संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3474 of 4582

Abhanga 3474

Trust one true relationship fully rather than splitting your hope across many uncertain paths, because real generosity does not sort who deserves it.

When you are tempted to split your trust across several uncertain options instead of committing to one.

When you worry that you have not earned the grace or help being offered to you.

When you settle a matter for yourself and no longer need others to validate your choice.

The verse

पांडुरंगा ऐसा सांडुनि वेव्हारा । आणिकांची करा आस वांयां ॥१॥ बहुतांसी दिला उद्धार उदारें । निवडीना खरें खोटें कांहीं ॥ध्रु.॥ याचिया अंकिता वैकुंठ बंदर । आणीक वेव्हार चालितना ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे माझे हातींचें वजन । यासी बोल कोण ठेवूं सके ॥३॥

Literal translation

Abandoning-Pāṇḍuranga-vyavahāra — to-hope-for-others-vāyām. Given-uddhāra-generously — not-sorting-true-false. Ankita's-Vaikuṇṭha-bandara — no-other-vēvhāra-runs. Tukā: weight-in-my-hand — who-can-complain.

What it means

A 3-verse mercantile-bhakti text. The image: Vaikuṇṭha is a bandara (port-of-trade) — but only the Lord's own ankita (the marked-belonging) reaches it. He gives uddhāra without sorting true-from-false. Compare 3419 (bhāṇḍāra-broken-open), 2745 (Paṇḍharī-hāṭa).

For someone today

Tukaram borrows the language of trade and harbors to describe devotion. Do not abandon your dealing with Pandurang and pin your hopes on other paths in vain, he says, because this Lord gives liberation freely and generously to many, without sorting out who is worthy and who is not. Vaikuntha itself is like a harbor that belongs only to those marked as his own, where no other business runs. Tuka ends by saying that the value he has weighed out for himself, in his own hand, cannot be challenged by anyone. It is an invitation to put your full trust in one true relationship rather than splitting your hope across many uncertain deals.

मराठी: तुकाराम इथे व्यापार आणि बंदराची भाषा वापरून भक्तीचे वर्णन करतात. पांडुरंगाशी असलेला व्यवहार सोडून इतरांची व्यर्थ आस धरू नका, असे ते सांगतात, कारण हा देव खरे-खोटे न पाहता अनेकांना उदारपणे उद्धार देतो. वैकुंठ हे जणू एक बंदर आहे, जे फक्त त्याच्या स्वतःच्या अंकितांचेच आहे, तिथे दुसरा कुठलाही व्यवहार चालत नाही. शेवटी तुका म्हणतात की माझ्या स्वतःच्या हातातले वजन, म्हणजे माझी स्वतःची किंमत, यावर कोणीही आक्षेप घेऊ शकत नाही. यातून हा संदेश मिळतो की अनेक अनिश्चित मार्गांत आशा विभागण्याऐवजी एका खऱ्या नात्यावर पूर्ण विश्वास ठेवावा.

Where this applies

When you are tempted to hedge your bets across many different paths instead of trusting one
When you worry you are not good enough or pure enough to receive grace
When you want reassurance that real generosity does not require you to prove your worth
When you have made peace with a choice and no longer need outside approval for it