संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2560 of 4582

Abhanga 2560

Only a full, wholehearted offering earns real treasure, because no one gives away a kingdom for the price of a beggar's bowl.

When you're giving a half-hearted effort but still hoping for a full reward.

When fear of losing what little you have keeps you stuck in an exhausting cycle.

When you're deciding whether to commit fully to something instead of holding back.

The verse

केला कैवाड संतांच्या आधारें । अनुभवें खरें कळों आलें ॥१॥ काय जीवित्वाची धरुनियां आशा । व्हावें गर्भवासा पात्र भेणें ॥ध्रु.॥ अबाळीनें जावें निचिंतिया ठायां । रांडा रोटा वांयां करूं नये ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे बळी देतां तें निधान । भिकेसाटीं कोण राज्य देतो ॥३॥

Literal translation

Stronghold made by saints' support — known by anubhava truly. By holding life-hope — become vessel-of-fear in garbha-vāsa. By force go to niśchinti place — don't waste in petty things. Tuka says: giving sacrifice gets the treasure — who gives kingdom for alms.

What it means

THE WHO-GIVES-KINGDOM-FOR-ALMS ABHANG.

The closing-paradox: baḷī dētām tē nidhāna — bhikēsāṭīm kōṇa rājya dētō — giving sacrifice gets the treasure — who gives kingdom for alms. Only by-giving-the-sacrifice (baḷī = full-offering) do you get-the-treasure; no one gives a kingdom for alms-bowl. A clear economic-metaphor: bhakti requires the whole-offering, not partial-pleas.

[T]

For someone today

For today: giving sacrifice yields treasure — no kingdom given for alms.

Where this applies

When you're clinging to a half-hearted effort and hoping for a big reward anyway
When fear of loss keeps you stuck in the same exhausting cycle
When you're wasting energy on petty daily struggles instead of pursuing real peace
When you're deciding whether to commit fully to something instead of holding back