Abhanga 1986
Tukaram says he can't refuse anyone who claims devotion, loves those who sing together, and would rather be a humble beggar among devotees than stand on formal status.
The verse
मज त्याची भीड नुलंघवे देवा । जो म्हणे केशवा दास तुझा ॥१॥ मज आवडती बहु तैसे जन । करिती कीर्तन कथा तुझी ॥ध्रु.॥ सांडूनियां लाज नाचेन त्यांपुढें । आइकती कोडें नाम तुझें ॥२॥ न लगे उपचार होईंन भिकारी । वैष्णवांच्या घरीं उष्टावळी ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे जाणों उचित अनुचित । विचारूनि हित तें चि करूं ॥४॥
Literal translation
His press I cannot transgress, Lord — who says "Kēśava — your dāsa." Such people I love much — who do kīrtana, your kathā. Casting off shame I'll dance before them — they listen with delight to your Nāma. No rituals needed — I'll be a beggar — at Vaiṣṇavas' homes — leftover-scraps. Tuka says: I know proper-improper — considering, I'll do good.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मज त्याची भीड नुलंघवे देवा | "his press I cannot transgress, Lord" |
| जो म्हणे केशवा दास तुझा | "who says: Kēśava — your dāsa" |
| मज आवडती बहु तैसे जन | "such people I love much" |
| करिती कीर्तन कथा तुझी | "who do kīrtana, your kathā" |
| सांडूनियां लाज नाचेन त्यांपुढें | "casting off shame, I'll dance before them" |
| आइकती कोडें नाम तुझें | "they listen with delight to your Nāma" |
| न लगे उपचार होईंन भिकारी | "no rituals needed — I'll be a beggar" |
| वैष्णवांच्या घरीं उष्टावळी | "at Vaiṣṇavas' homes — leftover-scraps" |
| तुका म्हणे जाणों उचित अनुचित | "Tuka says — I know proper-improper" |
| विचारूनि हित तें चि करूं | "considering, I'll do good" |
What it means
Bhakta-affinity + Vaiṣṇava-ushtāvaḷī abhang.
The opening — bhakta-affinity: maja tyāchī bhīḍa nulanghavē Dēvā — jō mhaṇē Kēśavā dāsa tujhā — his press I cannot transgress, Lord — who says "Kēśava — your dāsa". Whoever-claims to-be-the-Lord's-dāsa — Tukārām cannot-resist-his-press (= cannot-deny-his-claim). The ultimate bhakta-affinity rule.
The kīrtana-people: maja āvaḍatī bahu taisē jana — karitī kīrtana kathā tujhī — such people I love much — who do kīrtana, your kathā. Tukārām's-affection for kīrtana-doers.
The dancing: sāṇḍūniyām lāja nāchēna tyāmpuḍhē — ā'ikatī kōḍē Nāma tujhē — casting off shame I'll dance before them — they listen with delight to your Nāma. Tukārām will-cast-off-shame and-dance for-those-who-love-the-Name.
The supreme-humility line: na lagē upachāra hō'īna bhikārī — Vaiṣṇavāmcyā gharī uṣṭāvaḷī — no rituals needed — I'll be a beggar — at Vaiṣṇavas' homes — leftover-scraps. Uṣṭāvaḷī = eaten-leftover-scraps (the most-impure remnant in caste-norms). Tukārām declares: I-don't-need-formal-rituals; I'll-be-a-beggar at-Vaiṣṇavas'-homes, eating-leftover-scraps. A radical-anti-caste statement — Vaiṣṇava-uṣṭāvaḷī (food-touched-by-Vaiṣṇavas) is the bhakta's-prasāda, regardless-of-caste.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē jāṇōm uchita anuchita — vichārūni hita tē chi karūm — Tuka says: I know proper-improper — considering, do good. I-know what's-proper; I'll-do-the-good.
[T]
For someone today
For today: his press I cannot transgress, Lord — who says "Kēśava — your dāsa"; such people I love much — who do kīrtana, your kathā; casting off shame I'll dance before them — they listen with delight to your Nāma; no rituals needed — I'll be a beggar — at Vaiṣṇavas' homes — leftover-scraps; Tuka says — I know proper-improper — considering, do good.
Where this applies
- When you're tempted to judge someone's worthiness before extending welcome or trust
- When you love being part of a community that sings, celebrates, or shares stories together
- When social status or formal rules are getting in the way of real connection or humility
- When you're weighing what's proper against what's genuinely good, and choosing the good