Abhanga 3539
The one ambition truly worth having is serving those who are spiritually grounded, since their grace never runs out.
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 offers the canonical claim that serving the sants is the only ambition truly worth having.
मराठी: तुकारामांची ही संतसेवेच्या श्रेष्ठत्वाची शिकवण आहे. संतांच्या चरणी मिळणारा लाभच खरा सर्वोत्तम लाभ आहे. एकदा त्यांचा दास म्हटले गेले की पुढे कोणतीही आस उरत नाही. संतांनी दिलेले कृपादान कल्पांतीही संपत नाही. तुकाराम म्हणतात, संतसेवा हीच खरी आणि श्रेष्ठ महत्त्वाकांक्षा आहे.
Where this applies
- When you realize that being close to wise, grounded people gives you more than chasing status or wealth
- When you devote yourself to serving someone you deeply respect and feel that service is enough
- When you trust that real generosity or grace, once given, doesn't run out over time
- When you reconsider what's actually worth pursuing in life and choose service over rivalry