संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 1196 of 4582

Abhanga 1196

Bodies die all the time, but the mind's craving doesn't die with them — Tukaram observes that desire is what actually carries forward, life after life. It's not physical death that frees you; it's the death of wanting itself. So real transformation isn't about outliving your body, it's about finally letting your restless wanting go quiet.

When countless die — but mana-kī-āsa (mind's hope) does not get extinguished — and you have to recognize this register

The verse

क्या जानूं केते मरता । जो न मिटती मनकी आस ॥१॥

Literal translation

Kyā jānūm kētē maratā — jō na miṭatī mana-kī āsa.

मराठी: कोण जाणें कितीं मरतात — पण मनाची आस मिटत नाहीं.

Word-by-word gloss

Marathi/Hindi	Meaning
क्या जानूं केते मरता	"kyā jānūm kētē maratā"
जो न मिटती मनकी आस	"jō na miṭatī mana-kī āsa"

What it means

Sākhyā 29 of 30 — mind-desire-survives-even-death image. Who knows how many keep dying — yet the mana-kī āsa (mind's hope/desire) does not get extinguished. Even at death, the mind-desire survives — this is what reincarnates. Killing mana-āsa (cf. Sākhyā 26 icchā-mu'īm) is the only true death.

[T]

For someone today

मराठी: शरीरं सतत मरत असतात, पण मनाची आस त्यांच्यासोबत मरत नाही — तुकाराम म्हणतात, हीच आस जन्मोजन्मी पुढे चालत राहते. खरी मुक्ती शरीराच्या मृत्यूने मिळत नाही, ती मनाच्या इच्छेच्या मृत्यूनेच मिळते. म्हणून खरा बदल म्हणजे शरीराच्या पलीकडे जगणे नव्हे, तर आतल्या अस्वस्थ आसक्तीला शांत करणे.

Where this applies

When you keep chasing the same craving over and over and can't figure out why nothing satisfies it
When you assume growing older or facing mortality will automatically bring you peace
When you notice your mind still wants and grasps even in moments that should feel complete
When you're trying to change your life but only change your circumstances, not your inner hunger

Bhakti