Abhanga 3364
A task is judged by how it ends, so finish what you start rather than changing your mind or losing heart partway through.
The verse
निवडे जेवण सेवटींच्या घांसें । होय त्याच्या ऐसें सकळ ही ॥१॥
न पाहिजे जाला बुद्धीचा पालट । केली खटपट जाय वांयां ॥ध्रु.॥
संपादिलें होय धरिलें तें सोंग । विटंबणा वेंग पडियाली ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे वर्म नेणतां जें रांधी । पाववी ते बुद्धि अवकळा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Nivaḍē jevaṇa sevaṭīmchyā ghāse — hoya tyāchyā aise sakaḷa hī — the meal is judged by the last mouthful — all becomes of that flavor. Na pāhije jālā buddhīchā pālaṭa — kelī khaṭapaṭa jāya vāmyām — no buddhi-pālaṭa must occur — effort otherwise goes vain. Sampādilē hoya dharilē te sōmga — viṭambaṇā vemga paḍiyālī — whatever pretense (sōnga) was undertaken — mockery-and-haste fall. Tukā mhaṇe varma neṇatām jē rāmdhī — pāvavī te buddhi avakaḷā — Tukā says: one who cooks without knowing the varma — that buddhi leads to disgrace.
What it means
A 3-verse text on finishing-discipline. The kitchen image — the last bite decides the meal — extends to all undertakings. Buddhi-pālaṭa (changing mind midway) destroys the work. The cook-without-knowing-the-essence is avakaḷā (disgraced). Spiritual sādhana must be completed; midway-turnings betray the start.
For someone today
End strong. The taste of the whole is set by the closing notes — in meals, in sādhanas, in commitments. Don't change your mind halfway; don't take up a sōnga you cannot finish.
Where this applies
- When you are tempted to quit a commitment right before the finish line
- When you start a spiritual practice with enthusiasm but your resolve fades halfway through
- When you take on a role or promise you are not sure you can complete
- When you rush the last step of a task after doing the earlier parts carefully