Abhanga 4556
Sweetness toward God on the tongue leaves no room for hostility, and simple devotion lost in joy outshines even the greatest company.
The verse
गोविंदाचें नाम गोड घेतां वाचे । तेथें हे कइंचे वैरभाव ॥१॥
भावें नमस्कार घातले सकळीं । लोटांगणें तळीं महीवरि ॥२॥
वरि हातबाहे उभारिली देवें । कळलीया भावें सकळांच्या ॥३॥
सकळ ही वरि बहुडविले स्थळा । चलावें गोपाळा म्हणे घरा ॥४॥
राहिलीं हीं नाचों गोविंदाच्या बोलें । पडिलीया डोलें छंदें हो तीं ॥५॥
छंद तो नावरे आपणा आपला । आनंदाचा आला होता त्यांसि ॥६॥
त्यांच्या तुका म्हणे आनंदें सकळ । ठेंगणें गोपाळ समागमें ॥७॥
Literal translation
Govinda-Name-sweet-on-mouth — no-vairabhāva-here. Bhāve-namaskāra-by-all — lōṭāngaṇa-on-earth. Lord-raised-hand-arm-up — knowing-bhāva. Sent-back-Gopāḷas-go-home. Some-stayed-dancing-by-Govinda's-words. Chhanda-uncontrollable — ānanda-came. Tukā: with-Gopāḷas-sangāta — all-ṭhēngaṇē.
What it means
A 7-verse yamak-bandha — closes the Indra-stuti episode. Govinda-Name-sweet-on-mouth — no-enemy-feeling-stays. After all-prostrate, Lord-raises-his-hand-arm-in-blessing, sends-each-back-to-place. Some-Gopāḷas-stay-dancing-to-Govinda's-words, fall-into-swaying-chhanda. The closing-claim: in-the-samāgama-of-Gopāḷas all-become-ṭhēngaṇē-(low-or-dwarf in comparison) — even-Indra-and-devas-are-dwarfed-in-comparison-to-the-Gopāḷas'-bhakti-sangāta-with-Lord. Pair with 4555 (preceding Indra-stuti), 4557 (continuing aftermath).
For someone today
The moment Govinda's name becomes sweet on your tongue, there's no room left for hostility toward anyone. After everyone bowed to the ground in devotion, God raised his hand in blessing, understanding each person's heart, and sent them each back to their own place. But a few of the cowherds couldn't help staying behind, swaying and dancing to his words, swept up in a joy too strong to control. Tukaram says that in that company of simple cowherds lost in bliss, everyone else, however great, looks small by comparison.
मराठी: जेव्हा गोविंदाचे नाव जिभेवर गोड लागते, तेव्हा कोणाबद्दलही वैरभावाला जागाच उरत नाही. सर्वांनी भक्तिभावाने जमिनीवर लोटांगण घातल्यावर देवाने प्रत्येकाचा भाव जाणून आशीर्वादासाठी हात उंचावला आणि सर्वांना आपापल्या घरी परत पाठवले. पण काही गोपाळांना त्याच्या शब्दांनी इतका आनंद झाला की ते नाचतच राहिले, स्वतःवरही ताबा न राहता डोलत राहिले. तुकाराम म्हणतात, अशा आनंदात हरवलेल्या साध्या गोपाळांच्या सहवासात, कितीही मोठा असो, प्रत्येकजण लहान भासतो.
Where this applies
- When holding someone's name or presence lovingly in your mind pushes out anger you were carrying
- When you bow down in genuine devotion and feel truly seen and blessed in return
- When joy overtakes you so completely that you can't stop moving, singing, or dancing
- When you notice that simple, wholehearted devotion outshines status or greatness