Abhanga 3201
You do not need money, learning, or fine words to reach God, only a steady, wholehearted longing that calls his name.
The verse
कळे न कळे त्या धर्म । ऐका सांगतों रे वर्म । माझ्या विठोबाचें नाम । अटाहासें उच्चारा ॥१॥
तो या दाखवील वाटा । तया पाहिजे त्या नीटा । कृपावंत मोटा । पाहिजे तो कळवळा ॥ध्रु.॥
पुसतां चुका होतो वाटा । सवें बोळावा गोमटा । मोडों नेदी कांटा । घेऊं सांटा चोरासी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे मोल । न लगें द्यावें वेचावे बोल । विठ्ठल विठ्ठल । ऐसा छंद मनासी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Knows-or-doesn't-know-dharma — listen-the-varma; Viṭhōbā's-Nāma with-aṭāhāsa; he-shows-vāṭa; krpāvanta-mōṭa with-kaḷavaḷā; on-asking, vāṭa-corrects, gōmaṭā-companion; doesn't-let-thorn-break, makes-sāṭā-with-chōra; Tukā: no-mōla, no-bōla — Viṭhṭhal-Viṭhṭhal, this-chanda in-mana.
What it means
A canonical democratization-text. Whether-knowing-or-not-knowing-dharma — Viṭhōbā's-Nāma shows-the-path; no-money, no-elaborate-words needed.
For someone today
You don't have to already understand all the fine points of dharma before you begin. Tukaram says the real secret is simple: call out Vitthal's name wholeheartedly, and he himself will show you the right path. He is deeply compassionate, and when you go astray and ask again, he gently corrects your course, like a good companion who won't even let a thorn hurt you and who will strike a bargain even with a thief to keep them close. None of this costs money, and it doesn't need clever words. All it takes is that longing for Vitthal held steadily in your mind.
मराठी: सुरुवात करण्याआधी तुम्हाला धर्माचे सगळे बारकावे कळायलाच हवेत असे नाही. तुकाराम म्हणतात, खरे रहस्य साधे आहे — मनापासून विठोबाचे नाव घ्या, तोच तुम्हाला योग्य वाट दाखवेल. तो अतिशय कृपावंत आहे, आणि तुम्ही चुकलात आणि पुन्हा विचारलंत, तर तो प्रेमाने वाट सुधारून देतो, जसा एखादा चांगला सोबती काट्यानेही दुखू देत नाही आणि चोराशीही सौदा करून त्याला जवळ ठेवतो. यासाठी पैसे लागत नाहीत, हुशार शब्दही लागत नाहीत. फक्त विठ्ठलाची ओढ मनात सतत असावी लागते.
Where this applies
- When you feel unqualified for spiritual life because you don't know all the rules or rituals.
- When you lose your way and need to ask again for direction rather than giving up.
- When you assume devotion requires money, learning, or eloquent words you don't have.
- When even someone flawed, like the thief in the verse, is shown care rather than rejection.