Abhanga 3807
Real joy is already found in the company of saints and devotion to God, so there is no need to chase heaven, liberation, or any other reward.
The verse
मी तों बहु सुखी आनंदभरिता । आहें साधुसंतां मेळीं सदा ॥१॥
देवा कांहीं व्हावें ऐसें नाहीं माझ्या जीवा । आणीक केशवा तुजविण ॥ध्रु.॥
न लगे वैकुंठ मोक्ष सायुज्यता । सुख वाटे घेतां जन्म ऐसें ॥२॥
मृत्युलोकीं कोण धरिलें वासना । पावावया जनासवें दुःख ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे तुझा दास ऐसें लोकां । कांहीं सकळिकां कळों यावें ॥४॥
Literal translation
I-am-very-sukhī — ānanda-bharitā — always-in-sādhu-santa-meḷā. Deva — nothing-wants-jīva — only-you-Kēśava. Don't-need-Vaikuṇṭha-mokṣa-sāyujyatā — sukha-in-taking-such-janma. Who-keeps-vāsanā-for-mrtyu-loka — to-suffer-with-jana? Tukā: people-should-just-know — I-am-your-dāsa.
What it means
A canonical 4-verse mukti-refusal text. I am very happy — filled with bliss — always in the company of sādhu-santas. Deva, my soul wants nothing other than you, Kēśava. I don't need Vaikuṇṭha, mokṣa, sāyujya — sukha comes from taking just such a (mortal) birth. Who would keep desire for the mortal-realm just to suffer with people? But let everyone know just this — I am your dāsa. The closing flip is gorgeous: he's not refusing janma-on-earth (where the sant-sanga is); he's just refusing the four mukti-fruits. Compare 2905 (Vaikuṇṭha-bāpuḍē-before-prema-sukha) and 3034 (Vārkarī-mokṣa-adhikārī).
For someone today
Tukaram says he is already deeply happy, full of joy, simply because he stays in the company of saints and sincere seekers — his soul wants nothing at all except God. He goes so far as to say he doesn't even want heaven, liberation, or final union with God as separate rewards, because real joy already comes from being born into this world where sant company is possible. He's not longing to escape human life; he just doesn't chase the traditional prizes people usually seek. All he wants people to understand about him is one simple fact: he belongs to God as a devoted servant.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की ते आधीच खूप सुखी आहेत, आनंदाने भरलेले आहेत, फक्त संत आणि सज्जनांच्या सहवासात राहिल्यामुळे — त्यांच्या जिवाला देवाशिवाय दुसरे काहीही नको आहे. ते इतके पुढे जाऊन सांगतात की त्यांना वेगळे बक्षीस म्हणून वैकुंठ, मोक्ष किंवा देवाशी अंतिम ऐक्यही नको आहे, कारण अशा जन्मात संतसंग मिळणे यातच खरा आनंद आहे. त्यांना मनुष्यजन्मातून पळून जायचे नाही; फक्त लोक सहसा शोधतात ती पारंपरिक बक्षिसे त्यांना नकोत. लोकांनी त्यांच्याबद्दल फक्त एकच साधी गोष्ट समजून घ्यावी असे ते म्हणतात — ते देवाचे भक्त, त्याचे सेवक आहेत.
Where this applies
- When you assume happiness must come from some future reward rather than the life you already have
- When you're tempted to chase spiritual status or achievement instead of simple, sincere devotion
- When being with good, sincere people already brings you real joy
- When you want to be known simply for your loyalty and devotion rather than any accomplishment