Abhanga 3539
He tōm eka samtām-ṭhāyīm — this only at the sants' place; lābha pāyīm uttama — the lābha at (their) pāya is uttama.
The verse
हें तों एक संतांठायीं । लाभ पायीं उत्तम ॥१॥
म्हणवितां त्याचे दास । पुढें आस उरेना ॥ध्रु.॥
कृपादान केलें संतीं । कल्पांतीं ही सरेना ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे संतसेवा । हा चि हेवा उत्तम॥३॥
Literal translation
He tōm eka samtām-ṭhāyīm — this only at the sants' place; lābha pāyīm uttama — the lābha at (their) pāya is uttama. Mhaṇavitām tyāñce dāsa — (being) called their dāsa; puḍhe āsa urenā — no āsa remains ahead. Krpā-dāna kele samtīm — the krpā-dāna given by sants; kalpāntīm hī sarenā — does not run-out even at kalpānta. Tukā mhaṇe samta-sevā — Tukā says: sant-sevā; hā chi hevā uttama — this very is the uttama hevā.
What it means
A short 3-verse sant-sevā-supremacy text by Tukārām. The teaching: the-only-uttama-lābha is-at-sants'-pāya; once-called-their-dāsa, no-future-āsa-remains; their krpā-dāna doesn't-run-out-at-kalpānta. Sant-sevā is-the-best-hevā (ambition-pursuit).
The word hevā normally means rivalry, jealous-craving — here Tukārām reframes it: the-only-legitimate-hevā is-sant-sevā. All-other-ambitions-are-misplaced; this-one-ambition is-uttama. Compare-Tukārām's 3050 (sants'-māgī-māti), 2887 (sant-pūjā-warrant), 3131 (bhakta-veneration-5-fold).
For someone today
Tukārām's sant-sevā-supremacy. This — only at the sants' place — the lābha at (their) feet is highest. Being called their dāsa — no desire remains ahead. The krpā-dāna given by sants — does not run-out even at the end-of-eon. Sant-sevā — this very is the best hevā (pursuit). The verse permits the canonical claim that sant-sevā-is-the-only-legitimate-ambition.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's sant-sevā-is-best-hevā canonical-claim
- Companion to 3050, 2887, 3131