Abhanga 1941
Complete despair is rarely justified, because natural bonds like a mother's love for her child are too deep to fully disappear, even when nothing is said.
The verse
दोहींमध्यें एक घडेल विश्वासें । भातुकें सरिसें मूळ तरी ॥१॥ करिती निरास निःशेष न घडे । कांहीं तरी ओढे चित्ती माये ॥ध्रु.॥ लौकिकाची तरी धरितील लाज । काय माझ्या काज आचरणें ॥२॥ अथवा कोणाचें घेणें लागे रीण । नाहीं तरी हीनकर्मी कांहीं ॥३॥ व्यालीचिये अंगीं असती वेधना । तुका म्हणे मना मन साक्ष ॥४॥
Literal translation
Between the two — one will surely happen with confidence — at-least with bhātukē, the messenger comes. Complete despair won't happen — at-least some pull to mother's chitta. They'll at-least uphold the laukika-shame — what's-the-use of my conduct? Or — owing-to-someone — loan — or — some hīna-karma. In the (mother's) body who-has-given-birth, there is feeling — Tuka says — mind-to-mind is witness.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दोहींमध्यें एक घडेल विश्वासें | "between the two — one will surely happen — with confidence" |
| भातुकें सरिसें मूळ तरी | "at-least with bhātukē — the messenger comes" |
| करिती निरास निःशेष न घडे | "complete despair won't happen" |
| कांहीं तरी ओढे चित्ती माये | "at-least some pull — to mother's chitta" |
| लौकिकाची तरी धरितील लाज | "they'll at-least uphold the laukika-shame" |
| काय माझ्या काज आचरणें | "what's-the-use of my conduct" |
| अथवा कोणाचें घेणें लागे रीण | "or — owing-to-someone — loan" |
| नाहीं तरी हीनकर्मी कांहीं | "or — some hīna-karma" |
| व्यालीचिये अंगीं असती वेधना | "in the (mother's) body — there is feeling (vēdhanā)" |
| तुका म्हणे मना मन साक्ष | "Tuka says — mind-to-mind is witness" |
What it means
Mother's-body-feels + mind-to-mind-witness abhang.
The opening-confidence: dōhīñmadhyē ēka ghaḍēla viśvāsē — bhātukē sarisē mūḷa tarī — between the two — one will surely happen with confidence — at-least with bhātukē, the messenger comes. Bhātukē = traditional sweets-and-snacks sent from the natal-home to the daughter-married-out. At-the-least, sweets-and-messenger will-come.
The mother's-pull: karitī nirāsa niḥśēṣa na ghaḍē — kāhīm tarī ōḍhē chittī māyē — complete despair won't happen — some pull to mother's chitta. Mother's-chitta is-pulled-naturally toward-the-child.
The laukika-shame: laukikācī tarī dharitīla lāja — (the saints) at-least uphold the laukika-shame. Public-shame-of-not-responding will-keep-them-acting.
The closing-witness: vyālīciyē angī asatī vēdhanā — Tukā mhaṇē manā mana sākṣa — in the (mother's) body, there is feeling — mind-to-mind is witness. Vyālī = one-who-has-given-birth; vēdhanā = feeling, sensation. The body-of-the-mother has-natural-feeling for-the-child; mind-witnesses-mind.
[T]
For someone today
For today: between the two — one will surely happen — at-least with bhātukē, the messenger comes; complete despair won't happen — some pull to mother's chitta; they'll at-least uphold the laukika-shame; or owe-someone loan, or some hīna-karma; in the mother's body, there is feeling — Tuka says — mind-to-mind is witness.
Where this applies
- When you are waiting anxiously to hear from someone and worry the silence means they have forgotten you completely
- When you remind yourself that a parent's love for a child rarely disappears entirely, even during long silences
- When you notice someone stays connected to you out of duty or social expectation even if deep feeling seems absent
- When you trust an old, deep bond to hold even without words being exchanged