संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2323 of 4582

Abhanga 2323

Tukaram turns quiet gratitude and reverence into a spoken, personal vow to travel and bow before the one who shaped him.

When you want to publicly acknowledge someone who gave you real understanding or guidance.

When you decide to finally make the pilgrimage or visit to someone you've long revered instead of just admiring them from afar.

When someone's kindness moves you enough that you commit out loud to repaying it with your presence.

The verse

माझ्या बापें मज दिधलें भातुकें । म्हणोनि कवतुकें क्रीडा करीं ॥१॥ केली आळी पुढें बोलिलों वचन । उत्तम हें ज्ञान आलें त्याचें ॥ध्रु.॥ घेऊनि विभाग जावें लवलाहा । आलेति या ठाया आपुलिया ॥२॥ तुका ज्ञानदेवीं समुदाय । करावा मी पाय येइन वंदूं ॥३॥

Literal translation

My father has given me a treat — therefore I play with kavatuka. The request was made earlier — I spoke the word — uttama-jñāna came from him. Take your portion, go quickly — you've come to this place of your own. Tukā [says] — at Jñānadēva's, the samudāya — I will come to venerate the feet.

What it means

THE OPENING OF THE JÑĀNADEVA-VENERATION CLUSTER (2323-2326). I-will-come-to-venerate-Jñānadēva's-feet abhang.

The opening — father's treat: mājhyā bāpē maja didhalē bhātukē — mhaṇōni kavatukē krīḍā karīm — my father has given me a treat — therefore I play with kavatuka. Bhātukē = child's-treat, food-for-the-child. Kavatukē = with-amusement. My-father has-given-me-a-treat; therefore I-play-with-amusement.

The uttama-jñāna: kēlī āḷī puḍhē bōlilōm vachana — uttama hē jñāna ālē tyāchē — the request was made earlier — I spoke the word — uttama-jñāna came from him. The request-was-made earlier; I-spoke-the-word; uttama-jñāna came from-him (the father).

The take-portion-go-quickly (addressed to the visiting-Brahmin/visitor): ghē'ūni vibhāga jāvē lavalāhā — ālēti yā ṭhāyā āpuliyā — take your portion, go quickly — you've come to this place of your own. Take-your-portion-and-go-quickly; you've-come-to-this-place by-your-own-(initiative).

THE EXPLICIT DECLARATION: Tukā Jñānadēvīm samudāya — karāvā mī pāya yē'īna vandūm — Tukā [says] — at Jñānadēva's, the samudāya — I will come to venerate the feet. Jñānadēvīm = at Jñānadēva (locative — at Āḷandī, his samādhi-place). Samudāya = gathering, assembly. Tukā says: at Jñānadēva's-(samādhi-place), the samudāya (= the assembly-of-saints-and-pilgrims gathers); I will-come to-venerate-the-feet. A direct-personal-declaration: Tukārām announces-his-intention-to-make-pilgrimage to-Āḷandī to-venerate Jñānadēva.

This may be the explicit-context for the Aḷankāpurī-Brahmin-cluster (2308-2314): just-as-the-Brahmin came-from-Āḷandī to-Dehū, Tukārām reciprocates-by-announcing-his-intention to-go-from-Dehū to-Āḷandī.

[T]

For someone today

For today: my father gave me a treat — I play with kavatuka; the request was made — uttama-jñāna came from him; take your portion, go quickly — you've come of your own; Tukā [says] — at Jñānadēva's, the samudāya — I will come to venerate the feet.

Where this applies

When you feel deep gratitude for something a parent or teacher gave you and want to celebrate it openly rather than silently.
When you've admired someone from a distance for years and finally decide to actually go and pay your respects in person.
When a visitor or guest comes to see you and you want to honor the gesture by returning the visit yourself.
When quiet reverence needs to turn into an actual plan, like booking the trip instead of just feeling thankful.

Bhakti Mother / Family bond