Abhanga 1199
The greatness of saints is very hard to reach, and no amount of clever talk about it can touch what it truly is. Even if a buffalo grew as sturdy and well-built as a cow, would it ever become the wish-fulfilling kāmadhenu? Tuka says: you have to actually become it yourself, in your own life and conduct — only then will that greatness truly become known to you.
The verse
संतांचा महिमा तो बहु दुर्गम । शाब्दिकांचे काम नाहीं येथें ॥१॥ बहु धड जरी जाली म्हैस गाय । तरी होईंल काय कामधेनु ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे अंगें व्हावें तें आपण । तरी च महिमान येईंल कळों ॥३॥
Literal translation
The saint's greatness (mahimā) is very durgama — the work of mere word-people (śābdika) doesn't apply here. Even if a buffalo became as strong as a cow — would she become kāma-dhēnu? Tuka says: one must oneself become it (anga = in body); only then will the mahimā come to be known.
मराठी: संतांचा महिमा फार दुर्गम — इथें शाब्दिकांचें (निव्वळ बोलणाऱ्यांचें) काम नाहीं. म्हैस फार धडधाकट झाली, तरी ती कामधेनु होईल काय? Tukā म्हणे — आपण-च अंगानें (स्व-अनुभवें) तें व्हावें — तरीच महिमा कळून येईल.
Word-by-word gloss
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| संतांचा महिमा तो बहु दुर्गम | "saint-greatness is very durgama (hard-to-attain)" |
| शाब्दिकांचे काम नाहीं येथें | "the work of word-people (śabdika = mere talkers) doesn't apply here" |
| बहु धड जरी जाली म्हैस गाय | "even if buffalo became as strong (dhaḍa) as a cow" |
| तरी होईंल काय कामधेनु | "would she become kāma-dhēnu (the wish-cow)?" |
| अंगें व्हावें तें आपण | "one must oneself become it (anga = body, in person)" |
| तरी च महिमान येईंल कळों | "only then will the mahimā (greatness) come to be known" |
What it means
Anti-śābdika abhang. Mere word-people (śābdika — those who can talk about saints brilliantly) are dismissed: saint-greatness is durgama (hard country), not approached by speech. The buffalo-vs-kāmadhēnu image is sharp: even a strong-built buffalo (a dhaḍa-mhaisa) doesn't become the wish-fulfilling kāmadhēnu — talking like a saint isn't being one. Only anga-vhāvē (becoming-in-person) reveals the mahimā.
[T]
For someone today
The greatness of saints is very hard to reach, and no amount of clever talk about it can touch what it truly is. Even if a buffalo grew as sturdy and well-built as a cow, would it ever become the wish-fulfilling kāmadhenu? Tuka says: you have to actually become it yourself, in your own life and conduct — only then will that greatness truly become known to you.
मराठी: संतांचा महिमा अतिशय दुर्गम आहे, आणि नुसत्या शब्दांनी बोलणाऱ्यांना तो कधीच गवसत नाही. म्हैस कितीही धडधाकट, गायीसारखी झाली, तरी ती कामधेनू होऊ शकते का? तुका म्हणतात, ते स्वतः आपल्या आचरणात, आपल्या अंगी उतरवावे लागते — तरच ती थोरवी खऱ्या अर्थाने उमगते.
Where this applies
- When you can quote wise teachings fluently but haven't actually lived by them
- When you're impressed by someone's eloquent talk about spirituality and mistake it for real depth
- When you catch yourself explaining a practice instead of doing it
- When you compare a well-spoken commentator to someone quietly living the real thing