Abhanga 3818
Don't waste sincere effort, wisdom, or devotion on people who lack the real capacity to value or receive it.
The verse
कावळ्याच्या गळां मुक्ताफळमाळा । तरी काय त्याला भूषण शोभे ॥१॥
गजालागीं केला कस्तुरीचा लेप । तिचें तो स्वरूप काय जाणे ॥ध्रु.॥
बकापुढें सांगे भावार्थे वचन । वाउगा चि सीण होय त्यासी ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे तैसे अभाविक जन । त्यांसी वांयां सीण करूं नये ॥३॥
Literal translation
Crow-pearl-garland — no-bhūṣaṇa-shobha. Elephant-kasturi-leep — doesn't-know-svarūpa. Baka-bhāvārtha-vachan — only-vāuga-śīṇa. Tukā: same-with-abhāvika-jana — don't-waste-effort.
What it means
A 3-verse mis-fit polemic. A pearl-garland on a crow's neck — does it count as an ornament? Putting musk-paste on an elephant — does it know its essence? Telling devotion-loaded words before a crane (hypocrite-bird) — only futile fatigue results. Same with people-without-bhāva — don't waste your effort on them. The three mis-fit pairs are precise: crow-pearl (ornament-on-unworthy), elephant-musk (subtle-fragrance-on-bulk), and the baka-bhāvārtha (sacred-word-before-hypocrite). Compare 3791 (Kāmadhēnu-seen-as-cow); the converse is 2810 (saints-list — uñca-niñca-neṇē-Bhagavanta).
For someone today
Tukaram uses three small, vivid pictures to make a sharp point. A pearl necklace hung on a crow's neck doesn't actually become an ornament, because the crow can't appreciate or embody its worth. Rubbing precious musk paste on an elephant is wasted too, since the elephant has no sense of that fine fragrance. And speaking deeply devotional, heartfelt words to a crane, a bird known for standing still like it's meditating while really just waiting to snatch fish, only tires you out for nothing. His conclusion: don't waste your sincere effort trying to reach people who have no real capacity for faith or sincerity — save your energy for where it can actually take root.
मराठी: तुकाराम तीन छोट्या पण ठळक प्रतिमांतून एक मार्मिक मुद्दा मांडतात. कावळ्याच्या गळ्यात मोत्यांची माळ घातली तरी ती खरोखर दागिना बनत नाही, कारण कावळ्याला तिची किंमत कळत नाही किंवा ती शोभतही नाही. हत्तीच्या अंगाला कस्तुरीचा उत्तम लेप लावणेही व्यर्थच आहे, कारण त्या नाजूक सुगंधाची त्याला जाणीवच नसते. आणि बगळ्यासारख्या पक्ष्यासमोर, जो ध्यान करतोय असे भासवत उभा राहतो पण खरे तर मासे पकडायची वाट पाहत असतो, त्याच्यासमोर मनापासूनचे भक्तिपूर्ण शब्द बोलणे म्हणजे उगाच थकवा ओढवून घेणे आहे. त्यांचा निष्कर्ष असा आहे: ज्यांच्यात खरी श्रद्धा किंवा प्रामाणिकपणाची क्षमताच नाही अशा लोकांपर्यंत पोहोचण्याचा प्रयत्न वाया घालवू नका — आपली शक्ती तिथे साठवा जिथे ती खरोखर रुजू शकते.
Where this applies
- When you're pouring sincere effort into someone who has no real interest in changing or listening
- When you feel exhausted trying to convince someone who is only pretending to care
- When you need to recognize that not everyone can receive or value what you're offering
- When you're deciding where to invest your time and energy for real, lasting impact