Abhanga 4105
Mathana-dharmādharma — varma-navanīta.
The verse
मथनासाटीं धर्माधर्म । त्याचें वर्म नवनीत ॥१॥
तें चि तें घाटूं नये । आलें जाय नासूनि ॥ध्रु.॥
सांभाळावें वरावर । वर्म दूर न वजावें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे घालें पोट । मग बोटचांचणी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Mathana-dharmādharma — varma-navanīta. Don't-keep-churning-same — spoils. Safeguard-surface — varma-not-far. Tukā: fill-pōṭa-then-bōta-chānchaṇī.
What it means
A 3-verse churning-discipline text. In churning, there is a right-and-wrong way; the essence-product is butter. Don't keep over-churning the same thing — it spoils and goes. Safeguard on the surface; the essence shouldn't go far. Fill the belly — then there is the finger-licking of leftovers. The image is from butter-making: churning is delicate — over-churning spoils the cream. Suggests bhakti-practice should not be over-driven.
For someone today
Tukārām: don't-over-churn — the-essence-butter-spoils-if-you-keep-going; eat-properly-first-then-finger-lick-the-rest.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's churning-discipline; don't-over-do canonical