Abhanga 2347
The verse
कथा देवाचें ध्यान । कथा साधना मंडण । कथे ऐसें पुण्य आणीक नाहीं सर्वथा ॥१॥ ऐसा साच खरा भाव । कथेमाजी उभा देव ॥ध्रु.॥ मंत्र स्वल्प जना उच्चारितां वाचे मना । म्हणतां नारायणा क्षणें जळती महा दोष ॥२॥ भावें करितां कीर्तन तरे तारी आणीक जन । भेटे नारायण संदेह नाहीं म्हणे तुका ॥३॥
Literal translation
English: ★ Kathā is Dēva's dhyāna — kathā is the ornament of sādhana ★ — there's no puṇya like the kathā, ever. Such is the true, real bhāva — ★ Dēva stands in the kathā ★. A small mantra spoken in vāchā-manas — uttering Nārāyaṇa, mahā-dōṣas burn in a kṣaṇa. Doing kīrtana with bhāva — crosses-and-carries others across — Nārāyaṇa meets — no doubt — Tukā says.
What it means
★ THE KATHĀ-IS-DĒVA'S-DHYĀNA ABHANG ★ — the supreme-status-of-kathā in Tukārām's-doctrine.
★ THE OPENING LINES — TWO CELEBRATED DECLARATIONS ★: 1. Kathā Dēvāchē dhyāna — kathā sādhanā maṇḍaṇa — kathē aisē puṇya āṇīka nāhīm sarvathā — ★ Kathā is Dēva's dhyāna — kathā is the ornament of sādhana ★ — no puṇya like the kathā, ever. Kathā IS the Dēva's-dhyāna (= itself is meditation-on-the-Lord); the maṇḍaṇa (ornament) of-sādhana.
- Aisā sācha kharā bhāva — kathēmājhī ubhā Dēva — Such is the true, real bhāva — ★ Dēva stands in the kathā ★. ★ The Dēva himself-stands in-the-kathā. ★ A profound presence-claim: where-kathā-is, Viṭhṭhal-stands.
The Nārāyaṇa-utters-burns-dōṣas: mantra svalpa janā uchchāritām vāchē manā — mhaṇatām Nārāyaṇā kṣaṇē jaḷatī mahā dōṣa — a small mantra spoken in vāchā-manas — uttering Nārāyaṇa, mahā-dōṣas burn in a kṣaṇa. The Name's-instantaneous-cleansing-power.
The closing — bhāva-kīrtana-saves-others: bhāvē karitām kīrtana tarē tārī āṇīka jana — bhēṭē Nārāyaṇa sandēha nāhīm mhaṇē Tukā — doing kīrtana with bhāva — crosses-and-carries others across — Nārāyaṇa meets — no doubt — Tukā says. Bhāva-kīrtana not-only-saves-the-kīrtana-doer but-also-carries-others-across; Nārāyaṇa meets — no-doubt.
This abhang complements 2346 (kathā-etiquette) by-giving-the-positive-doctrinal-basis: kathā IS Dēva's-dhyāna, the-Dēva-stands-in-the-kathā — therefore-the-misconduct-during-kathā (per 2346) is-grievous, and-the-bhāva-kīrtana (per 2347) is-the-supreme-puṇya.
[T]
For someone today
For today: ★ kathā is Dēva's dhyāna — kathā is the ornament of sādhana — no puṇya like it ★; such is the true bhāva — ★ Dēva stands in the kathā ★; a small mantra spoken in vāchā-manas — Nārāyaṇa uttered burns mahā-dōṣas in a kṣaṇa; doing kīrtana with bhāva — crosses-and-carries others — Nārāyaṇa meets, no doubt.
Where this applies
- Kathā-is-Dēva's-dhyāna-ornament-of-sādhana. Kathā-Dēvāchē-dhyāna-sādhanā-maṇḍaṇa.
- Dēva-stands-in-the-kathā. Sācha-kharā-bhāva-kathēmājhī-ubhā-Dēva.
- Nārāyaṇa-uttered-burns-mahā-dōṣas.* Mantra-svalpa-Nārāyaṇā-kṣaṇē-jaḷatī-mahā-dōṣa.
- Bhāva-kīrtana-carries-others-Nārāyaṇa-meets.* Bhāvē-kīrtana-tarē-tārī-Nārāyaṇa.