संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2555 of 4582

Abhanga 2555

Being widely known is not the same as being truly reached, since very few ever walk the path all the way into complete surrender.

When you realize you know a lot about a teaching but haven't truly lived it yourself.

When you notice that something popular or well known is still rarely understood at a deep level.

When you catch yourself approaching something sacred with a shallow or half-hearted attitude.

The verse

प्रसद्धि हा असे जगा । अवघ्या रंगारंगाचा ॥१॥ तरी वाटा न वजे कोणी । नारायणीं घरबुडी ॥ध्रु.॥ बहुतां ऐसें केलें मागें । लाग लागें लागेना ॥२॥ हो कां नर अथवा नारी । लाहान थोरीं आदर ॥३॥ जालें वेगळें लोकीं पुरे । मग नुरे समूळ ॥४॥ कळेना तो आहे कैसा । कोणी दिशा बहु थोडा ॥५॥ तुका म्हणे दुसर्‍या भावें । छायें नावें न देखवे ॥६॥

Literal translation

Famous in the world — of all colors-of-colors. But no one goes the path — Nārāyaṇa-house-flood. Made many in the past — the trail doesn't catch. Man or woman, small or great — honor. Becomes separate from world — then no residue at root. Don't know what he is — direction few. Tuka says: by other bhāva — in shadow, not even seen.

What it means

THE LORD-FAMOUS-BUT-NO-ONE-FINDS-PATH ABHANG. 6-verse.

[T]

For someone today

For today: Lord famous everywhere — yet few find the path.

Where this applies

When you know a lot about a teaching or tradition but haven't truly lived it
When you notice fame or popularity doesn't mean people actually walk the path
When you're wondering why deep realization seems so rare even among many seekers
When you're tempted to approach something sacred with a shallow or partial attitude

Bhakti