Abhanga 3307
Even someone who feels unworthy and imperfect in conduct can still be sincerely devoted, and asks God to see that inner devotion despite the outward flaws.
The verse
नव्हें परि म्हणवीं दास । कांहीं निमित्तास मूळ केलें ॥१॥
तुमचा तो धर्म कोण । हा आपण विचारा ॥धृ. ॥
नाहीं शुद्ध आचरण । परी चरण चिंतितों ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे पांडुरंगा । ऐसें कां गा नेणां हें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Not-(worthy)-but-call-myself-dāsa; only-by-nimitta. Your-dharma-(toward)-bhaktas — consider. No-shuddha-āchaṇa, but-chintitōm-charaṇa. Tukā: Pāṇḍuranga, why-don't-you-know?
What it means
A 3-verse self-confession. I-claim-dāsa-status falsely; only-the-fact-of-meditation-on-feet is-real.
For someone today
Tukārām confesses he isn't really worthy of calling himself God's servant; some small circumstance was just the excuse that gave him the name. He asks Vitthal to consider for himself what kind of dharma he owes his devotees. Tukārām admits his own conduct is far from pure, yet his mind still keeps returning to meditate on God's feet. He asks, almost pleading, why Pāṇḍuraṅga doesn't seem to notice this honest struggle: flawed on the outside, but sincerely turned toward the divine within.
मराठी: तुकाराम कबूल करतात की ते खरोखर देवाचे दास म्हणवून घेण्याच्या लायकीचे नाहीत; केवळ एका सबबीमुळे त्यांना हे नाव मिळाले. ते विठ्ठलाला विचारतात की भक्तांप्रती त्याचा स्वतःचा धर्म काय आहे, हे त्यानेच ठरवावे. तुकाराम मान्य करतात की त्यांचे आचरण शुद्ध नाही, तरीही त्यांचे मन सतत देवाच्या चरणांचेच चिंतन करत राहते. ते जवळजवळ विनवणी करत विचारतात की पांडुरंगाला हा प्रामाणिक झगडा का कळत नाही: बाहेरून अपूर्ण, पण आतून मनापासून देवाकडे वळलेला.
Where this applies
- When you feel like a fraud or unworthy of the faith or role you claim, yet you keep showing up anyway
- When your outer conduct falls short of your ideals, but your heart still reaches for something higher
- When you wonder whether someone you trust notices your sincerity despite your visible flaws
- When you feel labeled by circumstance rather than true merit, yet want to hold onto whatever devotion you have