Abhanga 1898
For today: from whose mouth will I hear this news — 'come, Pandhari-nātha is calling you'?; then I won't hold any past complaint — swiftly will catch the māhēra-path; the chitta withers in restlessness — when will the eyes see the messenger come?; Tuka says — when will fortune light up — Pandhari to be seen?.
The verse
कोणा मुखें ऐसी ऐकेन मी मात । चाल तुज पंढरिनाथ बोलावितो ॥१॥ मग मी न धरीं आस मागील बोभाट । वेगीं धरिन वाट माहेराची ॥ध्रु.॥ निरांजिरें चत्ति करितें तळमळ । केधवां देखती मूळ आलें डोळे ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे कई भाग्याची उजरी । होईंल पंढरी देखावया ॥३॥
Literal translation
From whose mouth will I hear this news — 'come, Pandhari-nātha is calling you'? Then I won't hold any past complaint — swiftly will catch the māhēra-path. The chitta withers in restlessness — when will the eyes see the messenger come? Tuka says: when will fortune light up — Pandhari to be seen?.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कोणा मुखें ऐसी ऐकेन मी मात | "from whose mouth — will I hear this news" |
| चाल तुज पंढरिनाथ बोलावितो | "'come, Pandhari-nātha is calling you'" |
| मग मी न धरीं आस मागील बोभाट | "then I won't hold any past complaint" |
| वेगीं धरिन वाट माहेराची | "swiftly will catch the māhēra-path" |
| निरांजिरें चत्ति करितें तळमळ | "the chitta withers in restlessness" |
| केधवां देखती मूळ आलें डोळे | "when will the eyes see the messenger come" |
| तुका म्हणे कई भाग्याची उजरी | "Tuka says — when will fortune light up" |
| होईंल पंढरी देखावया | "Pandhari to be seen" |
What it means
Opens-letter-cluster + when-will-the-messenger-come-from-Pandhari abhang.
Historical-context: This abhang opens the 36-abhang "letter-sent-with-the-saints" cluster (1898-1933). Per the colophon at the end of 1897, "the abhangs of the letter sent with the saints — 36". The cluster is framed as a letter Tukārām composed for Pandhari-nātha (Viṭhṭhal at Pandhari), sent via the Vārkarī-saints traveling on Vārī. (Echoes 1830's niropa-bahutām-hātīm-dhāḍī.)
The opening: kōṇā mukhē aisī aikēna mī māta — cāla tuja Pandhari-nātha bōlāvitō — from whose mouth will I hear — 'come, Pandhari-nātha is calling you'?. The bhakta yearns to-hear-the-news that-Pandhari-nātha-is-calling-him.
The forgive-and-go line: maga mī na dharī āsa māgīla bōbhāṭa — vēgī dharina vāṭa māhērācī — then I won't hold any past complaint — swiftly will catch the māhēra-path. Once-the-call-comes, all-past-grievances are forgotten; the māhēra-path is grabbed.
The withering-chitta: nirāñjirē chitta karitē taḷa-maḷa — kēdhavām dēkhatī mūḷa ālē ḍōḷē — chitta withers in restlessness — when will eyes see the messenger?. Mūḷa = the messenger / the original-summons. When-will-the-summoner-arrive?.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē ka'ī bhāgyācī ujarī — hō'īla Pandharī dēkhāvayā — Tuka says: when will fortune light up — Pandhari to be seen?. When-will-fortune-favor-me to-see-Pandhari.
This abhang opens the cluster with the bhakta-yearning for-the-summons; sets the tone for the 36 letter-abhangs.
[T]
For someone today
For today: from whose mouth will I hear this news — 'come, Pandhari-nātha is calling you'?; then I won't hold any past complaint — swiftly will catch the māhēra-path; the chitta withers in restlessness — when will the eyes see the messenger come?; Tuka says — when will fortune light up — Pandhari to be seen?.
Where this applies
- When you're waiting for someone to finally reach out and invite you back after a long separation
- When old grudges and complaints feel small next to the relief of being wanted again
- When you keep watching the door or your phone, restless for news that it's finally time
- When you feel your luck has been slow to turn and you're still hoping today is the day