Abhanga 2340

Once you stop needing praise or blame from anyone, even from God, you find a quiet contentment that no longer depends on being seen or approved.

The verse

Literal translation

What it means

THE DĒVA-HAS-DIED-TO-ME POST-RELATIONSHIP-STATE ABHANG. The completion-of the 2339's my-death-itself-died non-dual-realization.

THE OPENING LINE: mājhē lēkhīm Dēva mēlā — asō tyālā asēla — in my reckoning, Dēva has died — let him be as he is. Lēkhīm = in the account, reckoning. Mēlā = has died. In my-reckoning, Dēva-has-died; let-him-be as-he-is. A startling declaration — but it's-not-atheism — it's the post-relationship-state where the duality-of-bhakta-and-Lord has-collapsed; for-the-realized-bhakta, the-separate-Lord-as-other-to-petition has-died.

The no-conversation: gōṣṭī na karī nāmva nēghē — gēlōm dōghē khaṇḍōnī — I don't make conversation, I don't take the name — we two have parted, broken-apart. I-don't-make-conversation, I-don't-take-the-name; we-two-have-parted (gēlōm dōghē khaṇḍōnī). Echoes 2339's death-of-death — the speaker-listener duality has-dissolved.

The enough-stuti-and-nindā: stuti-samavēta nindā — kēlā dhandā udaṇḍa — along with stuti — and nindā — enough trade I've done. Dhandā = trade, business. Along-with stuti, with-nindā — enough-trade-have-I-done. (= the praise-and-blame trade is-over.)

The closing — quiet, spent-jīvitva: Tukā mhaṇē nivānta ṭhēlōm — vēchita ālōm jīvitva — Tuka says: I've become quiet — I've spent the jīvitva. Nivānta = quiet, undisturbed. I've-become-quiet; I've-spent the-jīvitva (life-stuff).

The paired-line-with-2339: - 2339: maraṇa mājhē marōn gēlē — maja kēlē amara (my-death-died, I-became-immortal) - 2340: mājhē lēkhīm Dēva mēlā — asō tyālā asēla (in-my-reckoning, Dēva-has-died — let-him-be)

Together they-articulate the completed-non-dual-state: the bhakta is-immortal because-death-died; and-the-separate-Lord too-has-died-(as-other), because-the-duality-has-dissolved.

[T]

For someone today

For today: in my reckoning, Dēva has died — let him be as he is; I don't talk, don't take the name — we two have parted; along with stuti and nindā — enough trade; Tuka says — I've become quiet — I've spent the jīvitva.

Where this applies

• When you keep performing for others' approval and are tired of the praise-and-blame game
• When a relationship has grown so close that formal talk or pleading no longer feels necessary
• When you want to stop arguing your case and just settle into quiet contentment
• When you feel you have spent enough of your life chasing outcomes and are ready to rest

Related verses

• Abhanga 2448 — The easiest path to God is repeating divine names with love at home, right where you are,
• Abhanga 2467 — What looks like your whole world, like a fig to the insect living inside it, is only a tin
• Abhanga 2494 — Living in devotion turns an ordinary day into a festival and removes the fear of birth and
• Abhanga 4481 — Tukaram promises that sincerely calling on the Lord's name, knowingly or unknowingly, with