Abhanga 2060
Real devotion can be fierce and demanding, not just meek, refusing to leave God's door until you get what's rightfully yours.
The verse
बैसलोंसे दारीं । धरणें कोंडोनि भिकारी ॥१॥ आतां कोठें हालों नेदीं । बरी सांपडली संदी ॥ध्रु.॥ किती वेरझारा । मागें घातलीया घरा ॥२॥ माझें मज नारायणा । देतां कां रे नये मना ॥३॥ भांडावें तें किती । बहु सोसिली फजिती ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे नाहीं । लाज तुझे अंगीं कांहीं ॥५॥
Literal translation
Sat at (your) door — the beggar making dharaṇē. Now I won't move anywhere — good opportunity caught. How many trips — back to the house. Nārāyaṇa — what's mine — why doesn't (giving) come to your mind? How much to quarrel — much disgrace endured. Tuka says: no shame — in your body, none.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| बैसलोंसे दारीं | "sat at (your) door" |
| धरणें कोंडोनि भिकारी | "the beggar making dharaṇē" |
| आतां कोठें हालों नेदीं | "now I won't move anywhere" |
| बरी सांपडली संदी | "good opportunity caught" |
| किती वेरझारा | "how many trips" |
| मागें घातलीया घरा | "back to the house" |
| माझें मज नारायणा | "Nārāyaṇa — what's mine (give) to me" |
| देतां कां रे नये मना | "why doesn't (giving) come to your mind" |
| भांडावें तें किती | "how much to quarrel" |
| बहु सोसिली फजिती | "much disgrace endured" |
| तुका म्हणे नाहीं | "Tuka says — no" |
| लाज तुझे अंगीं कांहीं | "shame — in your body, none" |
What it means
Dharaṇē-at-Lord's-door + you-have-no-shame abhang. RADICAL CONFRONTATION.
The opening — dharaṇē protest: baisalōmsē dārīm — dharaṇē kōṇḍōni bhikārī — sat at (your) door — the beggar making dharaṇē. Dharaṇē = the traditional Marathi protest of-sitting-at-someone's-door-refusing-food-until-justice (= the political-protest fast-at-doorstep). Tukārām stages a dharaṇē-protest-fast at-the-Lord's-door. One of the most-audacious bhakti-postures.
The fixed-position: ātām kōṭhē hālōm nēdīm — barī sāmpaḍalī sandī — now I won't move anywhere — good opportunity caught. Won't-move; got-the-opportunity.
The trips-back: kitī vēra-jhārā — māgē ghātalīyā gharā — how many trips — back to the house. How-many-times have-I-been-sent-back-home empty-handed?.
The demand: mājhē maja Nārāyaṇā — dētām kām rē nayē manā — Nārāyaṇa — what's mine, why doesn't (giving) come to your mind?. Give-me-what's-mine; why-doesn't-the-thought-of-giving cross-your-mind?.
The shame-accusation: bhāṇḍāvē tē kitī — bahu sōsilī phajitī — Tukā mhaṇē nāhīm — lāja tujhē angīm kāhīm — how much to quarrel — much disgrace endured — Tuka says — no shame in your body. You-have-no-shame in-your-body — very strong direct-address to the Lord.
[T]
For someone today
For today: sat at your door — beggar making dharaṇē; now I won't move — good opportunity caught; how many trips back home; Nārāyaṇa — what's mine, why doesn't giving come to your mind?; how much to quarrel — much disgrace endured; Tuka says — no shame in your body, none.
Where this applies
- When you feel like you keep asking for what you need and keep coming away empty-handed
- When you're angry at God or at life and feel guilty for it, unsure if you're allowed to complain
- When you've decided to stop quietly giving up and instead plant yourself until something changes
- When you realize real closeness with someone means you can be blunt and honest with them, not just polite