Abhanga 2121
Speak to people at the level they can receive, serve honestly and simply as one devoted to God, and let sincere devotion reveal the path ahead.
The verse
जैसा अधिकार । तैसें बोलावें उत्तर ॥१॥ काय वाउगी घसघस । आम्ही विठोबाचे दास ॥ध्रु.॥ आम्ही जाणों एका देवा । जैसी तैसी करूं सेवा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे भावें । माझें पुढें पडेल ठावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
As is the authority — so the answer should be spoken. What's the useless fuss — we are Viṭhōbā's dāsa. We know one Deva — we'll do sēvā as we can. Tuka says: by bhāva — my path ahead will become known.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| जैसा अधिकार | "as is the authority" |
| तैसें बोलावें उत्तर | "so the answer should be spoken" |
| काय वाउगी घसघस | "what's the useless fuss" |
| आम्ही विठोबाचे दास | "we are Viṭhōbā's dāsa" |
| आम्ही जाणों एका देवा | "we know one Deva" |
| जैसी तैसी करूं सेवा | "we'll do sēvā as we can" |
| तुका म्हणे भावें | "Tuka says — by bhāva" |
| माझें पुढें पडेल ठावें | "my path ahead will become known" |
What it means
Speak-as-authority-fits + we-know-one-Deva + path-by-bhāva abhang.
The opening — speak-to-level: jaisā adhikāra — taisē bōlāvē uttara — as is the authority — so the answer should be spoken. Speak the-answer at-the-level-of-the-asker's-adhikāra (capacity). Pedagogical principle.
The dāsa-claim: kāya vā'ugī ghasaghasa — āmhī Viṭhōbāchē dāsa — what's the useless fuss — we are Viṭhōbā's dāsa. No-fuss; we're Viṭhōbā's-dāsa.
The one-Deva: āmhī jāṇōm ēkā Dēvā — jaisī taisī karūm sēvā — we know one Deva — we'll do sēvā as we can. One-Deva-known; sēvā-as-we-can (jaisī taisī = as-it-comes). Anti-pretense, just-be-honest.
The closing — path-by-bhāva: Tukā mhaṇē bhāvē — mājhē puḍhē paḍēla ṭhāvē — by bhāva — my path ahead will become known. By-bhāva, the-path-ahead reveals-itself.
[T]
For someone today
For today: as is the authority — so the answer should be spoken; what's the useless fuss — we are Viṭhōbā's dāsa; we know one Deva — we'll do sēvā as we can; Tuka says — by bhāva — my path ahead will become known.
Where this applies
- When you're teaching or explaining something and need to match your words to what the other person can actually understand.
- When you feel pressure to sound more impressive or knowledgeable than you are.
- When you're unsure exactly what form your service or contribution should take.
- When you're anxious about the future and want reassurance that sincerity, not certainty, will show you the way.