संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3503 of 4582

Abhanga 3503

Speak only what serves the moment, build on a foundation with God at the center so it stands firm, and act decisively instead of waiting on some future strength.

When you choose your words carefully, saying only what actually helps in the moment.

When you build something meant to last, so you make sure its foundation goes deep.

When you stop waiting for the right future moment and finish the task now, in one clean effort.

The verse

बोलणें तें आम्ही बोलों उपयोगीं । पडिलें प्रसंगी काळाऐसें ॥१॥ जयामध्यें देव आदि मध्यें अंतीं । खोल पाया भिंती न खचेसी ॥ध्रु.॥ करणें तें आम्ही करूं एका वेळे । पुढिलिया बळें वाढी खुंटे ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे असों आज्ञेचीं धारकें । म्हणऊनि एकें घायें सारूं ॥३॥

Literal translation

Speak-only-upayōgī — fitting-prasanga-kāḷa. Deva-at-start-middle-end — deep-foundation-wall-doesn't-collapse. Do-at-one-time — future-baḷa-stops-vāḍhī. Tukā: we-are-ājñēchī-dhārakē — finish-at-ēkē-ghāyē.

What it means

A 3-verse discipline text. We speak only what's useful for the occasion; what has Deva at start-middle-end doesn't collapse; we do at one time; we hold the order — we finish at one stroke.

For someone today

Tukaram describes a disciplined way of living: speak only what is useful, fitting the moment and the time you are in. Whatever has God at its beginning, middle, and end rests on a deep foundation, so its walls never collapse. He says such people act decisively, doing what needs doing right now, because waiting and counting on some future strength only stalls growth. He calls himself and others like him carriers of that command, finishing things in one clean stroke rather than dragging them out.

मराठी: तुकाराम एका शिस्तबद्ध जगण्याच्या पद्धतीचे वर्णन करतात: जे उपयोगी असेल तेच बोला, प्रसंगाला आणि वेळेला साजेसे. ज्याच्या सुरुवातीला, मध्यभागी आणि शेवटी देव आहे त्याला खोल पाया मिळतो, म्हणून त्याची भिंत कधी ढासळत नाही. असे लोक निर्णायकपणे कृती करतात, आताच जे करायला हवे ते करतात, कारण भविष्यातील बळावर विसंबून थांबल्याने वाढच खुंटते. ते स्वतःला आणि आपल्यासारख्यांना आज्ञा पाळणारे म्हणतात, जे काम एका फटक्यात संपवतात, लांबवत नाहीत.

Where this applies

When you are tempted to talk more than necessary instead of doing the useful thing
When you are building something and need it to rest on a foundation strong enough to last
When you keep postponing action, hoping for a better moment or more strength later
When you commit to finishing a task decisively instead of dragging it out