Abhanga 2981
Na lage chintā ātām anmōna hātā — no need for chintā now — without-asking, (something) has come into hand; āle mūla bhrātā gelā tyāñce — the mūla (root, source) — the bhrātā (brother) has gone — (is) his (the Lord's).
The verse
न लगे चिंता आतां अन्मोन हाता । आलें मूळ भ्राता गेला त्याचें ॥१॥
घरभेद्या येथें आहे तें सुकानु । धरितों कवळून पाय दोन्ही ॥ध्रु.॥
त्याचें त्याचिया मुखें पडिलें ठावें । न लगे सारावें मागें पुढें ॥२॥
तुकयाबंधु म्हणे करील भेटी भावा । सोडीन तेधवां या विठ्ठला ॥३॥
Literal translation
Na lage chintā ātām anmōna hātā — no need for chintā now — without-asking, (something) has come into hand; āle mūla bhrātā gelā tyāñce — the mūla (root, source) — the bhrātā (brother) has gone — (is) his (the Lord's). Ghara-bhedyā yethe āhe te sukānu — the ghara-bhedyā (house-betrayer, breaker-in) here is the sukānu (helmsman, ruler); dharitōm kavaḷūna pāya dōnhī — I am-grabbing both (his) feet, kavaḷūna (embracing). Tyāñce tyāchiyā mukhe paḍile ṭhāve — his-own-from-his-mouth has-fallen-known; na lage sārāve māge puḍhe — no need to rearrange front-or-back. Tukyā-bandhu mhaṇe — Tukārām's-brother says; karīl bhēṭī bhāvā — sōḍīna tedhavām yā Viṭhṭhalā — (when) he-will-make-meeting (with) brother — then I will-release this Viṭṭhal.
What it means
A striking 3-verse hostage-strategy verse by Tukyā-bandhu. Part of the lament-cluster (2977-2987).
The strategic-vichāra: Na lage chintā ātām anmōna hātā — no chintā now — (something) has come into hand without-asking. The brother-realizes: I-have-something-in-hand — the Lord-himself, who-took-his-brother.
Āle mūla bhrātā gelā tyāñce — the root, the brother has gone — (it is) his (the Lord's). Cryptic-claim: the brother's-going is the Lord's-doing (i.e., the Lord took-Tukārām away).
The hostage-image: Ghara-bhedyā yethe āhe te sukānu — dharitōm kavaḷūna pāya dōnhī — the house-thief here is the sukānu — I'm-grabbing-both-his-feet, embracing-them. The Lord-the-house-thief (who-stole-the-brother) is-now-the-sukānu (ruler) — and the bhakta-brother has-grabbed-his-feet with-both-hands. The hostage-image: I-have-the-feet of-the-house-thief; he-won't-escape.
Tyāñce tyāchiyā mukhe paḍile ṭhāve — na lage sārāve māge puḍhe — his-own-from-his-mouth has-fallen-revealed — no need to rearrange. The implicit-claim: the Lord has-already-acknowledged-the-theft-by-his-own-mouth.
Close (the hostage-demand): Tukyā-bandhu mhaṇe karīl bhēṭī bhāvā — sōḍīna tedhavām yā Viṭhṭhalā — Tukārām's-brother says: (when) he will-make-meeting (with my) brother — THEN I will release this Viṭṭhal. The bhakta-brother holds-Viṭṭhal-hostage until-Tukārām-is-returned.
For someone today
A striking hostage-strategy verse by Kānhōbā. No chintā now — without-being-asked, (something) has come into (the) hand. The root — the brother — has gone — (it is) his (the Lord's). The house-thief here is the sukānu — I am-grabbing both feet, embracing. His-own-from-his-mouth has-fallen-known — no need to rearrange. Tukārām's-brother says: (when) he will-make-meeting (with my) brother — then I will release this Viṭṭhal. The verse permits the bhakta-brother's-hostage-claim: hold-the-Lord's-feet; demand-the-departed-back. The bold-strategy: the Lord (who-stole-Tukārām) is-now-in-my-hands; only-by-returning-Tukārām will he be released.
Where this applies
- Part of Kānhōbā-lament-cluster (2977-2987)
- NON-Tukārām composition — signed by Tukyā-bandhu
- Grab-the-Lord's-feet; release-only-when-brother-returns hostage-petition
- Lord-as-house-thief; bhakta-as-hostage-taker striking reversal