Abhanga 337

This abhang names the guṇa-over-yāti rule:

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

A sharp anti-caste, pro-guṇa abhang. Three claims:

1. आसुरी स्वभाव निर्दय अंतर — मानसीं निष्ठ‍ अतिवादी — demonic nature, cruel-inside, harsh-extreme in mind. The āsurī-svabhāva (demonic-nature) is named as cruel-inside, harsh, extreme-talker. This is not caste-determined; it appears across castes.

2. याति कुळ येथें असे अप्रमाण — गुणाचें कारण असे अंगीं — yāti-kuḷa here is apramāṇa — guṇa is the cause in the body. The radical-claim: yāti-kuḷa is irrelevant (apramāṇa — no-evidence-status); guṇa (qualities, character) is what causes — and it lives in the anga (body / person), not in the kuḷa (clan).

3. काळकुट पितळ सोनें शुद्ध रंग — अंगाचेंच अंग साक्ष देतें — poison, brass, gold, pure-color — the body's body itself gives witness. The test-by-substance: poison shows itself as poison; brass as brass; gold as gold; pure-color as pure-color. The anga (substance) testifies to itself. Don't go by the kuḷa-label; go by what the substance shows.

4. तुका म्हणे बरी जातीसवें भेटी — नवनीत पोटीं सांटविलें — Tuka says: good is the meeting with the right-jāti — cream is stored in the belly. The fellowship-rule: when you meet the right-kind (= right-quality-person, not right-caste), cream is stored in the belly (= internal-nourishment is acquired). The jāti in this closing-line is the kind/quality, not the caste.

[T]

For someone today

This abhang names the guṇa-over-yāti rule:

1. Demonic-nature appears regardless of caste. Āsurī-svabhāva — cruel-inside, harsh, extreme-talker — can appear in any caste. Don't exempt high-castes from the demonic-test.

2. Yāti-kuḷa is apramāṇa; guṇa* is the cause. Yāti-kuḷa yēthēm asē apramāṇa — guṇācem kāraṇa asē angīm. The caste-clan label gives no evidence about a person's quality. The guṇa (quality, character) — which is in the body/person itself* — is the cause.

3. The anga* itself gives witness. Poison shows poison; gold shows gold. Don't infer from labels; infer from the substance's testimony. The person's acts and qualities are the witness*.

4. Meet the right-jāti* (kind, not caste); cream is stored in the belly. When you associate with right-quality people, internal-nourishment is what you receive. Fellowship by quality, not by caste*.

For today: don't trust caste-labels — trust substance-testimony; demonic-nature can appear in any caste; guṇa is in the body, not in the kuḷa; associate with right-quality people for internal-nourishment.

This is Tukaram's recurring anti-caste move — across the Gatha, guṇa-over-yāti is steady.

मराठी: ही ओवी guṇa-over-yāti rule नाव सांगते:

1. Demonic-nature कुठल्याही caste मध्ये येतं. आसुरी-स्वभाव — cruel-inside, harsh, extreme-talker — कुठल्याही caste मध्ये. High-castes ला demonic-test exempt करू नका.

2. Yāti-kuḷa apramāṇa; guṇa* कारण. याति-कुळ येथें असे अप्रमाण — गुणाचें कारण असे अंगीं. Caste-clan label evidence देत नाही. Guṇa (quality, character) — body/person मध्ये* — कारण.

3. Anga स्वतः साक्ष देतं. Poison-poison दाखवतं; gold-gold दाखवतं. Labels वरून infer करू नका; substance च्या testimony वरून.

4. Right-jāti* (kind, caste नाही) ला भेटा; पोटात नवनीत साठतं. Right-quality people associate — internal-nourishment receive. Quality ने fellowship, caste ने नाही*.

आज: Caste-labels वर trust नका — substance-testimony वर; demonic-nature कुठल्याही caste मध्ये; guṇa body मध्ये, kuḷa मध्ये नाही; Right-quality people associate.

Tukaram चं recurring anti-caste move — Gatha मध्ये guṇa-over-yāti steady.

Where this applies

• Demonic-nature is caste-independent. Don't exempt by clan.
• Yāti-kuḷa is apramāṇa. Caste-label gives no evidence.
• Substance gives witness. Substance-testimony test.
• Meet the right-jāti (quality). Cream-in-the-belly.

Related verses

• Abhanga 2381
• Abhanga 3855 — Āpaṇā lāge kāma vāṇyā gharīm guḷa — if (I) need jaggery for work, (I go) to vāṇī's house;
• Abhanga 4205
• Abhanga 4273