Abhanga 2089
For today: the dilemma-door (narrow) — outside, much expansive; what to do — that silence — mind wanders ten directions; outside displays the dress — inside traces of vāsanā; no taming of indriyas — what kind of shop opened?; the outside polished well — inside all bland; Tuka says — in the end — nothing comes to hand.
The verse
अडचणीचें दार । बाहेर माजी पैस फार ॥१॥ काय करावें तें मौन्य । दाही दिशा हिंडे मन ॥ध्रु.॥ बाहेर दावी वेश । माजी वासनेचे लेश ॥२॥ नाहीं इंद्रियां दमन । काय मांडिला दुकान ॥३॥ सारविलें निकें । वरि माजी अवघें फिकें ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे अंतीं । कांहीं न लगे चि हातीं ॥५॥
Literal translation
The dilemma-door (narrow) — outside, much expansive. What to do — that silence — mind wanders ten directions. Outside displays the dress — inside — traces of vāsanā. No taming of indriyas — what kind of shop opened? The outside polished well — inside all bland. Tuka says: in the end — nothing comes to hand.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अडचणीचें दार | "the dilemma-door (narrow)" |
| बाहेर माजी पैस फार | "outside, much expansive" |
| काय करावें तें मौन्य | "what to do — that silence" |
| दाही दिशा हिंडे मन | "mind wanders ten directions" |
| बाहेर दावी वेश | "outside displays the dress" |
| माजी वासनेचे लेश | "inside — traces of vāsanā" |
| नाहीं इंद्रियां दमन | "no taming of indriyas" |
| काय मांडिला दुकान | "what kind of shop opened" |
| सारविलें निकें | "the outside polished well" |
| वरि माजी अवघें फिकें | "inside all bland" |
| तुका म्हणे अंतीं | "Tuka says — in the end" |
| कांहीं न लगे चि हातीं | "nothing comes to hand" |
What it means
Outside-polished-inside-bland + nothing-in-hand-at-end abhang. DIAGNOSIS of false-renunciate.
The opening — narrow-door-wide-outside: aḍachaṇīchē dāra — bāhēra mājhi paisa phāra — the dilemma-door (narrow) — outside, much expansive. The (right) door-is-narrow; outside is-too-expansive (with distractions).
The fake-mauna: kāya karāvē tē mauna — dāhī diśā hiṇḍē mana — what to do — that silence — mind wanders ten directions. What-mauna (silence) is-it when-the-mind-wanders ten-directions?.
THE FALSE-RENUNCIATE-DIAGNOSIS: bāhēra dāvī vēśa — mājhi vāsanēchē lēśa — outside displays the dress — inside — traces of vāsanā. Vēśa = the renunciate-garb / costume. Lēśa = traces / signs. Outer-renunciate-dress; inner-traces-of-craving.
The indriya-failure: nāhīm indriyām damana — kāya māṇḍilā dukāna — no taming of indriyas — what kind of shop opened. Without-indriya-taming, what-kind-of-spiritual-shop did-you-open?.
The polish-and-bland: sāravilē nikē — vari mājhi avaghē phikē — the outside polished well — inside all bland. Polished-outside, bland-inside.
The closing: Tukā mhaṇē antīm — kāhīm na lagē chi hātīm — Tuka says: in the end — nothing comes to hand. At-the-end, nothing-in-hand.
[T]
For someone today
For today: the dilemma-door (narrow) — outside, much expansive; what to do — that silence — mind wanders ten directions; outside displays the dress — inside traces of vāsanā; no taming of indriyas — what kind of shop opened?; the outside polished well — inside all bland; Tuka says — in the end — nothing comes to hand.
Where this applies
- When you perform spiritual rituals or sit in silence but your mind is still restless and full of old cravings
- When you dress or act the part of someone disciplined while secretly indulging your desires
- When you judge your own progress by outer appearance rather than by whether you have actually mastered your senses
- When you notice that a polished public image is hiding an inner emptiness you have not dealt with