Abhanga 4375
The verse
नव्हे हें कवित्व टांकसाळी नाणें । घेती भले जन भले लोक ॥१॥
लागलासे झरा पूर्ण नवनीतें । सेविलियां हित फार होय ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे देवा केला बलात्कार । अंगा आलें फार महंतपण ॥३॥
Literal translation
This-is-not-(mere)-kavitva-it-IS-mint-stamped-coin — (only)-good-quality-people-take-it. Tapped-zarā-full-navanīta — sevā-hita-much. Tukā: balatkāra-on-Deva — mahanta-paṇa-to-anga.
What it means
★ A 3-verse kavitva-authenticity-claim text. This is not (mere) poetry — it IS the mint-stamped (genuine) coin; (only) the good-quality people, the good folk, take it. A spring of full butter has been tapped — by serving (consuming) it, much benefit comes. Tukā says: I have forcefully-importuned Deva — much master-status has come to my body. The poetics-authenticity-claim: the abhangs are not-mere-versification — they are mint-stamped-currency (the standard-coin of bhakti); only-the-good-quality-recipients receive-it as such. The angā-ālēm-mahantapaṇa (master-status came to the body) is the consequence of forcefully-importuning Deva — Tukārām claims bhakti-extorted-authenticity. Pair with 4252 (rare self-deprecating-pākhaṇḍa-of-letters — companion-but-inverted-tone).
For someone today
Tukārām: my-poetry-IS-the-mint-stamped-coin-of-bhakti — extracted-from-Deva-by-importune; only-the-good-quality-people-receive-it-as-such.
Where this applies
- ★ Tukārām's this-IS-mint-stamped-authentic-coin not-mere-poetry canonical