Abhanga 2109

Sing your devotion in your own natural way, guided by your own love and joy, not by other people's approval or clever technique.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

I'll-sing-my-way + bhōḷā-Pāṇḍuranga-is-my-only-concern abhang.

The opening — sing-my-way: kaḷēla hē taisē gā'īna mī tuja — janāsavē kāja kāya mājhē — I'll sing of you as best I can — what's my business with people. I-sing-as-I-can; no-business-with-people's-opinion.

The own-love-stuti: karīna mī stutī āpulē āvaḍī — jaisī mājhyā gōḍī vāṭē jīvā — I'll make stuti by my own love — as sweetness pleases my jīva. My-own-praise-style by-my-own-love, by-what-pleases-my-jīva.

The free-dance: hō'ūnī nirbhara nāchēna mī chandē — āpulyā ānandē karūniyām — becoming free, I'll dance my whim — in my own ānanda. Freely, dance-my-own-whim in-my-own-ānanda.

The rejection-of-jñāna: kāya karūm kaḷā yuktī yā kusarī — jāṇivēchyā parī sakaḷikā — what's my use of kaḷā-yukti-craftiness — all forms of jñāna. No-use of artistry, strategy, craftiness, all-jñāna-forms.

The closing — bhōḷā-Pāṇḍuranga: Tukā mhaṇē mājhē jayāsavē kāja — bhōḷā tō sahaja Pāṇḍuranga — Tuka says: my use is with — the simple, the natural Pāṇḍuranga. My-concern is-with-the-bhōḷā-Pāṇḍuranga (the simple-and-natural). Tukārām's preferred Pāṇḍuranga-form: bhōḷā (simple), sahaja (natural-without-artifice).

[T]

For someone today

For today: I'll sing of you as best I can — what's my business with people; I'll make stuti by my own love — as sweetness pleases my jīva; becoming free, I'll dance my whim — in my own ānanda; what's my use of kaḷā-yukti-craftiness — all forms of jñāna?; Tuka says — my use is with — the simple, the natural Pāṇḍuranga.

Where this applies

• When you hold back from expressing yourself because you're worried what other people will think
• When you feel pressure to perform devotion, art, or love in a polished, correct way instead of your own way
• When you're tempted to show off skill or cleverness instead of just being honest and simple
• When you want permission to enjoy something purely for your own joy, not for an audience

Related verses

• Abhanga 2377 — This detailed meditation on Vitthal standing on a brick at Pandharpur, out of love for his
• Abhanga 2402 — For today: happily take rebirths — IF among the Paṇḍharī-Vārkarīs ; Hari-dāsas' company is
• Abhanga 2448 — The easiest path to God is repeating divine names with love at home, right where you are,
• Abhanga 2459 — Liberation does not have to be earned through grueling effort or endless searching; it is