संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 1197 of 4582

Abhanga 1197

Tukaram says a plain, dry piece of bread eaten while remembering Rama's name is worth more than a rich feast of butter, sugar, and sweet rice enjoyed without that remembrance. It's a plain statement about priorities: don't trade the practice of naming the divine for comfort or luxury. Whatever your circumstances, simple or lavish, what matters most is whether God's name is present in it.

When the dry roti where Rāma is said is better than the feast where he is not — and you have to recognize this register

The verse

राम कहावे सो भली रुखी । माखन खांडखीर ॥१॥ ॥३०॥

Literal translation

Rāma kahāvē sō bhalī rukhī — mākhana khāṇḍa-khīra.

मराठी: जिथें राम म्हणतात ती रुखी (कोरडी पोळी) — चांगली; (राम-विना) मलईं-साखर-खीर — व्यर्थ.

Word-by-word gloss

Marathi/Hindi	Meaning
राम कहावे सो भली रुखी	"Rāma kahāvē sō bhalī rukhī"
माखन खांडखीर	"mākhana khāṇḍa-khīra"

What it means

Sākhyā 30 of 30 — closes the sub-series ॥३०॥. The dry roti (rukhī) where Rāma's name is spoken is better than the mākhana-khāṇḍa-khīra (butter-sugar-rice feast) where it is not. The closing couplet of the Sākhyā sub-series sums the whole register: Rāma-nāma over external comforts, always.

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For someone today

मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात, रामाचें नाव घेत खाल्लेली कोरडी भाकरी, रामाशिवाय खाल्लेल्या लोणी-साखर-खिरीच्या मेजवानीपेक्षा जास्त मोलाची आहे. ही एक साधी शिकवण आहे प्राधान्यांबद्दल — सुखसोयी किंवा ऐश्वर्यासाठी नामस्मरण सोडू नका. परिस्थिती साधी असो वा श्रीमंत, खरं महत्त्वाचं हे आहे की त्यात देवाचं नाव आहे की नाही.

Where this applies

When you're offered comfort or luxury that would pull your attention away from your spiritual practice
When you feel embarrassed about your simple life next to someone else's rich one
When you have to choose between an easier path and one that keeps you connected to what matters
When you catch yourself thinking more comfort would make your life more meaningful

Bhakti