Abhanga 3725
Tukaram describes an experience that has attached itself to him like a constant companion sitting right behind him, one that simply will not settle down or quiet no matter what he does. He notices he does not have to go looking anywhere for this feeling or find somewhere to set it down, because it is already carried with him wherever he goes. He says plainly that inside this experience are countless sorrows, as if its very belly is full of grief. It is an honest admission that some pain just stays close and cannot easily be shaken off.
The verse
अनुभव ऐसा । मज लागला सरिसा ॥१॥
पाठी बैसली सेजारीं । नव्हे शांत कोणे परी ॥ध्रु.॥
कोठें न लगे जावें । कांहीं घालावया ठावें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे कोटि । दुःखाच्या च तये पोटीं ॥३॥
Literal translation
Such-anubhava-came-to-me-equal. Sat-on-pāṭhī-as-sējārī — won't-śānta-in-any-way. No-need-to-go-anywhere — somewhere-to-put-it. Tukā: kōṭi-of-duḥkha-in-its-pōṭa.
What it means
A 3-verse anubhava-text. Such an anubhava has come, paired with me; it sits on my back like a neighbor — won't quiet in any way; I don't need to go anywhere to put it down; Tukā: crores of duḥkha in its belly.
For someone today
Tukaram describes an experience that has attached itself to him like a constant companion sitting right behind him, one that simply will not settle down or quiet no matter what he does. He notices he does not have to go looking anywhere for this feeling or find somewhere to set it down, because it is already carried with him wherever he goes. He says plainly that inside this experience are countless sorrows, as if its very belly is full of grief. It is an honest admission that some pain just stays close and cannot easily be shaken off.
मराठी: तुकाराम अशा एका अनुभवाचे वर्णन करतात जो त्यांच्या पाठीशी शेजाऱ्यासारखा कायमचा बसलेला आहे आणि तो कोणत्याही प्रकारे शांत होत नाही. त्यांना जाणवते की हा अनुभव ठेवण्यासाठी कुठे जायची गरज नाही, कारण तो आधीच त्यांच्याबरोबर असतो. ते स्पष्टपणे म्हणतात की या अनुभवाच्या पोटात कोट्यवधी दुःखे भरलेली आहेत. एखादे दुःख किती चिकाटीने सोबत राहते आणि सहज दूर होत नाही, हे यातून प्रामाणिकपणे मान्य केले आहे.
Where this applies
- When a painful feeling or memory follows you around no matter how much you try to shake it off
- When you realize you don't need to search for suffering because it's already sitting quietly close to you
- When you finally admit out loud how much sorrow you've actually been carrying inside
- When a difficult experience refuses to settle down or fade no matter how much time passes