Abhanga 3248
Knowing a truth in theory is not enough; you must experience it directly and actually practice it for it to bring real well-being.
The verse
प्रगटलें ज्ञान । नारायण भूतीं तें ॥१॥
अनुभव च घेऊं व्हावा । विनंती देवा करूनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
देखोवेखीं वदे वाणी । पडिल्या कानीं प्रमाणें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे योगक्षेम । घडे तें वर्म साधावें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Pragaṭale jñāna — jñāna has manifested; Nārāyaṇa bhūtīm te — Nārāyaṇa is in (all) bhūtas. Anubhava cha gheūm hvāvā — anubhava must-be-taken; vinatī Devā karūnīyām — making the vinatī to Deva. Dekhōvekhīm vade vāṇī — (by) seeing-with-the-eye, vāṇī speaks; paḍiliyā kānīm pramāṇe — fallen on (the) ears as pramāṇa. Tukā mhaṇe yoga-kṣema — Tukā says: yoga-kṣema; ghaḍe te varma sādhāvē — (it) happens — the varma must be sādhā.
What it means
A 3-verse canonical-claim by Tukārām. Jñāna is manifest — Nārāyaṇa-in-all-bhūtas. Anubhava-must-be-taken. The speaking is from eye-witnessing. Yoga-kṣema follows — the essential-secret must be practiced.
For someone today
Tukārām's claim: jñāna is here, not far; take anubhava; the varma must be sādhā.
Where this applies
- When you've heard spiritual truths repeated so often that they have become mere talk rather than lived experience
- When you're relying on someone else's account of God instead of seeking your own direct encounter
- When you notice you are speaking secondhand about something you haven't personally witnessed
- When you want lasting peace of mind and realize it only comes from practicing the truth, not just knowing it