संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2439 of 4582

Abhanga 2439

True devotion cannot be rushed; it becomes pure and unbreakable only through patient, honest, fearless surrender over time.

When you want to force your spiritual progress faster than it naturally comes

When you're relying on impressive words rather than real trust to prove your faith

When you feel discouraged that your devotion hasn't fully arrived yet and want to hurry it along

The verse

सत्यत्वेंशीं घेणें भक्तीचा अनुभव । स्वामीचा गौरव इच्छीतसें ॥१॥ मग तें अवीट न भंगे साचारें । पावलें विस्तारें फिरों नेणे ॥ध्रु.॥ वाणी वदे त्याचा कोणांसी विश्वास । अभयें करें दास सत्य तई ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे आधीं न करीं तांतडी । पायीं जाली जोडी तेणें शुद्ध ॥३॥

Literal translation

Taking bhakti-experience with truth — desire Svāmī's honor. Then unbreakable, doesn't break truly. Who trusts mere words — fearlessness makes servant true. Tuka says: don't rush first — at feet, association becomes pure.

What it means

THE DON'T-RUSH-BHAKTI ABHANG.

The patience-counsel: ādhīm na karīm tāntaḍī — pāyīm jālī jōḍī tēṇē śuddha — don't rush — at feet, association becomes pure. Don't-rush; at-the-feet, association becomes-pure. Bhakti unfolds gradually — rushing-it makes-impure.

[T]

For someone today

For today: bhakti with truth is unbreakable; don't rush — at the feet, association becomes pure .

Where this applies

When you feel impatient about your spiritual growth and want quick results
When you're tempted to perform devotion outwardly just so others see you as faithful
When you doubt your practice is working because change feels slow
When someone else's fast, showy devotion pressures you to hurry your own

Bhakti