Abhanga 1881
For today: doesn't consider — the cloud — dung-yard or field; don't look at its end — keep chitta on the kāraṇa; the Ganga doesn't refuse — no uttama-adhama in the world; Tuka says — dirt — no defilement to fire.
The verse
नाहीं विचारीत । मेघ हागनदारी सेत ॥१॥ नये पाहों त्याचा अंत । ठेवीं कारणापें चत्ति ॥ध्रु.॥ वर्जीत गंगा । नाहीं उत्तम अधम जगा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे मळ । नाहीं अग्नीसी विटाळ ॥३॥
Literal translation
Doesn't consider — the cloud — dung-yard or field. Don't look at its end — keep chitta on the kāraṇa. The Ganga doesn't refuse — no uttama-adhama in the world. Tuka says: dirt — no defilement to fire.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नाहीं विचारीत | "doesn't consider" |
| मेघ हागनदारी सेत | "the cloud (rains on) — dung-yard or field" |
| नये पाहों त्याचा अंत | "don't look at its end" |
| ठेवीं कारणापें चत्ति | "keep chitta on the kāraṇa" |
| वर्जीत गंगा | "the Ganga doesn't refuse (varjīta)" |
| नाहीं उत्तम अधम जगा | "no uttama-adhama in the world" |
| तुका म्हणे मळ | "Tuka says — dirt" |
| नाहीं अग्नीसी विटाळ | "no defilement to fire (agnī)" |
What it means
Cloud-Ganga-fire-impartial abhang. Part of Śivājī-cluster (1877-1890) — defends-the-bhakta's-equal-treatment-of-king-and-pauper.
The cloud-image: nāhīm vicārīta — mēgha hāgana-dārī sēta — doesn't consider — the cloud (rains on) — dung-yard or field. Hāgana-dārī = dung-yard; sēta = cultivated-field. The rain-cloud doesn't-distinguish between dung-yard and field — falls-on-both impartially.
The kāraṇa-line: nayē pāhōm tyācā anta — ṭhēvīm kāraṇāpē chitta — don't look at its end — keep chitta on the kāraṇa. Kāraṇa = the cause / the source. Don't-judge-by-the-end-result; keep-the-chitta-on-the-source-cause.
The Ganga-image: varjīta gangā — nāhīm uttama adhama jagā — the Ganga doesn't refuse — no uttama-adhama in the world. Varjīta = refuses, excludes. The Ganga-doesn't-refuse anything-flowing-into-her; in-the-world, the-Ganga makes-no-uttama-adhama-distinction.
The fire-image: Tukā mhaṇē maḷa — nāhīm agnīsī viṭāḷa — Tuka says: dirt — no defilement to fire. Even-dirty-fuel doesn't-defile-the-fire; the-fire-purifies-everything-it-burns.
The implicit-message in-Śivājī-context: the bhakta's-bhakti is impartial-like-cloud-Ganga-fire; the bhakta doesn't-see-king-as-different-from-pauper; therefore the royal-honors carry-no-special-weight. (Pairs with 1873's jhārī-tāmbyā-khāparī.)
[T]
For someone today
For today: doesn't consider — the cloud — dung-yard or field; don't look at its end — keep chitta on the kāraṇa; the Ganga doesn't refuse — no uttama-adhama in the world; Tuka says — dirt — no defilement to fire.
Where this applies
- When you catch yourself treating people differently based on their wealth, status, or background.
- When you're tempted to judge someone by their circumstances rather than looking deeper at their intent or need.
- When you want a reminder that kindness and grace shouldn't be rationed only to people who seem worthy.
- When someone of high status expects special treatment and you want to hold your ground that everyone is equal.