Abhanga 2069

Keeping Viṭhobā's name as your one strict practice is medicine that cures the deep sickness of worldly existence and every fear that comes with it.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

Brahma-rasa-decoction + Viṭhōbā-Nāma-as-pathya abhang. OPENS 4-ABHANG VAIDYA-PAṆḌHARĪ CLUSTER (2069-2072).

The medical-metaphor opens: Brahma-rasa ghē'ī kāḍhā — jēṇē pīḍā vārēla — take the Brahma-rasa decoction — by which suffering will be warded off. Kāḍhā = decoction (the standard Āyurvedic preparation: herbs boiled and reduced). Brahma-rasa as the decoction; suffering is-warded-off.

The pathya: pathya Nāma Viṭhōbāchē — āṇīka vāchē na sēvīm — the dietary-rule is Viṭhōbā's Nāma — don't take any other on the tongue. Pathya = the prescribed-dietary-rule that-accompanies medicine. Viṭhōbā's Nāma is-the-pathya; no-other-thing should-touch-the-tongue.

The bhava-rōga cured: bhava-rōgāaisē jāya — āṇīka kāya kṣullakē — the bhava-rōga goes like this — what are other trivialities. The bhava-rōga (existential-disease) goes-this-way; other-trivial-ailments fall-easy.

The closing: Tukā mhaṇē navhē bādhā — āṇīka kadā bhūtāñchī — Tuka says: no obstruction — ever — from the bhūtas. No-obstruction-ever from-bhūtas (= spirits, ghosts) — the Brahma-rasa makes the bhakta-bhūta-proof.

[T]

For someone today

For today: take the Brahma-rasa decoction — by which suffering will be warded off; the dietary-rule is Viṭhōbā's Nāma — don't take any other on the tongue; the bhava-rōga goes like this — what are other trivialities?; Tuka says — no obstruction — ever — from the bhūtas.

Where this applies

• When you're overwhelmed by a problem and want one simple daily practice you can hold onto like a medicine.
• When too many things compete for your attention and you need to narrow down to a single steady focus.
• When small worries keep piling up and you want relief from the root cause instead of firefighting each one.
• When you feel haunted by fear, doubt, or superstition and want something steady that protects you.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2448 — The easiest path to God is repeating divine names with love at home, right where you are,
• 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