संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3443 of 4582

Abhanga 3443

Only a sincere heart truly matters; empty courtesy and sweet talk from someone unknown to you are worthless, and clear-eyed discernment is worth its pain.

When someone speaks sweetly to you but you have never really come to know or trust their heart.

When you feel the ache of seeing a person's true, unpleasant nature clearly for what it is.

When you choose to turn away from a corrupt or unkind person rather than keep facing them.

The verse

सरे आम्हांपाशीं एक शुद्धभाव । नाहीं तरी वाव उपचार ॥१॥ कोण मानी वरी रसाळ बोलणें । नाहीं जाली मनें ओळखी तों ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे आम्हां जाणीवेचें दुःख । न पाहों त्या मुख दुर्जनाचें ॥३॥

Literal translation

Sare āmhāmpāśīm eka śuddhabhāva — what goes-far with us — one śuddha-bhāva; nāhī tarī vāva upachāra — otherwise upachāra is vāva. Kōṇa mānī varī rasāḷa bōlaṇe — who accepts sweet-talk from above; nāhī jālī mane ōḷakhī tōm — when mana-oḷakhī has not happened. Tukā mhaṇe āmhām jāṇīveñce duḥkha — Tukā says: we (feel) jāṇīve's duḥkha; na pāhōm tyā mukha durjanāñce — we don't look at the durjana's mukha.

What it means

A short 3-verse claim by Tukārām.

The argument: Only-śuddha-bhāva-goes-far with-us; upachāra (formal-courtesy) is-worthless. Sweet-talk-without-mana-recognition we-don't-accept. We-feel-the-duḥkha-of-jāṇīva (knowing-too-much, discernment); we-don't-look-at-durjana-mukha.

The jāṇīveñce duḥkha (pain-of-knowing) is a distinctive Tukārām phrase — the bhakta-who-discerns experiences-pain at-seeing-the-corrupt-multitude; therefore-avoids-looking.

For someone today

Tukārām's claim. What goes-far with us is one — śuddha-bhāva. Otherwise, formal-courtesy is worthless. Who accepts sweet-talk from above — when recognition has not happened in the mind? We (feel) the duḥkha of knowing-too-much; we do not look at the durjana's face. The verse permits the bhakti-claim: only śuddha-bhāva passes; durjana-mukha is not to be looked at.

मराठी: तुकारामांचा हा ठाम दावा आहे. आपल्याजवळ फक्त एकच गोष्ट टिकते — शुद्ध भाव. अन्यथा औपचारिक सौजन्य निरर्थक असते. मनाने ओळख झाली नसताना वरवरचे गोड बोलणे कोण मानतो? आम्हाला जाणिवेचे दुःख असते; म्हणून आम्ही दुर्जनाचे तोंडही पाहत नाही. फक्त शुद्ध भावच टिकतो; दुर्जनाच्या तोंडाकडे पाहूही नये, हीच या अभंगाची शिकवण आहे.

Where this applies

When someone showers you with flattery but you have never really come to know their heart
When you go through the motions of politeness with someone while sensing it means nothing underneath
When seeing through a person's true character brings you pain you wish you didn't have to carry
When you decide to simply avoid a corrupt or unkind person rather than keep engaging with them

Bhakti