Abhanga 1850
For today: what kind of kṛpāḷu — you don't reveal — deva — don't speak — while taking my service?; what strength do you have? — let's see behind whom you slip; your place-of-rest was fixed — yet all of you, dātāra, you hide; now what's left between us, that's good — what's the good of increasing the words?; Tuka says — the saints have come to my aid — therefore the matter has succeeded.
The verse
कैसा कृपाळु हें न कळसी देवा । न बोलसी सेवा घेसी माझी ॥१॥ काय ऐसें बळ आहे तुजपाशीं । पाहों हा रिघेसी कोणा आड ॥ध्रु.॥ पाडियेला ठायीं तुझा थारा मारा । अवघा दातारा लपसी तो ॥२॥ आतां तुम्हां आम्हां उरी तों चि बरें । काय हें उत्तरें वाढवूनि ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे मज साहए झाले संत । म्हणऊनि मात फावली हे ॥४॥
Literal translation
English: What kind of kṛpāḷu — you don't reveal, deva — don't speak — while taking my service. What strength do you have? — let's see behind whom you slip. Your place-of-rest was fixed — yet all of you, dātāra, you hide. Now, what's left between us, that's good — what good is increasing the words? Tuka says: the saints have come to my aid — therefore the matter has succeeded.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कैसा कृपाळु हें न कळसी देवा | "what kind of kṛpāḷu — you don't reveal — deva" |
| न बोलसी सेवा घेसी माझी | "don't speak — while taking my service" |
| काय ऐसें बळ आहे तुजपाशीं | "what kind of strength — do you have" |
| पाहों हा रिघेसी कोणा आड | "let's see — behind whom — you slip" |
| पाडियेला ठायीं तुझा थारा मारा | "your place-of-rest — was fixed" |
| अवघा दातारा लपसी तो | "all of you — dātāra — you hide" |
| आतां तुम्हां आम्हां उरी तों चि बरें | "now — what's left between us — that's good" |
| काय हें उत्तरें वाढवूनि | "what good — increasing the words" |
| तुका म्हणे मज साहए झाले संत | "Tuka says — the saints — have come to my aid" |
| म्हणऊनि मात फावली हे | "therefore — the matter has succeeded (māta phāvalī)" |
What it means
Lord-hides + saints-as-bhakta's-allies abhang. Part of the 1848-1857 cluster.
The opening: kaisā kṛpāḷu hē na kaḷasī devā — na bōlasī sēvā ghēsī mājhī — what kind of kṛpāḷu — you don't reveal — deva — don't speak — while taking my service. Echoes 1848's closing: what kind of compassionate-one stays-silent while-taking-service?.
The hiding-line: kāya aisē baḷa āhē tujapāśī — pāhōm hā righēsī kōṇā āḍa — what strength do you have? — let's see behind whom you slip. If-you-have-strength, why-hide-behind-something? — let's-see-where you-take-cover.
The fixed-place line: pāḍiyēlā ṭhāyī tujhā thārā mārā — avaghā dātārā lapasī tō — your place-of-rest was fixed — yet all of you, dātāra, you hide. Your-residence-is-known (= the bhakta knows-where-you-belong), but-you-still-hide.
The end-of-words: ātām tumhām āmhām urī tōm chi barē — kāya hē uttarē vāḍhavūni — now what's left between us, that's good — what good is increasing the words?. Whatever-is-left-between-us-now is-fine; no-need to-keep-talking.
The saints-allies closing: Tukā mhaṇē maja sāhya jhālē santa — mhaṇa'ūni māta phāvalī hē — Tuka says: the saints have come to my aid — therefore the matter has succeeded. Sāhya = aid, support; māta phāvalī = the matter has succeeded / the case has been won. The saints have-taken-the-bhakta's-side; therefore the bhakta-wins. (= the saints-as-allies-of-the-bhakta against-the-aloof-Lord.)
The implicit-message: the Lord may-hide and-stay-silent; but-the-saints have-aided-me, so the case-is-already-won. The Vārkarī tradition's-strong-claim that the saints' validation is sufficient even-against-the-Lord's-apparent-aloofness.
[T]
For someone today
For today: what kind of kṛpāḷu — you don't reveal — deva — don't speak — while taking my service?; what strength do you have? — let's see behind whom you slip; your place-of-rest was fixed — yet all of you, dātāra, you hide; now what's left between us, that's good — what's the good of increasing the words?; Tuka says — the saints have come to my aid — therefore the matter has succeeded.
Where this applies
- What-kind-of-kṛpāḷu-don't-speak-take-my-service.* Kṛpāḷu-na-kaḷa-sēvā-na-bōlasī.
- Where-do-you-hide-with-your-strength.* Baḷa-righēsī-āḍa.
- Your-place-fixed-yet-you-hide.* Thārā-lapasī-dātāra.
- Saints-have-aided-the-matter-has-succeeded.* Santa-sāhya-māta-phāvalī.