Abhanga 4062
For-arbhaka — pamta-holds-pāṭi.
The verse
अर्भकाचे साटीं । पंतें हातीं धरिली पाटी ॥१॥
तैसे संत जगीं । क्रिया करुनी दाविती अंगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
बालकाचे चाली । माता जाणुनि पाउल घाली ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नाव । जनासाटीं उदकीं ठाव ॥३॥
Literal translation
For-arbhaka — pamta-holds-pāṭi. Just-so-santas — show-kriyā-by-own-anga. Mother-knows-baby-walk — sets-foot-accordingly. Tukā: boat — for-jana — place-in-water.
What it means
★★ THE canonical 3-verse sants-as-teacher-by-doing text. For the little child's sake, the tutor takes a slate in hand (to demonstrate, not just to instruct). Just so the santas in the world show the kriyā by doing it with their own bodies. The mother, knowing the baby's walking-pace, sets her foot accordingly. The boat makes a place in the water for the sake of the people. Three pedagogical images: (1) pamta-pāṭi-arbhaka — the teacher demonstrates with the slate at the child's level; (2) mother-pāula-accommodates-baby's-chāli — adapts to the disciple's rate; (3) boat-makes-place-in-water-for-jana — the sant makes a way where there was no way. Foundational sants-pedagogy in Vārkarī. Pair with 2887 (sant-pūjā warrant), 2810 (12-verse saints-list).
For someone today
Tukārām: santas-teach-by-doing-with-their-own-bodies; like-teacher-with-slate-mother-with-baby's-pace-boat-in-water.
Where this applies
- ★★ Tukārām's sants-as-teacher-by-doing — pamta-mother-boat triple-pedagogy canonical
- Pair with 2887 (sant-pūjā), 2810 (saints-list)