Abhanga 2216
A sincere intention can bear fruit without visible strength, so judge things by what is real underneath, not by how good they sound.
The verse
केल्यापुरती आळी । कांहीं होते टाळाटाळी ॥१॥ सत्यसंकल्पाचें फळ । होतां न दिसे चि बळ ॥ध्रु.॥ दळणांच्या ओव्या । रित्या खरें मापें घ्याव्या ॥२॥ जातीं उखळें चाटूं । तुका म्हणे राज्य घाटूं ॥३॥
Literal translation
Completed only this much, the request — some becomes delay. The fruit of the true sankalpa — when arising, no strength is visible. The daḷaṇa-ōvīs (grinding-songs) — empty, should be taken by the real measure. I'll lick the millstone-mortar — Tukā says, I'll rule the kingdom.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| केल्यापुरती आळी | "completed only this much, the request" |
| कांहीं होते टाळाटाळी | "some becomes delay (ṭāḷā-ṭāḷī)" |
| सत्यसंकल्पाचें फळ | "the fruit of the true sankalpa" |
| होतां न दिसे चि बळ | "when arising — no strength visible" |
| दळणांच्या ओव्या | "grinding-songs (daḷaṇa-ōvīs)" |
| रित्या खरें मापें घ्याव्या | "empty — should be taken by the real measure" |
| जातीं उखळें चाटूं | "I'll lick the millstone-mortar" |
| तुका म्हणे राज्य घाटूं | "Tukā says — I'll rule the kingdom" |
What it means
True-sankalpa-no-strength-visible + lick-the-millstone-rule-the-kingdom abhang — bitter sarcasm. Sixth abhang of the niḍrā-cluster.
The opening — request-delayed: kēlyāpuratī āḷī — kāmhīm hōtē ṭāḷā-ṭāḷī — completed only this much, the request — some becomes delay. Āḷī = request, plea. Ṭāḷā-ṭāḷī = delay, putting-off. The request is-completed-only-this-much; some-(of-it)-becomes-delay.
The strength-less truth-sankalpa: satya-sankalpāchē phaḷa — hōtām na disē chi baḷa — the fruit of the true sankalpa — when arising, no strength is visible. The fruit-of-the-true-sankalpa, when-it-arises, shows-no-strength (= the true-intention bears-fruit-without-visible-power).
The daḷaṇa-ōvī image: daḷaṇāñchyā ōvyā — ritā kharē māpē ghyāvyā — the daḷaṇa-ōvīs (grinding-songs) — empty, should be taken by the real measure. Daḷaṇa-ōvī = the grinding-song (= songs-sung-by-women while-grinding-grain on-the-jātē/millstone; women's-folk-poetry tradition). Rita = empty. Khara māpa = the true measure. The daḷaṇa-ōvīs are-empty (= the songs-during-the-grinding-of-life are hollow); take-them by-the-real-measure (= measure-the-real-weight, not-the-hollow-form). A reference to women's-grinding-song tradition that-Tukārām draws-on.
The bitter-sarcasm: jātīm ukhaḷē chāṭūm — Tukā mhaṇē rājya ghāṭūm — I'll lick the millstone-mortar — Tukā says, I'll rule the kingdom. Jātē = millstone (rotary). Ukhaḷa = mortar. I'll lick-the-(empty)-millstone-mortar (= reduce-to-licking-stones-for-food); Tukā says, I'll-rule-the-kingdom (= sarcasm: 'as-if-I-could-rule-a-kingdom'). Bitter-self-mockery in the niḍrā-anguish.
[T]
For someone today
For today: completed only this much, the request — some becomes delay; true sankalpa-fruit — no strength visible; daḷaṇa-ōvīs — empty, take by real measure; I'll lick the millstone-mortar — Tukā says, I'll rule the kingdom.
Where this applies
- When someone gives you a half-answer or half-favor and it only creates more waiting
- When your sincerest efforts don't show any visible payoff, and you start doubting yourself
- When you notice pretty-sounding promises around you that turn out to be hollow
- When you cope with disappointment by laughing bitterly at your own situation