Abhanga 3833
Genuine joy comes from simple repeated devotion shared in good company, a peace so complete that nothing else feels necessary or worth chasing.
The verse
आनंदें कीर्तन कथा करीं घोष । आवडीचा रस प्रेमसुख ॥१॥
मज या आवडे वैष्णवांचा संग । तेथें नाहीं लाग कळिकाळा ॥ध्रु.॥
स्वल्प मात्र वाचे बैसलासे निका । राम कृष्ण सखा नारायण ॥२॥
विचारितां मज दुजें वाटे लाज । उपदेशें काज आणीक नाहीं ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे चित्त रंगलेंसे ठायीं । माझें तुझ्या पायीं पांडुरंगा ॥४॥
Literal translation
Ānanda-kīrtana-kathā-ghōṣa — āvaḍī-rasa-prema-sukha. Love-Vaiṣṇavas-sanga — no-touch-of-kaḷi-kāḷa. Little-on-tongue-nikā — Rāma-Krṣṇa-sakhā-Nārāyaṇa. Thinking-other-feels-lāja — no-other-upadeśa. Tukā: chitta-coloured — at-Pāṇḍuranga's-feet.
What it means
A 4-verse kīrtana-rasa text. In bliss I do kīrtana-kathā with shouts — the rasa of longing, the joy of love. I love the Vaiṣṇavas' company — there, no touch of Kaḷi-time. Just a little sits fitting on my tongue: Rāma-Krṣṇa-sakhā-Nārāyaṇa. To think of anything else makes me ashamed — I need no other upadeśa. My chitta is dyed-and-stuck at your feet, Pāṇḍuranga. The mantra Rāma-Krṣṇa-sakhā-Nārāyaṇa (closely related to 2448's Rāma-Krṣṇa-Hari-Viṭhṭhala-Kēśava) is the kīrtana-formula.
For someone today
Tukaram describes the sheer joy of singing kirtana, calling out with delight in the company of fellow devotees, a joy so complete that the troubles of the difficult age can't touch him there. Just a few simple names, Rama, Krishna, dear friend, Narayana, sit easily on his tongue and are all he needs. Thinking about anything else feels shameful to him now, he doesn't need any other teaching, because his whole heart has become soaked and settled at God's feet. This is a picture of joy found in simple repetition and good company rather than complicated pursuits.
मराठी: तुकाराम कीर्तनाच्या निखळ आनंदाचे वर्णन करतात, सहवासी भक्तांसोबत उत्साहाने नामघोष करण्याचा आनंद, इतका पूर्ण की कलियुगाचे त्रास तिथे स्पर्शही करू शकत नाहीत. राम, कृष्ण, सखा, नारायण ही थोडकी नावे त्यांच्या जिभेवर सहज बसतात आणि तेवढेच त्यांना पुरेसे आहेत. आता इतर कशाचा विचार करणे त्यांना लाजिरवाणे वाटते, त्यांना दुसऱ्या कोणत्याही उपदेशाची गरज नाही, कारण त्यांचे संपूर्ण मन देवाच्या पायाशी रंगून, स्थिर होऊन बसले आहे. साधे नामस्मरण आणि चांगला सहवास यातून मिळणाऱ्या आनंदाचे हे चित्र आहे, गुंतागुंतीच्या शोधापेक्षा.
Where this applies
- When you find real joy in singing or chanting with a group of people you trust
- When you realize a few simple words repeated with love bring more peace than complex ideas
- When you feel embarrassed by how far you have wandered from something simple and true
- When you notice your mind has settled fully on one thing, calm and undistracted