Abhanga 4439
Even when old age strips away dignity and social regard, it is never too late to turn toward what matters and find release.
The verse
वृद्धपणी न पुसे कोणी । विटंबणी देहाची ॥१॥
नव द्वारें जाली मोकळीक । गांड सरली वाजती ॥ध्रु.॥
दंत दाढा गळे थुंका । लागे नाका हनुवटी ॥२॥
शब्द नये मुखावाटा । करिती चेष्टा पोरें ती ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे अजूनि तरी । स्मरें श्रीहरी सोडवील ॥४॥
Literal translation
Vrddha-paṇa-no-one-asks — deha-viṭambaṇa. 9-doors-open — gāṇḍa-saralī-vāje. Teeth-fall-spit-leaks — sticks-nāka-hanuvaṭī. Śabda-no-mouth — children-chēṣṭā. Tukā: even-now — remember-Śrī-Hari-saves.
What it means
A 4-verse companion-text to 4438 on old-age-decay. In old-age, no-one asks (after one); the mockery of the body. The nine-doors have become loose; the anus has slipped, makes noise. Teeth and molars slip; spit leaks, sticks to nose and chin. Word doesn't come from the mouth-way; children make mockery. Tukā says: even now — remember Śrī-Hari; (he) will release (you). The closing-difference from 4438: Śrī-Hari sōḍavīla (Śrī-Hari will release) — the soteriological-promise made-explicit. Pair with 4438 (companion).
For someone today
This verse continues Tukārām's unflinching look at old age, but adds a painful social dimension, in old age, he says, no one bothers to check on you anymore, and the body's decline becomes a kind of public humiliation. The body's control loosens everywhere, teeth slip, saliva leaks and sticks to the face, and words no longer come out clearly, so much so that children mock what they see. It's a hard picture of how aging can strip away both physical dignity and social regard at once. But Tukārām doesn't leave it there, he insists that even in that state, even now, remembering Hari can still bring release, meaning it is never too late to turn toward what matters.
मराठी: हा अभंग तुकारामांच्या म्हातारपणाच्या परखड वर्णनाला पुढे नेतो, पण त्यात एक वेदनादायी सामाजिक पैलूही जोडतो, म्हातारपणी कोणीही आपली विचारपूस करत नाही, असे ते सांगतात, आणि शरीराचा ऱ्हास हा जणू सार्वजनिक अपमान बनतो. शरीरावरचे नियंत्रण सगळीकडून सुटते, दात पडतात, लाळ गळून चेहऱ्याला चिकटते, आणि शब्द नीट उमटत नाहीत, इतके की लहान मुलेही टिंगल करतात. म्हातारपण शारीरिक प्रतिष्ठा आणि सामाजिक आदर दोन्ही एकाच वेळी कसे हिरावून घेऊ शकते, याचे हे कठोर चित्र आहे. पण तुकाराम इथेच थांबत नाहीत, ते ठामपणे सांगतात की अशा अवस्थेतही, आत्ताही, हरीचे स्मरण केले तर सुटका मिळू शकते, म्हणजेच जे महत्त्वाचे आहे त्याकडे वळण्यासाठी कधीही उशीर झालेला नसतो.
Where this applies
- When an elderly relative feels forgotten or ignored by family and it weighs on you
- When you fear losing your dignity as your body ages and grows weaker
- When you notice someone being mocked for a physical decline they can't control
- When you feel it's too late to turn your attention toward what truly matters