संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2986 of 4582

Abhanga 2986

Mukhya āhe āmhām mātechā paṭangā — the main (foundation) for us is the mātā's paṭanga (mother's frame, support); tuja Pāṇḍurangā kōṇa lekhī — who counts you, Pāṇḍurangā?

Part of Kānhōbā-lament-cluster (2977-2987)
NON-Tukārām composition — signed by Tukyā-bandhu
Mother-is-foundation; who-counts-you-Pāṇḍurangā striking-rejection

The verse

मुख्य आहे आम्हां मातेचा पटंगा । तुज पांडुरंगा कोण लेखी ॥१॥ नको लावूं आम्हां सवें तूं तोंवरी । पाहा दूरवरी विचारूनी ॥ध्रु.॥ साहे संतजन केले महाराज । न घडे आतां तुज भेईंन मी ॥२॥ तुकयाबंधु म्हणे अहिक्यें ऐक्यता । वाढतें अनंता दुःखें दुःख ॥३॥

Literal translation

Mukhya āhe āmhām mātechā paṭangāthe main (foundation) for us is the mātā's paṭanga (mother's frame, support); tuja Pāṇḍurangā kōṇa lekhīwho counts you, Pāṇḍurangā? Nakō lāvūm āmhām save tūm tōmvarīdon't stay-attached to us until-then; pāhā dūra-varī vichārūnīgo far, considering. Sāhe santa-jana kele mahārājathe santa-jana (saint-people) have made (him) the mahārāja (great-king); na ghaḍe ātām tuja bheīna mī(return) won't happen now — I (am) about to-fear. Tukyā-bandhu mhaṇe ahikye aikyatāTukārām's-brother says: in ahikya (non-attachment, exclusivity), aikyatā (unity) (grows); vāḍhate Anantā duḥkhe duḥkhagrows, O Ananta — by duḥkha on duḥkha**.

What it means

A 3-verse striking-rejection-and-acceptance verse signed by Tukyā-bandhu. Part of the lament-cluster (2977-2987).

Verse 1 (the striking rejection): Mukhya āhe āmhām mātechā paṭangā — tuja Pāṇḍurangā kōṇa lekhīthe main for us is the mother's paṭanga (support) — who counts you, Pāṇḍurangā? The bhakta-brother declares: the mother's-support is what-counts for us; you, Pāṇḍurangā, don't-matter. This is the bitter-rejection of the Lord-as-source-of-grief.

Dhrūpada: Nakō lāvūm āmhām save tūm tōmvarī — pāhā dūra-varī vichārūnīdon't stay-attached to us until-then — go far, considering. The painful-petition: go-away (until you bring-back the brother).

Verse 2 (the acceptance): Sāhe santa-jana kele mahārāja — na ghaḍe ātām tuja bheīna mīsanta-jana have made (him) mahārāja — (return) won't happen now — I (am about to) fear. The recognition: the saints have-honored-Tukārām-as-mahārāja (great-king); now-the-return-is-impossible. The fear-of-permanent-loss.

Close: Tukyā-bandhu mhaṇe ahikye aikyatā — vāḍhate Anantā duḥkhe duḥkhain non-attachment, unity grows — O Ananta — duḥkha-by-duḥkha. The paradox: in-separation, unity (of-the-grieving-community) grows; through-duḥkha-piled-on-duḥkha.

For someone today

A 3-verse striking-rejection-and-acceptance by Kānhōbā. The main (foundation) for us is the mother's support — who counts you, Pāṇḍurangā? Don't stay-attached to us until-then — go far, considering. The santa-jana have made (him) mahārāja — (return) won't happen now — I am-about-to-fear. Tukārām's-brother says: in non-attachment, unity grows — O Ananta — by duḥkha on duḥkha. The verse permits the bitter-rejection followed-by-acceptance: (1) the mother (not the Lord) is our-foundation; (2) the Lord-should-go-away until-the-brother-returns; (3) but the sants-have-honored-Tukārām, so return won't-happen; (4) in separation, unity-of-grieving-community grows.

Where this applies

Related verses