Abhanga 3783
What matters is the real cause behind your actions, not stubborn habit, and once something genuinely good is near, you should let go of the old shameful ways instead of clinging to them.
The verse
सामावे कारण । नाहीं सोसत धरणें ॥१॥
लादी थींके लाजिरवाणी । हीनकमाईंची घाणी ॥ध्रु.॥
पुष्प जवळी नाका । दुगपधीच्या नांवें थुंका ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे किती । उपदेशहीन जाती ॥३॥
Literal translation
Sāmāve kāraṇa — the essential is the cause; nāhīm sōsata dharaṇe — holding (otherwise) is not tolerated. Lādī thīmke lājiravāṇī — the lādī urinates shamefully; hīnakamāīmchī ghāṇī — the press of low-earning. Puṣpa javaḷī nākā — flower near the nose; dugapadhīchyā nāmve thumkā — spit on the name of stink. Tukā mhaṇe kitī — Tukā says: how many; upadeśa-hīna jātī — go without instruction!.
What it means
A 3-verse compressed text on essential-vs-low-livelihood. The-essential-is-the-cause; can't-bear-just-holding-on; the-low-earning-press is-shameful-as-a-urinating-beast; with-a-flower-near, spit-on-the-name-of-stench; how-many-go without-upadeśa!
For someone today
Tukaram says what truly matters is the real cause behind your actions, not just stubbornly clinging to old habits. He compares grinding out a living through shameful, degrading means to a beast urinating at the oil press, an image of grim, low toil that should not be tolerated. When something genuinely fragrant, like a flower, is right there near you, you should be able to spit on the memory of the old stench instead of going back to it. Yet Tukaram grieves that so many people pass through life without ever receiving real guidance to help them make that change.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की खरे महत्त्वाचे म्हणजे तुमच्या कृतीमागचे खरे कारण, नुसते जुन्या सवयींना घट्ट धरून बसणे नव्हे. ते लाजिरवाण्या, हलक्या मार्गाने कमावलेल्या उपजीविकेची तुलना घाण्याजवळ मूत्र सोडणाऱ्या जनावराशी करतात, म्हणजे असे कष्ट जे सहन करण्यासारखे नाहीत. जेव्हा खरोखर सुगंधी असे काहीतरी, जसे फूल, अगदी जवळ असते, तेव्हा जुन्या दुर्गंधीच्या आठवणीवर थुंकून पुढे जाता आले पाहिजे, पुन्हा तिकडे वळायला नको. तरीही तुकाराम खेदाने म्हणतात की किती तरी लोक आयुष्यभर खरे मार्गदर्शन कधीच न मिळता निघून जातात.
Where this applies
- When you are stuck clinging to a shameful or degrading way of getting by instead of seeking something better
- When something genuinely good is finally within reach and you must choose to let go of old, harmful habits
- When you catch yourself justifying low, dishonorable means just because they are familiar
- When you notice how many people around you go without ever receiving the real guidance that could change their path