Abhanga 3199
Real goodness proves itself through direct lived experience, like tasting spoiled food, not through something bought or borrowed from outside.
The verse
परद्रव्य परकांता । नातळे जयाचिया चित्त । आणि कर्मी तो तत्वता । बांधला न वजाय ॥१॥
ऐसा अनुभव रोकडा । विश्वासीतो जीवा जोडा । एकांत त्या पुढां । अवघा करी उकल ॥ध्रु.॥
सकट आंबलें तें अन्न । शोधीं तें चि मद्यपान । विषमानें भिन्न । केलें शुद्धाशुद्ध ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नित । बरवें अनुभवें उचित । तरी काय हित । मोलें घ्यावें लागतें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Para-dravya, para-kāntā — doesn't-touch chitta; in-karma not-bound. Such anubhava is rōkaḍā — trust-in-jīva. Ekānta unfolds-everything before-(you). Sour-anna mixed with-madya — viśama distinguishes śuddha-aśuddha. Tukā: by-anubhava the-bara is-right — why-must-hita-be-bought-with-mōla?
What it means
A canonical non-touching-para-dravya-kāntā claim. Such ethical-restraint is anubhava-rōkaḍā (ready-cash-evidence) of-karma-freedom.
For someone today
If your mind never reaches for what belongs to someone else, whether their wealth or their spouse, that restraint itself is proof you are free from the binding weight of wrong action. You don't need anyone to certify this for you. Just as you can taste at once whether food has gone sour or whether it has been mixed with liquor, you can know directly, in your own experience, what is right. Tukaram says goodness proves itself this way, in lived experience, not something you purchase or acquire secondhand.
मराठी: जर तुमचे मन दुसऱ्याच्या धनाकडे किंवा दुसऱ्याच्या पत्नीकडे कधीच वळत नसेल, तर हाच संयम तुम्ही चुकीच्या कर्माच्या बंधनातून मुक्त असल्याचा पुरावा आहे. यासाठी कोणाच्या प्रमाणपत्राची गरज नाही. जसे अन्न आंबले आहे की त्यात दारू मिसळली आहे हे चाखल्याबरोबर कळते, तसेच काय बरोबर आहे हे तुम्हाला स्वतःच्या अनुभवातून थेट कळते. तुकाराम म्हणतात, चांगुलपणा असाच स्वानुभवाने सिद्ध होतो, तो विकत घेण्याची किंवा उसना मागण्याची गोष्ट नाही.
Where this applies
- When you wonder whether you are truly honest, and realize the proof is simply that your mind never reaches for what isn't yours.
- When someone offers to sell you a shortcut to virtue or spiritual credibility.
- When you need external certificates or approval to believe you are doing right, instead of trusting what you already know from experience.
- When you can tell instantly, the way you'd taste spoiled food, that something is off, and you trust that instinct.