संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2479 of 4582

Abhanga 2479

Devotion performed in public for money and show is not real devotion, and it does not please God.

When you catch yourself doing a good or spiritual act mainly because it will impress others or earn you something.

When you see someone turn a sacred practice into a business built on appearances.

When you want to test whether your own worship comes from love or from self-interest.

The verse

उभ्या बाजारांत कथा । हे तों नावडे पंढरिनाथा ॥१॥ अवघें पोटासाटीं ढोंग । तेथें कैंचा पांडुरंग ॥ध्रु.॥ लावी अनुसंधान । कांहीं देईंल म्हणऊन ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे काय केलें रांडलेंका । तुला राजी नाहीं तुका ॥३॥

Literal translation

Kathā in the standing-bazaar — Paṇḍhari-nātha doesn't like. All is for stomach-show — where is Pāṇḍuranga there. Holds connection — saying "I'll give something". Tuka says: what have you done, you whoreson — Tuka is not pleased with you.

What it means

THE ANTI-COMMERCIAL-KATHĀ ABHANG. With strong language.

The polemic: kathā-in-the-standing-bazaar — pretender-kathākārs who-do-kathā in-public-bazaars for-money (= professional-bhakti for-stomach-show). Paṇḍhari-nātha doesn't-like commercial-kathā.

The strong-language: rāṇḍa-lēnkā — a strong-Marathi-pejorative roughly whoreson, illegitimate-child. Tukārām's rare strong-vituperation against commercial-religious-performance.

[T]

For someone today

For today: kathā for stomach-show is not pleasing to Paṇḍhari-nātha; Tuka's strong rebuke for commercial-bhakti.

Where this applies

When you notice a preacher, teacher, or performer treating sacred material as a paycheck rather than a calling
When you catch yourself going through religious motions to look good or gain favor rather than out of genuine feeling
When you're deciding whether to charge money for spiritual teaching and want to examine your own motives
When you see a hollow, showy display of faith in public and wonder whether it's sincere

Bhakti Pāṇḍuranga / Viṭhṭhal