Abhanga 3389
Mere closeness to something good, whether advice, a wise person, or a sacred influence, does not transform you unless you are inwardly willing to change.
The verse
निंबाचिया झाडा साकरेचें आळें । आपलीं ती फळें न संडी च ॥१॥
तैसें अधमाचें अमंगळ चित्त । वमन तें हित करुनि सांडी ॥ध्रु.॥
परिसाचे अंगीं लाविलें खापर । पालट अंतर नेघे त्याचें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे वेळू चंदना संगतीं । काय ते नसती जवळिकें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Nimba-tree given-sugar-irrigation — its-fruits-doesn't-abandon. So-adhama's-amangaḷa-chitta vomits-out-hita-and-rejects. Pāris-touched-to-khāpara — antara doesn't-change. Tukā: bamboo with-chandana-companionship — what-by-mere-closeness.
What it means
A 3-verse 4-image nature-doesn't-change text. Sugar-fed-neem still gives bitter fruit; low-chitta vomits the good; pāris doesn't change the potsherd's inner; bamboo near chandana stays bamboo. Contrast with Tukārām's elsewhere-pāris-transforms-iron-to-gold image (3291); here the point is that the receiver must have capacity to be transformed.
For someone today
Tukārām: some natures don't change by mere closeness.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's nature-doesn't-change canonical
- 4-image antise-sanga immutability
- Companion-contrast to 3291's pāris-transforms