Bolaava Vitthala

This is one of the most popular Marathi Abhangs of Sant Tukaram Maharaj . This is sung by one and all, in the Warkari Sampradaya that is so prevalant in Maharashtra, Karantaka and parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh etc even today. With my rather rudimentary knowledge of Marathi, I have tried to make sense out of the prolific Abhang, below. I have given the lyrics in English, followed by transliteration ( as I understand it), translation and then my own interpretation of what the Abang means. At the end, I have also provided the Marathi lyrics

Abhang: 

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Bolaava Vitthala Pahaawa Vittala

Karaawa Vittala Jeewa bhaawa

Yene Sose Man Zale Hawbhari

Parati Maghari Yete Nahi

Bandna pasooni Ukalya Gaanthi

Deta Aali Mithi Sawkaanshe

Tuka Mahne Deh Bhaarila Vittale

Kaam Krodhe Kele Ghar Reete

- Sant Tukaram Maharaj

Trans-literation
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Bolva Vitthala - I only want to speak of Vitthala;  Pahawa Vittala - I want to see Vitthala in everything;  Karawa Vittala - I want to make Vitthala; Jeewabhawa  - the very essence (Bhava) of this Jeevan. 

Yene - come back ; Sose  - uncontrollable ; Man Zale. - heart has become ;  Hawbhari - filled with desire Parati - again;  Maghari - back; yete Nahi - does not go

Bandna - tied up (bondage);  pasooni - from when ;  Uklalya. - came unstruck; Gaanthi - (worldly) knots Deta Aali - has been giving ; Mithi - sweet emotions;  Sawkaanshe - சாவகாசமாக at leisure (slowly)

Tuka Mahne - Tuka(ram) says ;  Deh - the body ( தேகம்) ;  Bhaarila - has been filled with ;  Vittale - Vitthala ; Kaam - Krodhe - Desire and (resultant) Anger ;  Ghar - abode ;  Reete Kele - left (and went away) 

Translation:

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The state of my mind now is that I only want to talk about Vitthala, and nothing else. I only want to see Vitthala in everything my eyes see. So much so that I want to make Vitthala the very essence of living of this Jeevathma.

The heart is laden with an uncontrollable desire for Vitthala, that it refuses to come back to worldly affairs any more.

The bondage of Samsaara ( worldly affairs) gets easily un-knotted with the mere thought of Vitthala, who has been giving extremely pleasant emotions equanimously. 

Tukaram says : the body is filled with Vitthala to the brim, that there is no more space for desires, anger and all other worldly emotions anymore, and they have left this body, to make way for Vitthala. 

My Bhashyam (interpretation)

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This Abhang reflects the state of mind of Sant Tukaram, who in extreme posession of the thoughts of Vitthala. He feels he only wants to eat, breathe and sleep Vitthala. Though this Abhang professes the Bhakti Bhava of total Sharangathi, if one observes carefully, in a way, this also reflects the Gyana Yoga , where when the Atman starts getting absorbed in the Brahmam, worldly affairs cease to exist or matter. As per the Upanishad, that that is ultimate goal - of Paramatma - Jeevathma Aikyam , and thus the Jeevathma never returns to worldly matters any more. 

And in that journey towards the Aikyam, Sant Tukaram explains how the very smaranam ( thought) of Vitthala easily un-knots worldy bondages, and how other worldly emotions easily get displaced, when Vitthala fills the heart.

This Abhang reminds me of the Isavasya Upanishad ( stanza 15), which says

"O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee."

hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasyāpihitaṁ mukham

tat tvaṁ pūṣann apāvṛṇu satya-dharmāya dṛṣṭaye

Meaning:

hiraṇmayena—by a golden effulgence; pātreṇa—by a dazzling covering; satyasya—of the Supreme Truth; apihitam—covered; mukham—the face; tat—that covering; tvam—Yourself; pūṣan—O sustainer; apāvṛṇu—kindly remove; satya—pure; dharmāya—unto the devotee; dṛṣṭaye—for exhibiting.

बोलावा विठ्ठल पहावा विठ्ठल । 

करावा विठ्ठल जीवभाव ॥१॥

येणें सोसें मन जालें हांवभरी ।

परती माघारीं येते नाहीं ॥२॥

बंधना पासूनि उकलल्या गांठी ।

 देतां आली मिठी सावकाशें ॥३॥

तुका म्हणे देह भारिला विठ्ठलें ।

 कामक्रोध- केलें घर रीतें ॥४॥