संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2460 of 4582

Abhanga 2460

Give honor to those who deserve it, but never claim that honor for yourself, no matter how far you rise.

When you receive praise and have to decide whether to accept it graciously or quietly deflect it toward humility.

When you become someone others look up to and have to remember you're still meant to serve, not be served.

When you interact with an elder, teacher, or wise person and have to choose respect over asserting your own importance.

The verse

वैष्णवमुनिविप्रांचा सन्मान । करावा आपण घेऊं नये ॥१॥ प्रभु जाला तरी संसाराचा दास । विहित तयासी यांची सेवा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे हे आशीर्वादें बळी । जाईंल तो छळी नरकायासीं ॥३॥

Literal translation

Honor Vaiṣṇavas-munis-Brahmins — don't take [honor] for oneself. Even if prabhu, servant of samsāra — for him, service is prescribed. Tuka says: strong by their āśīrvāda — without [it], goes to hell-suffering.

What it means

THE HONOR-VAIṢṆAVAS-DON'T-SELF-HONOR ABHANG.

The teaching: honor-Vaiṣṇavas-munis-Brahmins, but-don't-take-honor-yourself. Even those-who-become-prabhu (master) are-still-servants-of-samsāra; for-them, service-to-Vaiṣṇavas is-prescribed.

[T]

For someone today

For today: honor others — don't take honor for yourself.

Where this applies

When you've done something well and feel entitled to praise or a title, rather than staying focused on serving others.
When you've reached a position of authority and start expecting deference instead of continuing to serve.
When you're deciding how to treat elders, teachers, or wise people in your life.
When you feel like you've earned the right to stop being humble because of your status or success.

Bhakti