Abhanga 4329
The mere decision to turn toward God begins to loosen guilt and fear, and once you taste that joy you never want to leave it.
The verse
पंढरीस जाऊं म्हणती । यम थोर चिंता करि ती ॥१॥
या रे नाचों ब्रम्हानंदें । विठ्ठलनामाचिया छंदें ॥ध्रु.॥
धरिली पंढरीची वाट । पापें रिगालीं कपाट ॥२॥
केलें भीमरेचें स्नान । यमपुरी पडिले खान ॥३॥
दुरोनि देखिली पंढरी । पापें गेलीं दुरच्यादुरी ॥४॥
दुरोनि देखिलें राउळ । हरुषें नाचती गोपाळ ॥५॥
तुका म्हणे नाहीं जाणें । अखंड पंढरिराहणें ॥६॥
Literal translation
Paṇḍharīsa jāūm mhaṇatī — yama thōra chintā kari tī: those who say we'll-go-to-Paṇḍharī — Yama greatly worries. Yā re nāchōm brahmānande — Viṭhṭhala-nāmāchiyā chande: come, let's dance in brahmānanda by Viṭṭhal-Nāma-chanda. Dharilī Paṇḍharīchī vāṭa — pāpe rigālīm kapāṭa: path-of-Paṇḍharī grasped — pāpas flee into cave. Kele Bhīmaree chē snāna — yama-purī paḍile khāna: Bhīmā-bath done — Yama-purī collapsed. Dūrōni dekhilī Paṇḍharī — pāpe gelīm duracyādurī: Paṇḍharī seen from afar — pāpas went far-far. Dūrōni dekhile rāuḷa — haruṣe nāchatī gōpāḷa: rāuḷa seen from afar — gōpāḷas dance in joy. Tukā mhaṇe nāhīm jāṇe — akhaṇḍa Paṇḍhari-rāhaṇe: Tukā says: no going-away — unbroken Paṇḍharī-residence.
What it means
A 6-verse Vārkarī pilgrimage-text. Yama himself worries when people decide to go to Paṇḍharī; the Bhīmā-bath collapses Yama-purī; even distant darśana drives pāpas far; the conclusion is no-departure — Paṇḍharī as permanent abode.
For someone today
Tukārām declares: the pilgrimage-decision alone makes Yama tremble; once the path is grasped, stay there as akhaṇḍa-residence.
Where this applies
- When you take the first small step toward change and already feel old resistance melt
- When fear of guilt or judgment weighs on you and you want relief from it
- When a place, practice, or memory of joy makes you want to stay in that state forever
- When you doubt whether even beginning a spiritual journey really matters