Abhanga 3280
Act now, while you still have strength and time, because the chance to reach what truly matters will not wait for you.
The verse
करा करा लागपाट । धरा पंढरीची वाट । जंव नाहीं चपेट । घात पडिला काळाचा ॥१॥
दुजा ऐसा नाहीं कोणी । जो या काढी भयांतूनि । करा म्हणऊनि । हा विचार ठायींचा ॥ध्रु.॥
होती गात्रें बेंबळीं । दिवस अस्तमाना काळीं । हातपायटाळीं । जें मोकळी आहेती ॥२॥
कां रे घेतलासी सोसें । तुज वाटताहे कैसें । तुका म्हणे ऐसें । पुढें कैं लाहासी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Hurry-Paṇḍharī-vāṭa, before-kāḷa-chapeṭa-falls. No-second-rescues. Limbs-active-day, sunset-clap-free. Why-take-on-sōsa? Tukā: when-such-chance-ahead?
What it means
A 3-verse urgency-call. Take-Paṇḍharī-now-while-limbs-work.
For someone today
This is an urgent wake-up call. Tukaram tells you to hurry, to take the road toward Pandhari, before the sudden blow of death strikes and no one can rescue you from that terror. He points out that right now, during the day, your limbs are still strong and capable, still free to move, clap, and act, but that will not last until sunset. So he asks pointedly, why are you indulging in distraction instead? He warns that you may never get another chance like the one you have right now.
मराठी: हा एक तातडीचा जागृतीचा इशारा आहे. तुकाराम सांगतात, घाई करा, पंढरीची वाट धरा, काळाचा अचानक तडाखा बसण्याआधी, कारण त्या भीतीतून कोणीही तुम्हाला वाचवू शकणार नाही. सध्या, दिवसा, तुमचे हातपाय अजून सशक्त आणि सक्षम आहेत, हलण्या-चालण्यास मोकळे आहेत, पण हे मावळतीपर्यंत टिकणार नाही, असे ते निदर्शनास आणतात. मग तुम्ही याऐवजी विषयासक्तीत का गुंतला आहात, असे ते थेट विचारतात. असा हा क्षण पुन्हा कधी मिळेल, याची शाश्वती नाही, असा इशारा ते देतात.
Where this applies
- When you keep postponing something spiritually or personally important, telling yourself there's plenty of time.
- When you're healthy and capable right now but taking that for granted instead of acting.
- When you catch yourself indulging in distractions instead of doing what truly matters.
- When a reminder of mortality makes you reconsider how you're spending your remaining time.