संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2469 of 4582

Abhanga 2469

Closeness to God is naturally available; the whole of devoted practice comes down to steadily holding Viṭhoba's feet in mind rather than complicating it with empty ritual.

When you notice your own doubts and mental clutter are what keep you from feeling close to God

When you catch yourself going through religious motions while your heart is still full of anger or desire

When you have to choose between several spiritual practices and decide to simply surrender to one

The verse

सहज पावतां भगवंतीं परि हीं विकल्पें परतीं । फुकाची हे चित्तीं वाठवण कां न धरिती ॥१॥ हरि व्यापक सर्वगत हें तंव मुख्यत्वें वेदांत । चिंतनासी चित्त असों द्यावें सावध ॥ध्रु.॥ विरजाहोम या चि नांवें देह नव्हे मी जाणावें । मग कां जी यावें वरी लागे संकल्पा ॥२॥ कामक्रोधे देह मळिण स्वाहाकारीं कैंचें पुण्य । मंत्रीं पूजियेला यज्ञ मनमुंडण नव्हे चि ॥३॥ अनन्यभक्तीचे उपाय ते या विठोबाचे पाय । ध्याइल तो काय जाणे चुकों मारग ॥४॥ आतां सांगे तुका एक तुम्ही चुकों नका । सांडीमांडी धोका शरण रिघतां गोमटें ॥५॥

Literal translation

Naturally attaining Bhagavanta — but vikalpas distance — why don't they hold the free-stock in chitta. Hari is all-pervasive, main Vedānta — let chitta be alert for contemplation. Virajā-hōma is to know "I am not the body" — why above lies sankalpa. Kāma-krōdha-stained body — what puṇya in svāhā-cries — mantra-yajña is not mind-shaving. The means of ananya-bhakti are these Viṭhoba's feet — who meditates, knows not how to err the path. Tuka says: don't err — leave-and-do is danger — entering śaraṇa is good.

What it means

THE ANANYA-BHAKTI-IS-VIṬHOBA'S-FEET ABHANG.

The anti-ritual-critique: - Virajā-hōma (the ritual-fire that-symbolizes-leaving-the-body) is-really to-know I-am-not-the-body — but-people-add-sankalpa - Kāma-krōdha-stained body offers-no-puṇya through-svāhā-cries - Mantra-pūjā-yajña is not mana-muṇḍaṇa (mind-shaving = real-renunciation)

THE CONCLUSION: ananya-bhaktīchē upāya tē yā Viṭhōbāchē pāya — the means of ananya-bhakti are these Viṭhoba's feet. The means of ananya-(non-other)-bhakti are simply these Viṭhoba's feet. All rituals reduce to-meditating-on-Viṭhoba's-feet.

[T]

For someone today

For today: Hari all-pervasive (Vedānta-essence); rituals empty; ananya-bhakti is just Viṭhoba's feet ; entering śaraṇa is good.

Where this applies

When you keep God at a distance through overthinking instead of simply turning your mind toward him
When you perform rituals or say prayers out of habit while your heart is still full of anger or craving
When you feel spiritual practice has become complicated and you want to return to something simple
When you are torn between different paths and need to just commit to one and surrender fully