Abhanga 2457
After searching everywhere else, Tukaram finds no equal to Narayana and settles permanently, without looking further, at his feet.
The verse
तुजविण कोणां । शरण जाऊं नारायणा ॥१॥ ऐसा न देखें मी कोणी । तुजा तिहीं त्रिभुवनीं ॥ध्रु.॥ पाहिलीं पुराणें । धांडोळिलीं दरुषणें ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे ठायीं । जडून ठेलों तुझ्या पायीं ॥३॥
Literal translation
Without you, to whom — śaraṇa, Nārāyaṇā. I see no one like you in the three worlds. Read Purāṇas — investigated darśanas. Tuka says: in place — I've fixed at your feet.
What it means
THE TUJAVIṆA-KŌṆĀṀ NO-OTHER-REFUGE ABHANG.
THE OPENING: tujaviṇa kōṇām — śaraṇa jāūm Nārāyaṇā — without you, to whom — śaraṇa, Nārāyaṇā. Without-you, to-whom (can-I-go) for-śaraṇa, Nārāyaṇā? The classic ananya-bhakti-claim: no-other-refuge.
The cosmic-search: aiśā na dēkhē mī kōṇī — tujā tihīm tribhuvanīm + pāhilim purāṇē — dhāṇḍōḷilīm daruṣaṇē — I see no one like you in three worlds — read Purāṇas, investigated darśanas. Searched-three-worlds, read-Purāṇas, investigated-darśanas; saw-no-one-like-you.
The closing-fix: Tukā mhaṇē ṭhāyīm — jaḍūn ṭhēlōm tujhyā pāyīm — in place — I've fixed at your feet. Stuck-in-place at-your-feet.
[T]
For someone today
For today: without you, to whom śaraṇa; no one like you in three worlds; Purāṇas + darśanas confirm; fixed at your feet.
Where this applies
- When you've tried many paths, teachers, or beliefs and keep coming back to the one that actually holds up
- When you feel the pull to keep searching for something better but honest reflection tells you what you already have is enough
- When you want your commitment to something to rest on real examination rather than habit or blind acceptance
- When you're ready to stop wandering and settle into one steady place of trust