Abhanga 2076
Tuka condemns those who beg and flatter for coins instead of trusting that God, who lacks nothing, does not need words sold for a price.
The verse
काय देवापाशीं उणें । हिंडे दारोदारीं सुनें ॥१॥ करी अक्षरांची आटी । एके कवडी च साटीं ॥ध्रु.॥ निंदी कोणां स्तवी । चिंतातुर सदा जीवीं ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे भांड । जलो जळो त्याचें तोंड ॥३॥
Literal translation
What's lacking at Deva's place — (yet) wanders door-to-door empty? Makes letters' compaction — for one kavaḍī's price. Reviles one — praises (another) — worry-anxious always in jīva. Tuka says: bhāṇḍa — burn-burn his mouth.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| काय देवापाशीं उणें | "what's lacking at Deva's place" |
| हिंडे दारोदारीं सुनें | "(yet) wanders door-to-door empty" |
| करी अक्षरांची आटी | "makes letters' compaction" |
| एके कवडी च साटीं | "for one kavaḍī's price" |
| निंदी कोणां स्तवी | "reviles one — praises (another)" |
| चिंतातुर सदा जीवीं | "worry-anxious always in jīva" |
| तुका म्हणे भांड | "Tuka says — bhāṇḍa" |
| जलो जळो त्याचें तोंड | "burn-burn his mouth" |
What it means
What's-lacking-at-Lord's-yet-begs-door-to-door + burn-the-bhāṇḍa-mouth abhang. SHARP REBUKE of mercenary-poets.
The opening — what's-lacking: kāya Dēvāpāśīm uṇē — hiṇḍē dārō-dārīm sunē — what's lacking at Deva's place — (yet) wanders door-to-door empty?. The Lord has-everything — yet the mercenary-poet wanders door-to-door begging-empty.
The letter-compaction: karī akṣarāñchī āṭī — ēkē kavaḍī cha sāṭīm — makes letters' compaction — for one kavaḍī's price. Akṣarāñchī āṭī = compaction of letters (= constructing poems / praise-poems). Kavaḍī = the smallest copper-coin / shell-currency. Composes praise-poems for-the-tiniest-coin.
The reviles-and-praises: nindī kōṇām stavī — chintā-tura sadā jīvīm — reviles one — praises (another) — worry-anxious always in jīva. Praises-or-reviles for-money; always-worried-in-jīva (about-clients-and-fees).
The closing condemnation: Tukā mhaṇē bhāṇḍa — jaḷō jaḷō tyāchē tōṇḍa — Tuka says: bhāṇḍa — burn-burn his mouth. Bhāṇḍa = a strolling-player / jester / fool. Such-a-bhāṇḍa — burn his mouth. Strong-curse against mercenary-poets-and-praise-singers — Tukārām's distinctive contempt for-bhakti-for-pay.
[T]
For someone today
For today: what's lacking at Deva's place — (yet) wanders door-to-door empty?; makes letters' compaction — for one kavaḍī's price; reviles one — praises another — worry-anxious always in jīva; Tuka says — bhāṇḍa — burn-burn his mouth.
Where this applies
- When you notice yourself flattering someone only because they can pay or benefit you
- When you are tempted to twist your honest words to please whoever is footing the bill
- When you see a teacher or singer selling devotion for profit and wonder if that is right
- When constant worry about money has started to control what you say and to whom