Abhanga 2721
The one on whose śira (head) is the kārabhāra (responsibility) — buddhi sāra tyāñcī (his buddhi is the essence).
The verse
जया शिरीं कारभार । बुद्धि सार तयाची ॥१॥
वर्ते तैसें वर्ते जन । बहुतां गुण एकाचा ॥ध्रु.॥
आपणीयां पाक करी । तो इतरीं सेविजे ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे शूर राखे । गाढव्या वाखेसांगातें॥३॥
Literal translation
The one on whose śira (head) is the kārabhāra (responsibility) — buddhi sāra tyāñcī (his buddhi is the essence). People (jana) varte taisē varte (behave as he behaves) — bahutām guṇa ēkāñcā (the quality of one is for many). One āpaṇīyām pāka karī (cooks for himself) — others (itarīm) sevije (also enjoy). Tukā says: the śūra (warrior, hero) rākhē (preserves, protects) — gāḍhavyā vākhē-sāngāte (while keeping company with donkey-tail-grass).
What it means
A short leadership-principle verse. Jayā śirīm kārabhāra — buddhi sāra tyāñcī — whose head carries the responsibility — only his buddhi is essence. The kārabhāra (responsibility, business-of-management) sits on someone's śira (head); that person's buddhi (intelligence) is the sāra (essence, determining-quality). The leader's-mind sets the tone.
The dhrūpada: varte taisē varte jana — bahutām guṇa ēkāñcā — people behave as he behaves — the quality of one is for many. The leadership-multiplier: one's guṇa (quality, behavior-pattern) becomes the pattern for bahutām (many). The person at-the-head doesn't only affect himself; his quality propagates.
The second verse extends with a concrete-image: āpaṇīyām pāka karī — tō itarīm sevije — one cooks for himself — others (also) enjoy (it). The leader's-cooking is shared. What he prepares for himself becomes available to others. The implication: his self-care or self-neglect spreads.
The close has a curious image: śūra rākhē — gāḍhavyā vākhē-sāngāte — the warrior protects — while keeping company with donkey-tail-grass. Gāḍhavyā vākhē — a particular grass (literally donkey-tail grass, perhaps low-status weed-like grass). The warrior protects-and-defends even while keeping company with the lowliest grass. The image suggests the kārabhāra-bearer must continue his protection-of-others even amid low-and-unworthy-company.
For someone today
A useful leadership-principle verse. The leader's buddhi is the standard; people behave as he behaves; one cooks for himself but others also eat; the warrior protects even while keeping company with the lowliest grass. The leadership-multiplier is named: one's-quality-for-many. The closing image teaches: don't let unworthy-company excuse you from your protective-duty. The śūra (warrior) keeps protecting even when his immediate-surroundings are gāḍhavyā-vākhē (donkey-tail grass).
Where this applies
- Leadership-principle: the head's buddhi is the standard for many
- Cooks-for-himself, others-also-eat — leader's self-care propagates
- Warrior-protects-even-with-donkey-grass-company — duty doesn't depend on surroundings
- Recognizing one's kārabhāra (responsibility) and its multiplier-effect