Abhanga 3999
Tukaram gives simple, urgent advice, whatever else you do, do this one thing, because there is no reason to walk yourself into terrible suffering. The only thing that is truly pure, he says, is whatever has Narayana present within it. Anyone who takes refuge is protected, while those who do not keep running into obstacles on their own. His closing advice is to become humble, because it is through sincere feeling, not cleverness, that you come to understand what really matters.
The verse
करणें तें हें चि करा । नरका अघोरा कां जातां ॥१॥
जयामध्यें नारायण । शुद्धपण तें एक ॥ध्रु.॥
शरणागतां देव राखे । येरां वाखे विघ्नाचे ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे लीन व्हावें । कळे भावें वर्म हें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Only-do-this — why-naraka. Nārāyaṇa-within — that-shuddha. Śaraṇāgata-protected — others-fall-vighna. Tukā: be-līna — bhāva-knows-varma.
What it means
A 3-verse counsel-prayer. Whatever you do, do this very thing. Why fall into terrible hell? Only that thing in which Nārāyaṇa dwells is pure. Deva protects the refugee; others fall into obstacles. Become humble — by bhāva the essence is known. The core-claim: only-that-where-Nārāyaṇa-is-is-shuddha-paṇa — bhakti-presence is the criterion of purity.
For someone today
Tukaram gives simple, urgent advice, whatever else you do, do this one thing, because there is no reason to walk yourself into terrible suffering. The only thing that is truly pure, he says, is whatever has Narayana present within it. Anyone who takes refuge is protected, while those who do not keep running into obstacles on their own. His closing advice is to become humble, because it is through sincere feeling, not cleverness, that you come to understand what really matters.
मराठी: तुकाराम साधे पण तातडीचे मार्गदर्शन देतात, तू आणखी काहीही कर, पण हे एक कर, कारण स्वतःहून घोर दुःखात जाण्याचे काही कारण नाही. खरोखर शुद्ध तेच आहे, ते म्हणतात, ज्यात नारायण वसतो. जो शरण जातो त्याचे रक्षण होते, तर जे शरण जात नाहीत ते सतत अडचणींना सामोरे जातात. शेवटी ते सांगतात, नम्र व्हा, कारण खऱ्या भावनेनेच, हुशारीने नव्हे, खरे मर्म कळते.
Where this applies
- When you are scattered across many priorities and need one clear thing to hold onto
- When you keep running into the same obstacles and wonder if there is a simpler path you are avoiding
- When you are too proud to ask for help and need a reminder that surrender brings protection
- When you are relying on cleverness instead of sincerity to understand something important