संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3715 of 4582

Abhanga 3715

Boasting about power over death is empty talk, and even a humble, trusting servant must watch for pride quietly creeping back in.

When you hear someone boast about controlling things no one truly controls

When you feel small and unimportant yet notice you have still been cared for and protected

When you catch your own pride quietly returning even after a moment of real humility

The verse

काळावरी सत्ता । ऐशा करितो वारता ॥१॥ तो मी हीणाहूनि सांडें । देवे दुर्‍हे काळतोंडें ॥ध्रु.॥ मानूनी भर्वसा । होतों दासा मी ऐसा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे मान । गेलों वाढवूं थोरपण ॥३॥

Literal translation

Authority-over-Kāḷa — such-they-talk. I-even-lower-than-low — Deva-pushed-death-face-far. Trusting-bharvasā — stayed-such-dāsa. Tukā: went-to-grow-māna-thorpaṇa.

What it means

A 3-verse text. (Some) talk of authority over Death — that's the kind of talk. I am lower than the lowly; Deva pushed Death's face away. Holding assurance, I've stayed as such a dāsa. Tukā: I went to grow honor and greatness.

For someone today

Tukārām notices how some people love to boast that they have power over death itself, big talk that impresses no one who looks closely. He admits plainly that he is lower than the lowest, nothing special, yet it was God who kept death's shadow at a distance from him, not any power of his own. Holding onto that quiet trust, he was content simply being a humble servant. But he catches himself too, admitting that even he went looking to grow in honor and status, a small, honest confession that pride can creep back in even after real humility.

मराठी: तुकाराम पाहतात की काही लोक मृत्यूवरही आपली सत्ता आहे अशी मोठी बढाई मारतात, असे मोठे बोलणे जे बारकाईने पाहिले तर कोणालाच खरे वाटत नाही. ते स्पष्टपणे कबूल करतात की ते सर्वात खालच्यापेक्षाही खाली आहेत, काही खास नाहीत, तरीही देवानेच मृत्यूची सावली त्यांच्यापासून दूर ठेवली, त्यांच्या स्वतःच्या कोणत्याही सामर्थ्याने नाही. त्या शांत विश्वासावर टिकून राहत ते केवळ एक नम्र सेवक म्हणून समाधानी होते. पण ते स्वतःलाही पकडतात, कबूल करतात की तेही मान आणि मोठेपण वाढवायला निघाले होते, एक छोटी, प्रामाणिक कबुली की खऱ्या नम्रतेनंतरही अहंकार पुन्हा डोकावू शकतो.

Where this applies

When you hear someone boast about having control over things no human truly controls, like death itself
When you feel genuinely small or unimportant yet notice you have still been protected and cared for
When quiet trust feels more solid than any grand claim of power or achievement
When you catch your own pride quietly returning even after a moment of real humility