संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2522 of 4582

Abhanga 2522

True commitment means refusing to back down until you get a response, putting determination first, and not letting even ordinary daily life pull you away from what matters most.

When you finally stop half-trying and commit fully to something you've been putting off

When someone offers you comforting words but you know you haven't truly staked anything yet

When daily routines like eating or resting start to distract you from a commitment you've made

The verse

आतां होइन धरणेकरी । भीतरीच कोंडीन ॥१॥ नाही केली जीवेंसाटी । तों कां गोष्टी रुचे तें ॥ध्रु.॥ आधी निर्धार तो सार । मग भार सोसीन ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे खाऊं जेवूं । नेदूं होऊं वेगळा ॥३॥

Literal translation

Now I'll become a dharaṇē-karī (protest-faster) — will confine inside. Until life-bet not made — what talk is pleasing. First determination, then bear burden. Tuka says: eating-drinking — won't let become separate.

What it means

THE DHARAṆĒ-KARĪ PROTEST-FASTER ABHANG. Continuation of 2484's 13-day-fast protest-bhakti.

The protest-faster claim: ātām hō'ina dharaṇē-karī — bhītarī cha kōṇḍīna — now I'll become a dharaṇē-karī — will confine inside. Dharaṇē-karī = one who sits in dharṇā (protest-fast at someone's door). I'll become a dharaṇē-karī; will-confine myself-inside (= won't leave until Lord responds). A direct claim of protest-fast technique against the Lord — staying put until response.

[T]

For someone today

For today: I'll become a dharaṇē-karī — won't let separation.

Where this applies

When you decide to stop negotiating with yourself and commit fully to something that matters
When comforting words from others feel hollow because you haven't truly staked anything yet
When you realize resolve has to come before you can carry the hard work that follows
When ordinary daily habits, like eating or resting, threaten to pull your focus away from what you've committed to

Bhakti