Abhanga 3957
Tukaram pictures devotees as warriors armed with the names of Hari, answering only to God and unmoved by outside opinion or approval.
The verse
भाते भरूनि हरिनामाचे । वीर गर्जती विठ्ठलाचे॥१॥
अनंतनामाची आरोळी । एक एकाहूनि बळी ॥ध्रु.॥
नाहीं आणिकांचा गुमान । ज्याचे अंकित त्यावांचून ॥२॥
रिद्धि सिद्धी ज्या कामारी । तुका म्हणे ज्याचे घरीं ॥३॥
Literal translation
Bhāte bharūnī Harināmāñce — quivers filled with Hari-Nāma; vīra garjatī Viṭhṭhalāñce — vīras roar of Viṭhṭhal. Anantanāmāñcī ārōḷī — ananta-nāma battle-cry; eka ekāhūnī baḷī — one stronger than another. Nāhī āṇikāñcā gumāna — no regard for others; jyāñce amkita tyāvāmchūna — except (his) ankitas. Rddhi siddhī jyā kāmārī — rddhi-siddhi as kāmārī; Tukā mhaṇe jyāñce gharīm — Tukā says: in whose house.
What it means
A 3-verse Vārkarī-warrior image. Bhaktas-as-warriors with-Name-quivers, roaring-Viṭṭhal; rddhi-siddhi as-maids-in-their-house.
For someone today
Tukaram pictures devotees as warriors whose quivers are filled not with arrows but with the countless names of Hari, roaring Vitthal's name like a battle cry, each one urging the other on with even greater strength. These warriors answer to nothing and no one except those who belong to God, unmoved by outside opinion, and even extraordinary powers become like humble servants in their household. It is an image of fierce, focused devotion, where total allegiance to one thing frees you from needing anyone else's approval.
मराठी: तुकाराम भक्तांना योद्ध्यांसारखे चित्रित करतात, ज्यांचे भाते बाणांनी नव्हे तर हरिच्या असंख्य नामांनी भरलेले आहेत, विठ्ठलाचे नाव युद्धघोषासारखे गर्जत, एकमेकांना अधिकाधिक बळ देत. हे योद्धे कोणाच्याही मताला जुमानत नाहीत, फक्त देवाच्या माणसांशिवाय कोणाचीही तमा बाळगत नाहीत, आणि रिद्धी-सिद्धीसारख्या असामान्य शक्तीही त्यांच्या घरात दासीसारख्या वावरतात. एकाच गोष्टीशी पूर्ण निष्ठा ठेवली की इतर कोणाच्याही मान्यतेची गरज उरत नाही, अशी उग्र आणि एकाग्र भक्तीची ही प्रतिमा आहे.
Where this applies
- When you need courage to commit fully to something you believe in, even if it means ignoring outside opinion
- When you are surrounded by people who reinforce and strengthen your resolve rather than dilute it
- When external validation, status, or minor rewards start to matter more than your central purpose
- When you want language and imagery that turns quiet devotion into something bold and unshakeable