Abhanga 3608
Devotion loses its flavor when it stays in one unchanging form, so let expression, service, and praise keep renewing themselves.
The verse
वाढवावा पुढें आणीक प्रकार । एक चि तें फार रुचि नेदी ॥१॥
निंच नवें लेणें देह हा पवाडा । पालट रोकडा वरावरी ॥ध्रु.॥
दिसे शोभिवंत सेवेनें सेवक । स्वामीची ते लोकत्रयीं कीर्ति ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आजी पाववा संतोष । करुनि कीर्तिघोष नाचईंन ॥३॥
Literal translation
Grow-prakāra — one-kind-no-ruchi. Deha-pavāḍā-always-new-lēṇē — pālaṭa-rōkaḍā-on-top. Sevaka-by-sevā-śōbhivanta — Master-kīrti-in-three-worlds. Tukā: today-bring-santōṣa — kīrti-ghōṣa-dance.
What it means
A 3-verse variety-and-kīrti text. Vary the kind — one is monotonous; the body is a heroic-poem getting always-new ornaments; the servant shines by serving — the Master's kīrti reaches three-worlds; bring me joy today, I'll dance roaring kīrti.
For someone today
Tukārām says devotion needs to keep taking on new forms — repeating just one way, over and over, eventually loses its flavor. He compares the body itself to an ever-renewing ornament, always capable of fresh expression. A servant shines through wholehearted service, and that shine reflects back as the Master's own glory, reaching all three worlds. So today, he says, bring me joy — and I'll dance, singing that glory aloud.
मराठी: तुकाराम सांगतात, भक्तीला सतत नवे रूप घ्यावे लागते — एकच एक पद्धत वारंवार केली की तिची गोडी उरत नाही. देह हाच जणू सतत नवा शृंगार धारण करणारा पवाडा आहे, असे ते म्हणतात. सेवक आपल्या मनापासूनच्या सेवेने शोभून दिसतो, आणि त्यातूनच स्वामीची कीर्ती तिन्ही लोकांत पसरते. म्हणून ते म्हणतात, आज मला आनंद दे — मी कीर्तीचा घोष करत नाचेन.
Where this applies
- When a devotional or creative practice starts feeling stale and needs fresh expression
- When you notice that repeating one method over and over has lost its flavor
- When active, wholehearted service makes you shine and reflects well on who you serve
- When you want to respond to a moment of joy with visible, enthusiastic celebration