
What it means
Test-the-foundation + die-before-dying abhang.
The opening: hālavūni khuṇṭa — ādhīm karāvā baḷakaṭa — shake the stake — first make it strong. Practical-image: before tying-the-cattle, shake-the-stake to-test-it; if it shakes-loose, hammer-it-stronger.
The application: maga tayācyā ādhārē — karaṇē avaghē chi barē — then, with that support, all-doing is good. Once-the-foundation-is-strong, all-subsequent-action proceeds-well.
The bear-line: sukha duḥkha sāhē — harṣāmarṣī bhangā nayē — sukha-duḥkha bears — doesn't break in joy or sorrow. Harṣāmarṣa = joy-and-anger / elation-and-vexation. The strong-foundation enables-bearing of-pleasure-and-pain without-breaking.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē jīvē — ādhīm marōni rāhāvē — Tuka says: in life — first die — and remain. The classical ego-death formula: die-while-still-alive (= ego-death); then remain (= continue-living-as-the-died-self). Die-before-dying.
The progression: test-the-stake → strong-foundation → bear-sukha-duḥkha → die-before-dying. The bhakti-discipline as building-from-foundation-to-ego-death.
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For someone today
For today: shake the stake — first make it strong; then with that support, all-doing is good; sukha-duḥkha bears — doesn't break in joy or sorrow; Tuka says — first die-in-life and remain.
Where this applies
- When you're about to commit to a relationship, practice, or belief and should test its footing first
- When life throws sudden joy or grief at you and you feel yourself starting to break
- When you're building a habit or discipline and want it to hold up under pressure later
- When you're facing the harder work of letting go of your old identity or ego