Abhanga 2016

Instead of letting pride keep a conflict stuck or airing it as public disgrace, Tukaram chooses to let a trusted community witness and help resolve it fairly.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

Take-it-to-the-saints-court + 9-cluster-closer abhang. CLOSES 9-ABHANG LEGAL-TRANSACTIONAL CLUSTER (2008-2016).

The opening — abhimāna-binding: nāhīm dēṇē ghēṇē — gōvī kēlī abhimānē — no give-and-take — binding made by abhimāna. There's no-actual-exchange between us; you've made-a-binding only-by-pride (abhimāna).

The decision-plea: ātām kām hō nivaḍūm nēdām — Pāṇḍurangā yēvaḍhā dhandā — now why won't you let me decide — Pāṇḍuranga, only this work. Why won't-you-let-me-resolve-this.

The five-council reference: pāñchāmadhīm jāvē — thōḍyāsāṭīm phajita hvāvē — should one go among the five (council) — for a little — should one be disgraced?. Pāñchā = the council-of-five (the traditional village arbitration-body). Should-I-take-this to-the-village-court? — get-publicly-disgraced over-a-small-matter?. Bhakta-threatens public-arbitration.

The flattery-restraint: tuja aisī nāhīm — Pāṇḍurangā āmhī kāhīm — there's none like you, Pāṇḍuranga — we have nothing. You-are-incomparable; we-are-nothing. (= but-still-the-grievance-stands.)

The threat: ṭākūm tō vēvhāra — tuja bahū karakara — we'd cast aside the deal — much rasping for you. We'd-cancel-the-deal; much-of-a-rasping-grievance against-you.

THE CLOSING — TAKE-IT-TO-THE-SAINTS: Tukā mhaṇē ātām — nivaḍūm santām hē dēkhatām — Tuka says: now — let's decide — the saints witnessing. Tukārām escalates: let's-take-this-to-the-saints (santa)-as-arbiters; they-will-decide. The saints as the bhakta's-court — Tukārām bypasses-the-Lord-himself and-appeals-to-the-saints.

Colophon ॥९॥ confirms 9-abhang legal-transactional cluster (2008-2016).

[T]

For someone today

For today: no give-and-take — binding made by abhimāna; now why won't you let me decide, Pāṇḍuranga — only this work?; should one go among the five (council) — for a little — should one be disgraced?; there's none like you, Pāṇḍuranga — we have nothing; we'd cast aside the deal — much rasping for you; Tuka says — now — let's decide — the saints witnessing.

Where this applies

• When a relationship is being held together by pride alone and both sides know it needs an honest resolution
• When you're tempted to make a small conflict public and humiliating instead of settling it quietly
• When you feel frustrated enough to walk away entirely but still know the relationship matters more than your anger
• When you need a trusted, wise third party to help two people settle a disagreement fairly
• When you catch yourself wanting a dramatic confrontation and choose a calmer path instead

Related verses

• Abhanga 2464 — For today: Pāṇḍuranga is sukha-rūpa ; no wandering, no shaving, no sādhana-pressure ; Chan
• Abhanga 2494 — Living in devotion turns an ordinary day into a festival and removes the fear of birth and
• Abhanga 4481 — Tukaram promises that sincerely calling on the Lord's name, knowingly or unknowingly, with
• Abhanga 4482 — Tukaram teaches that no ritual equals sincerely speaking the Lord's name, that self-center