Abhanga 2299
For today: this very gift, give, Dēvā — let me not forget you; I'll sing your guṇas fondly — that's my whole earning; no mukti or sampadā — give santa-sanga always; Tukā says — into the womb-dwelling — happily place us .
The verse
हें चि दान देगा देवा । तुझा विसर न व्हावा ॥१॥ गुण गाईंन आवडी । हे चि माझी सर्व जोडी ॥ध्रु.॥ न लगे मुक्ति आणि संपदा । संतसंग देई सदा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे गर्भवासीं । सुखें घालावें आम्हासी ॥३॥
Literal translation
This very gift, give, O Dēvā — let me not forget you. I'll sing the guṇas fondly — that's my whole earning. I don't want mukti or sampadā — give santa-sanga always. Tuka says: into the womb-dwelling — happily place us.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| हें चि दान देगा देवा | "this very gift, give, O Dēvā" |
| तुझा विसर न व्हावा | "let me not forget you" |
| गुण गाईंन आवडी | "I'll sing the guṇas fondly" |
| हे चि माझी सर्व जोडी | "that's my whole earning" |
| न लगे मुक्ति आणि संपदा | "I don't want mukti or sampadā" |
| संतसंग देई सदा | "give santa-sanga always" |
| तुका म्हणे गर्भवासीं | "Tuka says — into the womb-dwelling" |
| सुखें घालावें आम्हासी | "happily place us" |
What it means
ONE OF THE MOST CITED ABHANGS IN ALL OF MARATHI BHAKTI — the hē chi dāna dēgā Dēvā prayer. The complete Tukārām position in 4 verses.
THE OPENING — THE PRAYER: hē chi dāna dēgā Dēvā — tujhā visara na vhāvā — this very gift, give, O Dēvā — let me not forget you. Dāna = gift, grant. Give this-very-gift, Dēvā: that I never forget-you. The minimum-and-maximum request — the bhakta-asks-not-for-blessings-but-for-the-continuity-of-remembrance.
The singing: guṇa gā'īmna āvaḍī — hē chi mājhī sarva jōḍī — I'll sing the guṇas fondly — that's my whole earning. Jōḍī = earning, accumulation. I'll-sing-the-guṇas (of-the-Lord) fondly; that-is-my-whole-earning (= the singing-itself-is-the-bhakta's-wealth).
THE BHAKTI-OVER-MUKTI DECLARATION: na lagē mukti āṇi sampadā — santa-sanga dē'ī sadā — I don't want mukti or sampadā — give santa-sanga always. I don't-want mukti (liberation), and I don't-want sampadā (wealth/prosperity); just give santa-sanga always. The classic-three-fold-refusal: not-pleasure, not-wealth, not-liberation — only-the-saints'-company.
THE GARBHA-VĀSA WELCOME: Tukā mhaṇē garbha-vāsīm — sukhē ghālāvē āmhāsī — Tuka says: into the womb-dwelling — happily place us. Garbha-vāsa = the dwelling-in-the-womb (= rebirth). Tuka says: into-the-womb-dwelling (= the-discomfort-of-being-in-a-mother's-womb-and-being-reborn), happily-place-us. The bhakta WELCOMES rebirth — because-rebirth means-more-time-for-bhakti, more-occasions-for-santa-sanga, more-songs-of-the-Name. A direct doubling-down on 2293's we-kick-the-mokṣa-pada — here Tukārām not-only-rejects-mukti but-actively-welcomes-the-womb.
The complete Tukārām position in 4 verses: 1. The only-gift-asked: never-forget-the-Lord 2. The whole-earning: singing-the-guṇas 3. The refusal: no-mukti, no-sampadā — only-santa-sanga 4. The welcome: place-me-in-the-womb-happily (rebirth-welcomed-as-bhakti-opportunity)
[T]
For someone today
For today: this very gift, give, Dēvā — let me not forget you; I'll sing your guṇas fondly — that's my whole earning; no mukti or sampadā — give santa-sanga always; Tukā says — into the womb-dwelling — happily place us.
Where this applies
- When you're offered success, comfort, or an easy way out and realize what you actually want is to stay connected to what matters.
- When you catch yourself chasing achievement or security instead of the relationships and practices that keep you grounded.
- When you fear starting over or facing hardship again and need a reason to welcome it rather than dread it.
- When you wonder what to actually pray for or hope for, beyond comfort and results.