Abhanga 4362
In the ordinary joy of friends sharing a simple meal together, offering the first share to God before anyone eats is itself an act of devotion.
The verse
सोडियेल्या गाईं नवलक्ष गोपाळीं । सवें वनमाळी चालियेला ॥१॥
सुदीन समय भाग्याचा उदय । चारावया गाईं वनामाजी ॥ध्रु.॥
गाईंगोपाळांच्या संगें चाली हरि । क्रीडा नानापरि खेळताति ॥२॥
काठी कांबळीया मोहरीया पोंवा । सिदोरी गांजिवा खांद्यावरि ॥३॥
गोधनें संवगडे खेळे नानापरी । आले भीमातीरीं वेणुनादा ॥४॥
तेथें उभा ठेला गोपाळांसहित । सिदोरिया सोडीत बैसे तेथें ॥५॥
तुका म्हणे ज्यांनीं आणिल्या भाकरी । नेऊनियां हरीपुढें देती ॥६॥
Literal translation
Released-9-lakh-gōpāḷas-gāī — Vanamāḷī-walked. Sudīna-bhāgya-uday — graze-gāī-in-vana. Gāī-gōpāḷa-sanga-Hari — krīḍā-nānā-pari. Kāṭhī-kāmbaḷī-mohariyā-pōmvā — sidōrī-gānjivā-shoulder. Bhīmā-tīra-veṇu-nāda — sidōriyās-opened. Tukā: bhākarī-brought — given-to-Hari.
What it means
Opening verse of a 5-abhang Krṣṇa-pastoral-meal cluster (4362-4366). The 9-lakh gōpāḷas released the cattle; with them, Vanamāḷī walked. An auspicious-day, an occasion of fortune's rise — to graze the cattle in the forest. With the company of cattle and gōpāḷas, Hari walks; they play in various ways. Stick, woollen-blanket, the mohariyā and pōmvā (small-pipes), the food-parcel (sidōrī) with the special-parcel (gānjivā) on the shoulder. With their cattle-wealth and playmates, playing variously — they came to the Bhīmā-bank at the flute-call. (Hari) stood there with the gōpāḷas; opening the food-parcels, he sits down there. Tukā says: those who had brought the flatbread — bring it forward and give it to Hari. Pastoral-scene-setup: cattle, woollen blankets, pipes, food-parcels, Bhīmā-bank, flute-call, sidōrīs-opened-meal-set. The cluster (4362-4366) develops as a 5-abhang extended-Krṣṇa-pastoral narrative.
For someone today
Tukaram paints a joyful scene of Krishna walking out with countless young cowherds to graze the cattle, calling it a truly fortunate day. They walk together playing all sorts of games, carrying simple things, sticks, blankets, little pipes, and food parcels slung over their shoulders. Following the sound of the flute, they all gather on the bank of the river, and Krishna sits down right there among his friends. When the food parcels are opened, Tukaram notes that those who brought the bread bring it forward first and offer it to Hari, before anyone eats.
मराठी: तुकाराम कृष्णाचं एक आनंददायी दृश्य रंगवतात, तो असंख्य गोपाळांसोबत गुरं चारायला निघतो, आणि हा दिवस खरोखर भाग्याचा आहे असं ते म्हणतात. सगळे एकत्र चालतात, नाना प्रकारे खेळत, काठी, कांबळी, छोटी शिंगी, आणि खांद्यावर शिदोरी घेऊन साध्या गोष्टी बाळगत. बासरीच्या आवाजाला अनुसरून सगळे नदीकाठी जमतात, आणि कृष्ण तिथेच आपल्या सवंगड्यांमध्ये बसतो. शिदोऱ्या सोडल्यावर, तुकाराम सांगतात की ज्यांनी भाकरी आणली आहे ते ती आधी पुढे करून हरीला अर्पण करतात, कोणी खाण्याआधी.
Where this applies
- Opening verse of 5-abhang Krṣṇa-pastoral-meal cluster (4362-4366)