संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 335 of 4582

Abhanga 335

Worship should be done with a calm, contented heart — pushing it to excess only creates strain, not devotion. The saints already know and have taught this rule of moderation, so it carries the weight of tradition. Whatever needs to happen will happen naturally, at its own right moment, without being forced. Tukaram closes by bowing his head to the feet of the saints, honoring them for this wisdom.

When pūjā-with-samādhāna is the right-mode — and you have to recognize this moderation
When atiśayē-pūjā increases śiṇa — and you accept this caution
When what-is-needed is done at sahaja-prasanga — and you receive this natural-rhythm rule

The verse

पूजा समाधानें । अतिशयें वाढे सीण ॥१॥ हें तों जाणां तुम्ही संत । आहे बोलिली ते नीत ॥ध्रु.॥ पाहिजे तें केलें । सहज प्रसंगीं घडलें ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे माथा । पायीं ठेवीं तुम्हां संतां ॥३॥

Literal translation

Pūjā with samādhāna — excess — śiṇa increases. You saints know this — (this) is the nīta spoken. What is needed — done — at sahaja-prasanga — happened. Tuka says: I place my māthā at your pāya — saints.

मराठी: पूजा समाधानें — अतिशयें वाढे सीण. हें तों जाणां तुम्ही संत — आहे बोलिली ते नीत. पाहिजे तें केलें — सहज प्रसंगीं घडलें. तुकाराम म्हणतां — माथा — पायीं ठेवीं तुम्हां संतां.

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi Meaning
पूजा समाधानें "pūjā withsamādhāna"
अतिशयें वाढे सीण "excess (atiśayē) —śiṇa(strain) increases"
हें तों जाणां तुम्ही संत "you saints know this"
आहे बोलिली ते नीत "(this) is thenīta(rule) that was spoken"
पाहिजे तें केलें "what is needed — is done"
सहज प्रसंगीं घडलें "atsahaja-prasanga— happened"
माथा पायीं ठेवीं तुम्हां संतां "I place mymāthāat yourpāya— saints"

What it means

A short moderate-pūjā abhang. Three claims:

  1. पूजा समाधानें — अतिशयें वाढे सीणpūjā with samādhāna — excess increases śiṇa. The moderation-rule. Pūjā should be with samādhāna (composure / contentment / ease). Atiśayē (excess) — increases śiṇa (strain / fatigue). Excessive-pūjā produces strain, not bhakti. (Compare 215 adhika-tired; 316 atiśaya khōṭā.)

  2. हें तों जाणां तुम्ही संत — आहे बोलिली ते नीतyou saints know this — (this) is the spoken-nīta. The appeal-to-saints-as-knowers. Saints know; this is the nīta (rule) that has been spoken. The moderation-rule has saint-authority.

  3. पाहिजे तें केलें — सहज प्रसंगीं घडलेंwhat is needed — done — at sahaja-prasanga. The natural-rhythm rule. Sahaja-prasanganatural occasion / spontaneous-moment. What is needed is done at the natural moment; not forced, not contrived. (Compare 296 svayambhū-āitē; same natural-arising frame.)

  4. तुका म्हणे माथा पायीं ठेवीं तुम्हां संतांTuka says: I place my māthā at your pāya — saints. The closing-prostration. I place my head at your feet, saints. (Compare 326 viśrānti at saints' feet; same posture.)

[T]

For someone today

Worship should be done with a calm, contented heart — pushing it to excess only creates strain, not devotion. The saints already know and have taught this rule of moderation, so it carries the weight of tradition. Whatever needs to happen will happen naturally, at its own right moment, without being forced. Tukaram closes by bowing his head to the feet of the saints, honoring them for this wisdom.

मराठी: पूजा शांत, समाधानी मनाने करावी — अतिरेक केला तर तो केवळ ताण निर्माण करतो, भक्ती नाही. संतांना हा संयमाचा नियम आधीच माहीत आहे आणि त्यांनीच तो सांगितला आहे, त्यामुळे त्याला परंपरेचे बळ आहे. जे व्हायचे ते सहज, योग्य वेळी आपोआप घडते, त्यासाठी जबरदस्ती करण्याची गरज नाही. शेवटी तुकाराम या ज्ञानाबद्दल संतांच्या चरणी मस्तक ठेवून त्यांचा सन्मान करतात.

Where this applies

Related verses