Abhanga 3328
Tukaram says even being born and dying again feels acceptable to him now, because the love he has found makes it all worthwhile. This love has no limit, he insists, do not ever say it has become enough or reached its peak. It is like a mine of nectar that has just opened up, and no matter how much you draw from it, you are never fully satisfied, there is always more sweetness waiting. He ends with something almost bodily, this love truly nourishes him, Vitthal's name is genuinely real and present on his tongue.
The verse
उपजोनियां मरें । परि हें चि वाटे बरें ॥१॥
नाहीं आवडीसी पार । न म्हणावें जालें फार ॥ध्रु.॥
अमृताची खाणी । उघडली नव्हे धणी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे पचे । विठ्ठल हें मुखा साचें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Born-and-dies — but-this-itself-feels-good. No-pāra-to-love — don't-say-enough. Amrta-khāṇī-opened — no-dhaṇī. Tukā: it-digests — Viṭhṭhal-true-in-mouth.
What it means
A 3-verse love-without-limit text. Even rebirth is welcome if the love keeps growing; the mine-of-nectar gives no satiety.
For someone today
Tukaram says even being born and dying again feels acceptable to him now, because the love he has found makes it all worthwhile. This love has no limit, he insists, do not ever say it has become enough or reached its peak. It is like a mine of nectar that has just opened up, and no matter how much you draw from it, you are never fully satisfied, there is always more sweetness waiting. He ends with something almost bodily, this love truly nourishes him, Vitthal's name is genuinely real and present on his tongue.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात, आता जन्म आणि मृत्यू पुन्हा पुन्हा आले तरी मला ते बरं वाटतं, कारण जो प्रेमभाव मला सापडला आहे तो सगळं सार्थक करतो. या प्रेमाला मर्यादा नाही, असं ते ठासून सांगतात, हे पुरे झालं असं कधीच म्हणू नये. जणू अमृताची खाण नुकतीच उघडली आहे, आणि कितीही घेतलं तरी तृप्ती होत नाही, नेहमी आणखी गोडवा वाट पाहत असतो. शेवटी ते जवळजवळ शारीरिक अनुभव सांगतात, हे प्रेम खरोखर पोषण देतं, विठ्ठलाचं नाव जिभेवर खरंखुरं आणि जिवंत वाटतं.
Where this applies
- When you go through hardship or repeated struggle but a deeper love or purpose makes it feel worthwhile anyway
- When you assume your devotion or love for something has reached its limit and realize it can keep growing
- When you experience something so good that no amount of it ever feels like too much
- When you want a practice, like repeating God's name, to feel as real and sustaining as food