Abhanga 3640
True merit lies in giving to those who genuinely suffer, letting events unfold without force, and guarding a pure, truthful heart above all else.
The verse
आर्तभूतां द्यावें दान । खरें पुण्य त्या नांवें ॥१॥
होणार तें सुखें घडो । लाभ जोडो महाबुद्धि ॥ध्रु.॥
सत्य संकल्प च साटीं । उजळा पोटीं रविबिंब ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे मनीं वाव । शुद्ध भाव राखावा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Ārta-bhūtām dyāve dāna — give dāna to ārta-bhūtas; khare puṇya tyā nāve — real puṇya in-that-name. Hōṇāra te sukhe ghaḍō — let what is to happen happen sukhe; lābha jōḍō mahā-buddhi — let lābha join mahā-buddhi. Satya samkalpa cha sāṭīm — for the sake of satya-samkalpa; ujaḷā pōṭī ravi-bimba — kindle ravi-bimba in belly. Tukā mhaṇe manī vāva — Tukā says: in (the) mind, room; śuddha bhāva rākhāvā — guard śuddha bhāva.
What it means
A 3-verse philanthropy + inner-discipline text by Tukārām.
The 3 claims: 1. Dāna-to-ārta-bhūtas is real-puṇya 2. Let-what-happens happen-happily; lābha with-mahā-buddhi 3. For-satya-samkalpa, kindle-ravi-bimba in-the-pōṭa (= inner-light) 4. Keep-room-in-mind; guard-śuddha-bhāva
The ravi-bimba in-the-belly image is striking — light-the-inner-sun for-the-samkalpa-of-truth.
For someone today
Tukārām teaches that real merit lies in giving to those who are truly suffering — that is genuine puṇya, not just any act of charity. Let whatever is meant to happen unfold on its own, and let any gain come joined with real wisdom rather than greed. To hold a truthful intention, kindle the light within your own heart, like a small sun glowing in your belly. Keep space open in your mind, and above all guard a pure, honest feeling.
मराठी: तुकाराम शिकवतात की खरे पुण्य हे खऱ्या अर्थाने दुःखी असलेल्यांना दान दिल्यानेच मिळते — तेच खरे पुण्य होय, नुसती देणगी नव्हे. जे व्हायचे ते सुखाने घडू द्यावे, आणि लाभ मिळाला तर तो लोभाने नव्हे तर मोठ्या बुद्धीने जोडलेला असावा. सत्य संकल्प टिकवण्यासाठी आपल्या अंतःकरणात प्रकाश पेटवावा, जणू पोटात सूर्यबिंब उजळावे. मनात मोकळेपणा ठेवावा आणि सर्वांत महत्त्वाचे म्हणजे शुद्ध, प्रामाणिक भाव जपावा.
Where this applies
- When you have the means to help someone who is genuinely suffering and are deciding how to spend your resources
- When you are anxious about outcomes and need to let events unfold without forcing them
- When you are chasing a gain or reward and need to check whether wisdom is guiding it or just greed
- When you want to hold onto a truthful intention and need to nurture the inner conviction that sustains it