Abhanga 3941
Tukārām's anti-empty-jñānī polemic. The half-cooked has become neither this nor that; all the talk went in vain. Self is empty — weeps for others' good. Doesn't take dwelling in the joy-ocean; the body has the intoxication of knowledge-pride. Count (such-a-one) as ass — wherever he is met, beat (him). The verse permits the diagnostic of empty-jñānī as fake-counselor.
The verse
सेंकीं हें ना तेंसें जालें । बोलणें तितुकें वांयां गेलें ॥१॥
स्वयें आपण चि रिता । रडे पुढिलांच्या हिता ॥ध्रु.॥
सुखसागरीं नेघे वस्ती । अंगीं ज्ञानपणाची मस्ती ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे गाढव लेखा । जेथें भेटेल तेथें ठोका ॥३॥
Literal translation
Semkīm he nā temse jāle — the half-cooked has become neither this nor that; bōlaṇe titake vāmyā gele — all the talk went in vain. Svaye āpaṇa chi ritā — self is empty; raḍe puḍhilāñcyā hitā — weeps for others' hita. Sukha-sāgarīm neghe vastī — doesn't take dwelling in sukha-sāgara; angīm jñānapaṇāñcī mastī — body has the intoxication of jñāna-paṇa. Tukā mhaṇe gāḍhava lekhā — Tukā says: count as ass; jethe bheṭela tethe ṭhōkā — wherever met, beat.
What it means
A sharp 3-verse anti-empty-jñānī polemic by Tukārām.
Target: the half-cooked one — neither this nor that; empty himself yet weeps for others' good; jñāna-paṇa intoxication; should be beaten. Compare 3940 (svabhāva-can't-be-changed).
For someone today
Tukārām's anti-empty-jñānī polemic. The half-cooked has become neither this nor that; all the talk went in vain. Self is empty — weeps for others' good. Doesn't take dwelling in the joy-ocean; the body has the intoxication of knowledge-pride. Count (such-a-one) as ass — wherever he is met, beat (him). The verse permits the diagnostic of empty-jñānī as fake-counselor.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's anti-empty-jñānī polemic
- Jñāna-paṇa-mastī canonical-pejorative
- Sharp language; bound-to-17th-c