संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2116 of 4582

Abhanga 2116

For today: if anyone unknowingly broke a vow — some prāyaścitta works; for knowing-ones — great vajra-lēpa — aghora-kumbhī-pāka; now if anyone doesn't listen when told — teaching is sin; what to do — the Deva made me speak; Tuka says — o people, look with consideration — do what feels sukha to mind.

When you'd distinguish unknowing-breaks-expiable + knowing-breaks-vajra-lēpa — na-kaḷatām-vrata-mōḍiyēlē-prāyaśchitta; jāṇatiyām-vajra-lēpa-aghōra-kumbha-pāka; nā'ikē-sāngatām-śikavitām-pāpa; Dēvē-bōlavilē-khōḷambilē-na; pāhā-vichārūnī-sukha-manīm-karā

The verse

न कळतां कोणीं मोडियेलें व्रत । तया प्रायिश्चत्त चाले कांहीं ॥१॥ जाणतियां वज्रलेप जाले थोर । तयांस अघोर कुंभपाक ॥ध्रु.॥ आतां जरी कोणी नाइके सांगतां । तया शिकवितां तें चि पाप ॥२॥ काय करूं मज देवें बोलविलें । माझें खोळंबिलें काय होतें ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे जना पाहा विचारूनी । सुख वाटे मनीं तें चि करा ॥४॥

Literal translation

English: If anyone unknowingly broke a vow — some prāyaścitta works. For knowing-ones — great vajra-lēpa happened — aghora-kumbhī-pāka for them. Now if anyone doesn't listen when told — teaching such-a-one is itself sin. What to do — the Deva made me speak — what was held-back of mine? Tuka says: o people, look with consideration — do what feels sukha to the mind.

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi Meaning
न कळतां कोणीं मोडियेलें व्रत "if anyone unknowingly broke a vow"
तया प्रायिश्चत्त चाले कांहीं "some prāyaścitta works"
जाणतियां वज्रलेप जाले थोर "for knowing-ones — great vajra-lēpa happened"
तयांस अघोर कुंभपाक "aghora-kumbhī-pāka for them"
आतां जरी कोणी नाइके सांगतां "now if anyone doesn't listen when told"
तया शिकवितां तें चि पाप "teaching such-a-one is itself sin"
काय करूं मज देवें बोलविलें "what to do — the Deva made me speak"
माझें खोळंबिलें काय होतें "what was held-back of mine"
तुका म्हणे जना पाहा विचारूनी "Tuka says — o people, look with consideration"
सुख वाटे मनीं तें चि करा "do what feels sukha to the mind"

What it means

Unknowing-breaks-expiable + knowing-breaks-vajra-lēpa abhang.

The distinction: na kaḷatām kōṇī mōḍiyēlē vrata — tayā prāyaśchitta chālē kāhīmif anyone unknowingly broke a vow — some prāyaścitta works. Unknowing-breaking of-vow can-be-expiated.

The knowing-breaker: jāṇatiyām vajra-lēpa jālē thōra — tayāmsa aghōra kumbha-pākafor knowing-ones — great vajra-lēpa happened — aghora-kumbhī-pāka for them. Vajra-lēpa = thunderbolt-coating (the seal that-cannot-be-broken). Kumbhī-pāka = boiling-cauldron-hell. The knowing-breaker gets vajra-lēpa-seal of-sin; aghora-kumbhī-pāka awaits.

The non-listener: ātām jarī kōṇī nā'ikē sāngatām — tayā śikavitām tē chi pāpanow if anyone doesn't listen when told — teaching such-a-one is itself sin. Teaching the-unlistener is-itself-sin (= wasting wisdom on-the-deaf).

The disclaimer: kāya karūm maja Dēvē bōlavilē — mājhē khōḷambilē kāya hōtēwhat to do — the Deva made me speak — what was held-back of mine. Disclaim of authorship: the Lord-made-me-speak; nothing-of-mine held-back.

The closing — discretion: Tukā mhaṇē janā pāhā vichārūnī — sukha vāṭē manīm tē chi karāo people, look with consideration — do what feels sukha to the mind. Consider-carefully; do-what-feels-sukha-to-the-mind.

[T]

For someone today

For today: if anyone unknowingly broke a vow — some prāyaścitta works; for knowing-ones — great vajra-lēpa — aghora-kumbhī-pāka; now if anyone doesn't listen when told — teaching is sin; what to do — the Deva made me speak; Tuka says — o people, look with consideration — do what feels sukha to mind.

Where this applies

Related verses