संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3918 of 4582

Abhanga 3918

Tukaram says wearing the outward signs of renunciation means nothing if you still crave fine food and public respect, calling this hypocritical devotion that never truly meets God.

When someone's spiritual image is really about winning respect rather than genuine change.

When you catch yourself complaining about simple things while secretly wanting something finer.

When you check whether your own practice is actually changing your desires or only your appearance.

The verse

होऊनि संन्यासी भगवीं लुगडीं । वासना न सोडी विषयांची ॥१॥ निंदिती कदान्न इच्छिती देवान्न । पाहाताती मान आदराचा ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे ऐसें दांभिक भजन । तया जनार्दन भेटे केवीं ॥३॥

Literal translation

Samnyāsi-bhagvīm-luguḍī — vāsanā-not-given-up-viṣaya. Criticizes-kadanna-wants-Devānna-seeks-māna-ādara. Tukā: dāmbhika-bhajana — Janārdana-won't-meet.

What it means

Opens a 7-abhang catalog (3918-3924) of fake-renunciate-types. Becoming samnyāsi, wearing saffron-robes — but not giving up sense-desires. Criticizes the simple-householder-food, wants the special-festival-food; seeks people's respect and honor. Such hypocritical bhajana — how would Janārdana meet?. The samnyāsi-type is described by costume (bhagavīm luguḍī) and behavior (food-criticism + honor-seeking) — a precise sociological observation. Pair with 2844-2847 (anti-fake-renunciate-cluster), 3074 (anti-monetized-kīrtana).

For someone today

Tukaram points to someone who puts on the outward signs of renunciation, the saffron robes of a monk, but never actually lets go of the cravings he's supposedly renounced. He still complains about ordinary, simple food and secretly wants the finer festival meal, and he still looks around for people's respect and admiration. Tukaram calls this hypocritical devotion, and asks how someone living that way could ever truly meet God. The point is that the outer costume of spirituality means nothing if the inner desires it was supposed to replace are still fully intact.

मराठी: तुकाराम अशा व्यक्तीकडे बोट दाखवतात जी संन्यासाची बाह्य चिन्हे, भगवी वस्त्रे परिधान करते, पण जी इच्छा त्यागली असे समजले जाते ती प्रत्यक्षात सोडतच नाही. साधे अन्न मिळाले की तो कुरकुर करतो आणि मनातून चांगल्या मेजवानीची अपेक्षा करतो, आणि लोकांच्या आदर-सन्मानाची अजूनही अपेक्षा ठेवतो. तुकाराम याला ढोंगी भक्ती म्हणतात, आणि विचारतात की असे जगणारा माणूस देवाला खरोखर कसा भेटेल. यातील मुद्दा असा की जर आतील इच्छा तशाच राहिल्या, तर आध्यात्मिकतेचा बाह्य पोशाख काहीच अर्थाचा नसतो.

Where this applies

Tukārām's samnyāsi-type in 7-abhang anti-fake-renunciate cluster (opening)
Pair with 2844-2847 (anti-fake-renunciate)