Abhanga 4205
Devotion asks for nothing but love and the Name in every state of being, and it declares that birth, caste, or circumstance are no barrier to it at all.
The verse
हे चि माझे चित्ती । राहो भावप्रीति । विठ्ठल सुषुप्ती । जागृति स्वप्नासी ॥१॥
आणिक नाहीं तुज मागणें । राज्यचाड संपत्ति धन । जिव्हे सुख तेणें । घेतां देहीं नाम तुझें ॥ध्रु॥
तुझें रूप सर्वाठायीं । देखें ऐसें प्रेम देई । न ठेवावा ठायीं । अनुभव चित्तीचा ॥२॥
जन्ममरणाचा बाध । समुळूनि तुटे कंद । लागो हा चि छंद । हरि गोविंद वाचेसी ॥३॥
काय पालटे दरुषणें । अवघें कोंदाटे चैतन्य । जीवशिवा खंडण । होय ते रे चिंतितां ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे या चि भावें । आम्हीं धालों तुझ्या नामें । सुखें होत जन्म । भलते याती भलतैसीं ॥५॥
Literal translation
This-in-chitti — bhāva-prīti-stay — Viṭṭhal-in-suṣupti-jāgrti-svapna. No-other-māgaṇē — rājya-sampatti-dhana — jihvā-sukha-by-Name-in-deha. Your-rūpa-everywhere-see — give-prema-don't-keep-anubhava-only-in-chitti. Janma-maraṇa-bondage-from-root-cut — let-Hari-Govinda-be-chanda-vāchā. What-changes-by-darśana — all-filled-by-chaitanya — jīva-śiva-khaṇḍana-by-chinta. Tukā: by-this-bhāva — saturated-by-Name — sukhē-hōta-janma-bhalatē-yātī-bhalataisī.
What it means
THE canonical 5-verse Vārkarī-yearning text. In my heart let bhāva-love stay; Viṭṭhal in deep-sleep, waking, and dream. No other request from you — no kingdom, no wealth, no money. Tongue-joy by saying your Name in body. Your form everywhere see — give such love — don't keep the experience only in my heart (let it spread). The bondage of birth-death is cut from the root by this; let this be the chanda (rhythm): Hari-Govinda on the speech. What changes by darśana? Everything is filled with chaitanya; the separation of jīva-śiva happens by this meditation. Tukā says: by this very bhāva, we are saturated by your Name; let births happen with joy — of any caste, any way. The closing line — sukhē-hōta-janma — bhalatē-yātī-bhalataisī — is radical: let births happen of any caste, any way, joyfully — provided the Name and bhāva stay. A direct refutation of caste-anxiety in soteriology. Pair with 2755 (śūdra-vamśī-autobiography), 4096 (source-doesn't-matter).
For someone today
Tukaram prays for one thing only: that love for Vitthal fill his heart in every state, deep sleep, waking, and dream, with no desire for kingdoms, wealth, or riches, only the simple joy of saying God's name. He asks to see God's form everywhere and not keep that experience locked inside himself, but let it overflow outward. This, he says, cuts the root of birth and death, and the only rhythm he wants on his tongue is Hari Govinda. Most strikingly, he declares that he is glad to be reborn again and again, in any caste, in any condition, as long as this love and the Name stay with him, directly rejecting the idea that caste or birth status is any barrier to devotion.
मराठी: तुकाराम फक्त एकच गोष्ट मागतात — विठ्ठलावरचं प्रेम त्यांच्या मनात गाढ झोपेत, जागेपणी आणि स्वप्नातही टिकून राहावं, राज्य, संपत्ती किंवा धन यांची इच्छा नको, फक्त देवाचं नाव घेण्याचा साधा आनंद हवा. देवाचं रूप सर्वत्र दिसावं आणि तो अनुभव फक्त मनातच बंदिस्त न राहता बाहेर उमलावा, अशी ते विनवणी करतात. यामुळेच जन्ममृत्यूचं बंधन मुळापासून तुटतं, आणि जिभेवर फक्त हरि-गोविंद हाच एक नाद राहावा, असं ते म्हणतात. सर्वात लक्षणीय म्हणजे, प्रेम आणि नाम टिकून राहिलं तर कोणत्याही जातीत, कोणत्याही स्थितीत पुन्हा पुन्हा जन्म घ्यायला आपली हरकत नाही, असं ते स्पष्टपणे सांगतात — जात किंवा जन्मस्थिती भक्तीच्या आड येत नाही, हे ते ठामपणे नाकारतात.
Where this applies
- When you are seeking a single, simple focus for your spiritual life instead of chasing wealth or status
- When you worry that your background, caste, or social status disqualifies you from spiritual belonging
- When a personal experience of love or insight feels too private and you sense it should be shared or lived outwardly
- When you want a daily practice as simple as repeating a name or phrase that keeps you grounded