Abhanga 3939
Only total, unheld back commitment creates a real bond with God, Tukaram says; anything less leaves you circling your own desires.
The verse
सर्वस्वाची साटी । तरि च देवासवें गांठी ॥१॥
नाहीं तरी जया तैसा । भोग भोगवील इच्छा ॥ध्रु.॥
द्यावें तें चिं घ्यावें । म्हणउनि घ्यावें जीवें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे उरी । मागें उगवितां बरी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Sarvasvāñcī sāṭī — staking everything; tarī cha Devāsave gāṇṭhī — only-then bond with Deva. Nāhī tarī jayā taisā — otherwise, as it is; bhōga bhōgavīla ichchhā — bhōga will be fitted by icchā. Dyāve te chim ghyāve — what is to be given — must be given; mhaṇaunī ghyāve jīve — therefore take with jīva. Tukā mhaṇe urī — Tukā says: urī; māge ugavitām barī — behind, it is good to untie.
What it means
A short 3-verse total-stake text by Tukārām.
The argument: Without-total-staking, no-bond-with-Deva. Otherwise bhōga-fits-icchā. What's-to-be-given must-be-given; take-with-jīva. Any-leftover-untie-behind.
For someone today
Tukārām's claim about total stake. Only by staking everything — only then is the bond with Deva formed. Otherwise, bhōga will simply follow one's own desire. What is to be given — that must truly be given; therefore take it up with your whole life. Any remainder left behind — it is good to settle it. The verse permits this radical bhakti claim: only a complete, unheld-back commitment forges the real bond with Deva.
मराठी: तुकारामांचा हा संपूर्ण समर्पणाचा दावा. सर्वस्व पणाला लावले तरच देवाशी खरी गाठ जुळते. नाहीतर भोग हा केवळ स्वतःच्या इच्छेप्रमाणे भोगला जातो. जे द्यायचे ते खरोखर द्यावेच लागते; म्हणून ते जिवाभावाने स्वीकारावे. मागे उरलेली कोणतीही गोष्ट मिटवून टाकणे चांगले. या ओवीत हा ठाम दावा मांडला आहे — पूर्ण, न राखून ठेवलेले समर्पण केले तरच देवाशी खरे नाते जुळते.
Where this applies
- When you're holding back part of yourself in a commitment that needs everything
- When you notice your effort is really just serving your own preferences
- When you're deciding whether to give something fully or only halfway
- When you have unfinished business that would be better resolved than carried forward