Abhanga 2244
For today: be colored in Śrīranga — why deluded, moth; body is for-going, keepsake — don't hold desire; this family not yours — wealth-spouse momentary; the friend at the time-of-end — Tukā says — hold Viṭho.
The verse
रंगीं रंगें रे श्रीरंगे । काय भुललासी पतंगें ॥१॥ शरीर जायांचें ठेवणें । धरिसी अभिळास झणें ॥ध्रु.॥ नव्हे तुझा हा परिवार । द्रव्य दारा क्षणभंगुर ॥२॥ अंतकाळींचा सोइरा । तुका म्हणे विठो धरा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Be colored in Śrīranga — why are you deluded, you moth? The body is for-going, a keepsake — don't hold desire. This family isn't yours — wealth, spouse — kṣaṇa-bhangura. The friend at the time-of-end — Tukā says — hold Viṭho.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| रंगीं रंगें रे श्रीरंगे | "be colored in Śrīranga" |
| काय भुललासी पतंगें | "why are you deluded, you moth" |
| शरीर जायांचें ठेवणें | "the body is for-going, a keepsake" |
| धरिसी अभिळास झणें | "don't hold desire (abhilāṣa)" |
| नव्हे तुझा हा परिवार | "this family isn't yours" |
| द्रव्य दारा क्षणभंगुर | "wealth, spouse — kṣaṇa-bhangura (momentary)" |
| अंतकाळींचा सोइरा | "the friend at the time-of-end" |
| तुका म्हणे विठो धरा | "Tuka says — hold Viṭho" |
What it means
Be-colored-in-Śrīranga + Viṭho-is-the-only-anta-kāḷa-friend abhang.
The opening — be-colored, you-moth: rangīm rangē rē Śrīrangē — kāya bhulalāsī patangē — be colored in Śrīranga — why are you deluded, you moth. Śrīranga = the Lord (an epithet of Viṣṇu, particularly Ranganātha). Word-play: rangīm rangē (be-colored in-color), with Śrīrangē echoing-the-syllable. Patanga = moth (which deludedly flies into the flame). Be-colored in-Śrīranga; why-are-you-deluded, (you) moth (that-flies-into-the-flame-of-samsāra)?
The body-as-keepsake: śarīra jāyāñchē ṭhēvaṇē — dharisī abhiḷāsa jhaṇē — the body is for-going, a keepsake — don't hold desire. Jāyāñchē = what is to go, expendable. Ṭhēvaṇē = keepsake, deposit. The body is-for-going, a-mere-keepsake; don't-hold abhilāṣa (desire) [for it].
The non-yours family: navhē tujhā hā parivāra — dravya dārā kṣaṇa-bhangura — this family isn't yours — wealth, spouse — kṣaṇa-bhangura. Kṣaṇa-bhangura = momentary, fragile-in-a-kṣaṇa. This family isn't-yours; wealth, spouse — momentary.
The closing — Viṭho the end-time-friend: anta-kāḷīñchā sō'irā — Tukā mhaṇē Viṭhō dharā — the friend at the time-of-end — Tukā says — hold Viṭho. Anta-kāḷa = the time-of-end, death-time. Sō'irā = friend, relative. At-the-time-of-end, the (true) friend — Tukā says, hold Viṭho.
[T]
For someone today
For today: be colored in Śrīranga — why deluded, moth; body is for-going, keepsake — don't hold desire; this family not yours — wealth-spouse momentary; the friend at the time-of-end — Tukā says — hold Viṭho.
Where this applies
- When you catch yourself chasing a pleasure that you sense, deep down, is as dangerous to you as a flame is to a moth.
- When you feel unusually attached to your body, your looks, or your health, and fear losing them.
- When your entire sense of security rests on family or wealth that could vanish overnight.
- When you think seriously about your own death and wonder what, if anything, will truly stay with you.