संत साहित्य
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संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2090 of 4582

Abhanga 2090

English: By laya-focus, became Deva — they say — that's not the true bhāva, know.

When you'd reject laya-bahuśruta-tapas-karma-jāti + only-niṣkāma-brings-Rāma — laya-lakṣūniyām-Dēva-bhāva-satya-na; bahu-śruta-niśchintīnē-na; tapē-dāna-bīja-phaḷa-puḍhē; karma-ācharaṇa-yātī-sva-guṇa-viśēṣa-na; niṣkāma-Rāma-dēkhē-ḍōḷām

The verse

लय लक्षूनियां जालों म्हणती देव । तो ही नव्हे भाव सत्य जाणा ॥१॥ जालों बहुश्रुत न लगे आतां कांहीं । नको राहूं ते ही निश्चिंतीनें ॥ध्रु.॥ तपें दान काय मानिसी विश्वास । बीज फळ त्यास आहे पुढें ॥२॥ कर्म आचरण यातीचा स्वगुण । विशेष तो गुण काय तेथें ॥३॥ तुका म्हणे जरी होईंल निष्काम । तरि च होय राम देखे डोळां ॥४॥ ॥५॥

Literal translation

English: By laya-focus, became Deva — they say — that's not the true bhāva, know. Became bahu-śruta, nothing more needed — don't stay there too with carelessness. Tapas-dāna — what trust in them — their seed-fruit is yet ahead. Karma-conduct, jāti-sva-guṇa — what special guṇa is there? Tuka says: only if one becomes niṣkāma — then-and-only-then Rāma seen with eyes. ॥5॥

Word-by-word gloss
Marathi Meaning
लय लक्षूनियां जालों म्हणती देव "by laya-focus, became Deva — they say"
तो ही नव्हे भाव सत्य जाणा "that's not the true bhāva — know"
जालों बहुश्रुत न लगे आतां कांहीं "became bahu-śruta — nothing more needed"
नको राहूं ते ही निश्चिंतीनें "don't stay there too with carelessness"
तपें दान काय मानिसी विश्वास "tapas-dāna — what trust in them"
बीज फळ त्यास आहे पुढें "their seed-fruit is yet ahead"
कर्म आचरण यातीचा स्वगुण "karma-conduct, jāti-sva-guṇa"
विशेष तो गुण काय तेथें "what special guṇa is there"
तुका म्हणे जरी होईंल निष्काम "Tuka says — only if one becomes niṣkāma"
तरि च होय राम देखे डोळां "then-and-only-then Rāma seen with eyes"
॥५॥ "colophon-5 — closes 5-abhang sub-cluster (2086-2090)"

What it means

Not-laya-not-bahuśruta-not-tapas-only-niṣkāma-brings-Rāma abhang. CLOSES 5-ABHANG SUB-CLUSTER (2086-2090) — SYSTEMATIC REJECTION OF PATHS.

Systematic rejection of-spiritual-paths: 1. laya lakṣūniyām jālōm mhaṇatī Dēva — tō hī navhē bhāvaby laya-focus (laya-yoga, dissolution), became Deva — they say — that's not true bhāva. 2. jālōm bahu-śruta na lagē ātām kāhīm — nakō rāhūm tē hī niśchintīnēbahu-śruta (much-learning) — careless complacency must-be-avoided. 3. tapē dāna kāya mānisī viśvāsa — bīja phaḷa tyāsa āhē puḍhētapas-and-dāna — their fruit is-still-ahead (not immediate-realization). 4. karma ācharaṇa yātīchā sva-guṇa — viśēṣa tō guṇa kāya tēthēkarma-conduct, jāti-sva-guṇa — no special-attainment there.

THE CONCLUSION: Tukā mhaṇē jarī hō'īla niṣkāma — tari cha hōya Rāma dēkhē ḍōḷāmTuka says: only if one becomes niṣkāma — then-and-only-then Rāma seen with eyes. Only niṣkāma (desireless-action) brings Rāma-to-the-eyes. One of Tukārām's foundational-conclusions: desirelessness, not techniques, brings darśana.

Colophon ॥५॥ confirms 5-abhang sub-cluster (2086-2090) — the slander-condemnation + self-knowledge-prerequisite + rejection-of-paths trilogy.

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For someone today

For today: by laya-focus, became Deva — they say — that's not true bhāva; became bahu-śruta — don't stay too with carelessness; tapas-dāna — what trust — fruit is still ahead; karma-conduct, jāti-sva-guṇa — what special guṇa is there?; Tuka says — only if one becomes niṣkāma — then-and-only-then Rāma seen with eyes.

Where this applies

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