संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3829 of 4582

Abhanga 3829

Hey-Puṇḍyā — why-mātalāsi — made-Viṭṭhal-stand.

The verse

कां रे पुंड्या मातलासी । उभें केलें विठ्ठलासी ॥१॥ ऐसा कैसा रे तूं धीट । मागें भिरकाविली वीट ॥ध्रु.॥ युगें जालीं अठ्ठावीस । अजुनी न म्हणसी बैस ॥२॥ भाव देखोनि निकट । देवें सोडिलें वैकुंठ ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे पुंडलिका । तूं चि बळिया एक निका ॥४॥

Literal translation

Hey-Puṇḍyā — why-mātalāsi — made-Viṭṭhal-stand. How-bold — threw-brick-back. 28-yugas — still-don't-say-bēsa. Seeing-bhāva-close — Deva-left-Vaikuṇṭha. Tukā: Puṇḍalika — you-alone-strong-nikā.

What it means

★★ A canonical 4-verse playful-praise of Puṇḍalika. Hey Puṇḍyā — why have you become so proud? You've made Viṭṭhal stand! How bold you are — you threw a brick backward (at the Lord)! Twenty-eight yugas have passed — and you still don't say sit. Seeing your bhāva close, Deva left Vaikuṇṭha (for you). Puṇḍalika — you alone are the truly strong one. This is the canonical retelling of the Puṇḍalika-legend: Puṇḍalika was so engrossed in serving his parents that when Viṭṭhal arrived, he threw a brick backward saying stand on this and wait — and the Lord did stand, and has been standing on the brick at Paṇḍharpur ever since (twenty-eight yugas). The line ajunī na mhaṇasī baisa (you-still-don't-say-sit) is gentle teasing affection for Puṇḍalika as the bhakta-who-out-bhakta'd-the-Lord. Pair with 2896 (Puṇḍalīka-served-parents-Lord-stood-on-brick), 3738 (Vaikuṇṭha-chakravartī-on-brick).

For someone today

Tukārām: Puṇḍyā — you've-made-the-Lord-stand-for-28-yugas — you're-the-truly-strong-one.

Where this applies

Related verses