संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2678 of 4582

Abhanga 2678

There are arrivals in a long-effortful life where the entire rṇa (debt) is settled in one ghaḍī — twenty-four minutes — and the alabhya (unattainable) thing simply arrives in hand. The verse names the structure: previous-āṭī sutured by one sūtra, guest-hospitality at the celebration, special-regard where essential, debt-paid in one ghaḍī. The arrival is not built incrementally; it comes whole. Notice when yours arrives this way and do not insist on incremental-explanation. The pace, when essential-regard is present, can be small-or-large.

The arrival-moment when long-struggle resolves in one stroke
Realizing that the alabhya (unattainable) has come to hand
The paihi-pāhuṇēra hospitality-image as bhakti-arrival

The verse

मागील ते आटी येणें घडे सांग । सुतवेल अंग एका सूत्रें ॥१॥ पहिपाहुणेर ते सोहळ्यापुरते । तेथुनि आरते उपचार ते ॥ध्रु.॥ आवश्यक तेथें आगळा आदर । चाली थोडें फार संपादतें ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे ॠण फिटे एके घडी । अलभ्य ते जोडी हातां आल्या ॥३॥

Literal translation

The previous āṭī (struggle) — by this is resolved completely; the body is sūtavēla (sutured-with-thread) by one sūtra. The paihi-pāhuṇēra (first-guest-hospitality) is sōhaḷyāpuratē (just-for-the-celebration); from there the āratē-upachāra (āratī-and-treatment) proceed. Where it is āvaśyaka (essential), there is āgaḷā ādara (special regard); a chālī thōḍēm phāra sampādatē (a small-or-large pace suffices). Tukā says: the debt is paid in one ghaḍī (24-minute unit) — the alabhya (unattainable) joining has come to hand.

What it means

A small arrival-economy verse. Māgila tē āṭī yēṇē ghaḍē sānga — sūtavēla anga ēkā sūtrēthe previous struggle is resolved completely; the body is sutured with one thread. The long-piecing-together of struggles has been wrapped-up by one sūtra (thread); the body that was torn-apart by āṭī (intense effort) is now sutured.

The dhrūpada moves to the wedding-or-festival-image: paihi-pāhuṇēra tē sōhaḷyāpuratē — tēthūnī āratē-upachāra tēthe first-guest-hospitality is just for the celebration; from there the āratī-and-treatment proceed. Paihi-pāhuṇēra — the first-guest-hospitality (when distinguished guests arrive at a wedding or festival). The image is of a household receiving its honored-guest with full hospitality.

The second verse: āvaśyaka tēthē āgaḷā ādara — chālī thōḍēm phāra sampādatēwhere it is essential, there is special regard; a small or large pace suffices. The āgaḷā ādara (special-extra-regard) is reserved for the essential. And the chālī (gait, pace) can be small-or-large — the speed doesn't matter, only the essential-regard.

The close: rṇa fiṭē ēkē ghaḍī — alabhya tē jōḍī hātām ālyāthe debt is paid in one ghaḍī — the unattainable joining has come to hand. The whole rṇa (debt) of struggle is settled in one ghaḍī (24 minutes). And the alabhya (un-obtainable) joining has come to hand. The bhakti-arrival is in this register: long-debt resolved fast, unattainable-thing in hand.

For someone today

There are arrivals in a long-effortful life where the entire rṇa (debt) is settled in one ghaḍī — twenty-four minutes — and the alabhya (unattainable) thing simply arrives in hand. The verse names the structure: previous-āṭī sutured by one sūtra, guest-hospitality at the celebration, special-regard where essential, debt-paid in one ghaḍī. The arrival is not built incrementally; it comes whole. Notice when yours arrives this way and do not insist on incremental-explanation. The pace, when essential-regard is present, can be small-or-large.

Where this applies

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