Abhanga 3279
When you find something genuine, hurry toward it fully rather than staying half committed on the sidelines.
The verse
खरें वत्ति तेथें आले चोजवीत । गिर्हाइक संतजन ॥१॥
याल तरि तुम्ही करा लगबग । आमचे ते कोणी लोक ॥ध्रु.॥
अर्धमर्ध कोणी गुंतोनि राहिले । थोडे तैसे बहु जन ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आतां पाहूं नये वास । साधावें आपुलें पेणें ॥३॥
Literal translation
True-vatti, came-inquiring samta-jana customers. If-you-come, hurry; our-people. Half-stuck-some-remain. Tukā: don't-watch-(now); accomplish-your-deposit.
What it means
A short 3-verse marketplace-image. True-bhakti-market; sants-inquire; some-stuck; accomplish-your-stay.
For someone today
Tukaram uses the image of a marketplace to describe genuine devotion: where the real thing is on offer, true seekers naturally come looking for it, drawn like eager customers. He urges anyone willing to join to hurry, because these seekers are truly his own people, kindred spirits. He notices that some people get only halfway committed and stay stuck there, neither fully in nor out. His advice is direct: stop watching from the sidelines and secure your own place now.
मराठी: तुकाराम बाजाराचे रूपक वापरून खऱ्या भक्तीचे वर्णन करतात: जिथे खरा माल असतो तिथे खरे साधक स्वाभाविकपणे उत्सुक गिऱ्हाइकांसारखे शोधत येतात. जो कोणी सामील होऊ इच्छितो त्याने घाई करावी, कारण हे साधक खरोखर आपलेच लोक आहेत, असे ते सांगतात. काही लोक अर्ध्यावरच अडकून राहतात, ना पूर्ण आत ना पूर्ण बाहेर, हे ते नमूद करतात. त्यांचा सल्ला थेट आहे: आता बाजूला उभे राहून पाहत बसू नका, स्वतःची जागा आताच पक्की करा.
Where this applies
- When you're drawn toward a genuine spiritual community or practice but keep hesitating at the edge.
- When you notice you've committed only halfway to something meaningful and stayed stuck there for a long time.
- When you see people who are truly serious about something and wonder whether to join them wholeheartedly.
- When you keep watching from a distance instead of stepping fully into a commitment you already feel pulled toward.