Abhanga 3191
Once you commit to a practice, don't keep a backup-self in reserve. Fear's whole family will try to slip back in front of you — refuse the line. Front-rank without reserve is the only kind that works.
The verse
भजनें चि जालें । मग जीवाचें काय आलें ॥१॥
येऊं नेदावी पुढती । आड भयाची ते जाती ॥ध्रु.॥
करितां सरोबरी । कांहीं न ठेवावी उरी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे शूर । व्हावे धुरेसीं च धुरे॥३॥
Literal translation
Bhajanēm chi jālēm — maga jīvāchēm kāya ālēm — (once it is) done by bhajana itself — what (more) came of the jīva. Yēūm nēdāvī puḍhatī — āḍa bhayāchī tē jātī — don't let (it) come forward — the obstructing jāti of fear. Karitām sarōbarī — kāmhī na ṭhēvāvī urī — while making sarōbarī — keep no urī. Tukā mhaṇe śūra — vhāve dhurēsīm chi dhurē — Tukā says: be a śūra — at the foremost-of-foremost.
What it means
A 4-verse front-rank text continuing the warrior-imagery of 3190. Bhajana itself does the work — the jīva need not add an "extra" claim. The whole jāti (clan) of fears is what stops you stepping forward — block it from re-appearing. In bhakti, sarōbarī (the front line) demands zero reserve (no urī held back). Be foremost of the foremost.
For someone today
Once you commit to a practice, don't keep a backup-self in reserve. Fear's whole family will try to slip back in front of you — refuse the line. Front-rank without reserve is the only kind that works.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's bhajana-completes; front-rank-no-reserve; foremost-of-foremost canonical
- Companion to 3190 (loot-limitless-treasury) and 3174 (no-turning-back)