Abhanga 1940
You do not always have to explain yourself perfectly, because people who truly understand you can carry your voice forward and remember you until you are called home.
The verse
होइल माझी संतीं भाकिली करुणा । जे त्या नारायणा मनीं बैसे ॥१॥ शृंगारूनि माझीं बोबडीं उत्तरें । होतील विस्तारें सांगितलीं ॥ध्रु.॥ क्षेम आहे ऐसें होइल सांगितलें । पाहिजे धाडिलें शीघ्र मूळ ॥२॥ अवस्था जे माझी ठावी आहे संतां । होइल कृपावंता निरोपिली ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे सवें येईंल मुर्हाळी । किंवा कांहीं उरी राखतील ॥४॥
Literal translation
The saints will have invoked karuṇā for me — that may settle in Nārāyaṇa's mind. After adorning my stammered words — they'll have told (the Lord) in detail. They'll have said 'his well-being is OK' — quickly send the messenger. The state I'm in, the saints know — they'll have informed the kṛpāvanta. Tuka says: with them will come a muṛhāḷī — or they'll keep some remainder.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| होइल माझी संतीं भाकिली करुणा | "the saints will have invoked karuṇā for me" |
| जे त्या नारायणा मनीं बैसे | "that may settle in Nārāyaṇa's mind" |
| शृंगारूनि माझीं बोबडीं उत्तरें | "after adorning my stammered words" |
| होतील विस्तारें सांगितलीं | "they'll have told (the Lord) in detail" |
| क्षेम आहे ऐसें होइल सांगितलें | "they'll have said 'his well-being is OK'" |
| पाहिजे धाडिलें शीघ्र मूळ | "quickly send the messenger" |
| अवस्था जे माझी ठावी आहे संतां | "the state I'm in — the saints know" |
| होइल कृपावंता निरोपिली | "they'll have informed the kṛpāvanta" |
| तुका म्हणे सवें येईंल मुर्हाळी | "Tuka says — with them will come a muṛhāḷī (bride-fetcher)" |
| किंवा कांहीं उरी राखतील | "or they'll keep some remainder" |
What it means
Saints-as-emissaries + muṛhāḷī image abhang.
The opening: hō'ila mājhī santī bhākilī karuṇā — jē tyā Nārāyaṇā manī baisē — the saints will have invoked karuṇā for me — that may settle in Nārāyaṇa's mind. The saints have-presented-the-petition; the Lord will-have-considered-it.
The adorning: śṛngārūni mājhīm bōbaḍīm uttarē — hōtīla vistārē sāngitalīm — after adorning my stammered words — they'll have told (the Lord) in detail. The saints take-the-bhakta's-stammering and-present-it-with-eloquence.
The muṛhāḷī image: Tukā mhaṇē savē yē'īla muṛhāḷī — kimvā kāhīm urī rākhatīla — with them will come a muṛhāḷī — or they'll keep some remainder. Muṛhāḷī = in Marāṭhī wedding-tradition, the person sent-from-the-bride's-māhēra to-the-husband's-house to-fetch-the-bride-back-to-her-natal-home. The bhakta is-the-bride; the Lord may-send-a-muṛhāḷī to-fetch-him-back-to-Pandhari-as-māhēra. (= foundational Vārkarī-image of the bhakta-as-bride-being-summoned-home.)
[T]
For someone today
For today: the saints will have invoked karuṇā for me — that may settle in Nārāyaṇa's mind; after adorning my stammered words, told in detail; said 'his well-being is OK' — quickly send messenger; my state, saints know — informed the kṛpāvanta; Tuka says — with them will come a muṛhāḷī — or some remainder kept.
Where this applies
- When someone who knows you well speaks up for you in a situation where your own words would come out clumsy or incomplete
- When you trust a close friend or mentor to represent your true feelings without having to explain every detail yourself
- When you are far from home and waiting for a sign or a call that someone remembers you and wants you back
- When you feel reassured simply knowing that people who understand your situation are quietly looking out for you