Abhanga 2182

When you have nothing else to rely on but steady attention and quiet service, the honest request left is simply not to be forgotten and to be used well.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

I-exist-by-feet-chintana + capital-is-sēvā abhang.

The opening — feet-chintana: āṇīka kāmhīm nēṇē — asēm pāyāmchyā chintanē — don't know anything else — [I] exist by the chintana of [your] feet. Chintana = meditation, continual-thought. I-don't-know-anything-else; I-exist by-the-meditation-on-(your)-feet. The minimalist-bhakta-position.

The forget-me-not: mājhā na vhāvā visara — nāhīm āṇīka ādhāra — don't let me be forgotten — there's no other support. Don't-let-me-be-forgotten; there's-no-other-support.

The capital-is-sēvā: bhāṇḍavala sēvā — hā chi ṭhēviyēlā ṭhēvā — capital is sēvā — this is the stored treasure. Bhāṇḍavala = capital, working-stock. Ṭhēvā = deposit, treasure. My capital is sēvā; this-is the-deposit-laid-by. Echoing 2180's pūrva-puṇya-ṭhēvā but here-the-treasure is-active-sēvā.

The closing — mānabhāva, vinantī: karīm mānabhāvā — Tukā vinantī karī Dēvā — make me mānabhāva — Tukā pleads with Dēva. Mānabhāva = one-who-considers-himself-merely-a-bhāva (= a-state-of-being, an-instrument); also the-name of-the-Mahānubhāva-sect (the Mānabhāva-tradition). Make-me a-mānabhāva (= an instrument-bhāva-only); Tukā-pleads with-Dēva.

[T]

For someone today

For today: don't know anything else — exist by feet-chintana; don't let me be forgotten — no other support; capital is sēvā — this is the stored treasure; make me mānabhāva — Tukā pleads with Dēva.

Where this applies

• When you feel you have nothing else to offer and all you can do is keep your attention steadily on what matters most
• When your biggest fear isn't failure but being forgotten by the people or purpose you've devoted yourself to
• When you realize the only real wealth you've built is the quiet service you've given, not money or status
• When you want to do good without needing credit for it, simply being useful rather than being praised

Related verses

• Abhanga 2425 — Surrender every part of your life completely to what you trust most, and let go of the res
• Abhanga 2477 — Like a child too absorbed in play to notice how tired he is, let go and trust the parent c
• Abhanga 2484 — Real devotion can include anger and demand, not just sweetness, because a devotee who trul
• Abhanga 2540 — Even the smallest, most helpless creature that cries out to God in danger is sheltered and