Abhanga 2648
The warrior going to battle does not look back — keep me steady with such firmness now. I have come distant-from-samsāra; do compassion, Nārāyaṇa. I bear the weapon of your Name — that itself is my badge of pride. Tukā: if I turn back, what is lacking or full there — you know.
The verse
रणीं निघतां शूर न पाहे माघारें । ऐशा मज धीरें राख आतां ॥१॥
संसारा हातीं अंतरलों दुरी । आतां कृपा करीं नारायणा ॥ध्रु.॥
वागवितों तुझिया नामाचें हत्यार । हा चि बडिवार मिरवितों ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे मज फिरतां माघारें । तेथें उणें पुरें तुम्ही जाणां ॥३॥
Literal translation
The warrior going-out to the battle does not look back; keep me with such firmness now. From samsāra's hand I have come distanced; now do compassion, Nārāyaṇa. I carry the weapon of your Name — that itself is my badge of pride. Tukā says: when I turn back — what is lacking or full there, you know.
What it means
A short warrior-bhakta verse. Raṇīm nighatām śūra na pāhē māghārē — the śūra (warrior, hero) going-out to battle does not look back. Māghārēm na pāhē — does not look behind. The image is precise: the warrior who looks back at home, family, comfort during the battle's approach is already half-defeated. Tukārām asks for aiśā dhīrēm — with such firmness — rākha ātām — keep me now.
The dhrūpada: samsārā hātīm antaralōm durī — ātām krpā karīm Nārāyaṇā — from samsāra's hand I have come distanced; now do compassion, Nārāyaṇa. The bhakta has already taken the distance; the compassion-petition is for the firmness to keep it.
The middle verse declares the operating equipment: vāgavitōm tujhiyā Nāmāchēm hatyāra — hā chi baḍivāra miravitōm — I carry the weapon of your Name — this itself is the baḍivāra (badge of pride, banner) I wear. Baḍivāra — the warrior's banner or distinctive-mark. The Name-as-weapon is the bhakta's only kit; it is also his identifying-flag.
The close has the precise honest disclaimer: maja phiratām māghārēm — tēthēm uṇēm purē tumhī jāṇām — if I turn back — what is lacking or full there, you know. The bhakta does not promise I will never turn back; he says if I turn back, the diagnosis of why is in your knowing. This is the honest version — not heroic-perfection but warrior-effort with full disclosure to the commander.
For someone today
When you must commit to a path with no-look-back firmness, the warrior-image is exact. The warrior going to battle does not look back — looking-back is itself defeat-in-advance. Carry your Name (your tradition, your beloved, your central commitment) as your hatyāra (weapon) and your baḍivāra (banner) — both your only kit and your identifying-mark. And if the moment of turning-back comes, do not pretend it does not exist — what is lacking or full there, you know. The disclaimer maintains relationship with the protector even through the lapse.
Where this applies
- Committing to a serious path with warrior-resolve
- Carrying one's central love as both weapon and banner
- The honest disclaimer for the possibility of turning-back
- Asking for dhīra (firmness) rather than performing it