संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2367 of 4582

Abhanga 2367

For today: those non-dual in viṣaya — don't touch us; Dēva is niṣkāma-apart; vāsanā-veil prevents Brahma-state; being-in-body — no totality.

When you notice yourself using spiritual talk to excuse indulgent behavior

When you claim to be above worldly craving but your actions say otherwise

When you are weighing whether your peace of mind is real or just borrowed words

The verse

विषयीं अद्वये । त्यासी आम्हां सिवो नये ॥१॥ देव तेथुनि निराळा । असे निष्काम वेगळा ॥ध्रु.॥ वासनेची बुंथी । तेथें कैची ब्रम्हस्थिति ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे असतां देहीं । तेथें नाही जेमेतीं ॥३॥

Literal translation

Those non-dual in viṣaya — let them not touch us. Dēva is separate from there — exists niṣkāma, apart. Where there's vāsanā-veil — what Brahma-state is there. Tuka says: being-in-the-body — there is no totality-(of-attainment)-there.

What it means

THE FALSE-ADVAITA-IN-VIṢAYA ABHANG. Sixth of Sālōmālō-anti-plagiarist cluster (2363-2370).

THE OPENING: viṣayīm advayē — tyāsī āmhām śivō nayē — those non-dual in viṣaya — let them not touch us. Viṣaya = sense-object, worldly-pursuit. Advaya = non-dual. Those who-claim non-duality (advaya) while-engaged-in-viṣaya (sense-objects) — let-them-not-touch-us. A classic anti-pseudo-Vedantic-polemic — those-who-cite-advaita-philosophy as-justification-for-licentiousness or-laziness.

The Dēva-separate: Dēva tēthuni nirāḷā — asē niṣkāma vēgaḷā — Dēva is separate from there — niṣkāma, apart. Dēva is-niṣkāma (desireless), separate from-the-realm-of-viṣaya.

The vāsanā-veil: vāsanēchī bunthī — tēthē kainchī Brahma-sthiti — where there's vāsanā-veil — what Brahma-state is there. Bunthī = veil, covering. Where-there's-vāsanā-veil, no-Brahma-state.

The closing — body-totality: Tukā mhaṇē asatām dēhīm — tēthē nāhī jēmētīm — Tuka says: being-in-the-body — there is no totality-(of-attainment)-there. Jēmētīm = totality, full-measure. In-bodily-existence, no-totality-of-attainment.

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For someone today

For today: those non-dual in viṣaya — don't touch us; Dēva is niṣkāma-apart; vāsanā-veil prevents Brahma-state; being-in-body — no totality.

Where this applies

When someone uses spiritual language to justify chasing pleasure or avoiding discipline
When you catch yourself claiming wisdom you have not actually lived out
When a person talks about detachment while still clinging tightly to comfort and desire
When you are tempted to skip the hard inner work by hiding behind clever philosophy

Non-dual / Advaita Bhakti