Abhanga 4009
Attachment to family ties and wealth is the root of most suffering, and letting go of hope and expectation entirely is what leads to real contentment.
The verse
स्त्रिया धन बा हें खोटें । नागवले मोठे मोठे ॥१॥
म्हणोनि सांडा दोनी । सुख पावाल निदानीं ॥ध्रु.॥
सर्वदुःखासी कारण । हीं च दोन्हीचीं प्रमाण ॥२॥
आशा सर्वस्वें सांडावी । तेणें निजपदवी पावावी ॥३॥
देह लोभें नाडला । घाला यमाचा पडला ॥४॥
तुका म्हणे निरापेक्षा । कांहीं न धरावी अपेक्षा ॥५॥
Literal translation
Wife-wealth-fake — naked-mighty. Leave-both-sukha. Root-duḥkha. Release-āśā-nija-padavī. Deha-lōbha-Yama's-trap. Tukā: be-nirapēkṣa — no-apēkṣa.
What it means
A 5-verse renunciation text. Wife and wealth — both are fake; great-and-mighty have been humbled by them. So leave both — you'll get joy in the end. The cause of all suffering is these two. Release all hope — and you'll gain your-own-true-station. The body trapped by greed falls into Yama's net. Be without-hope — hold no expectation. The teaching: strī + dhana = root-of-all-duḥkha; release of hope = nija-padavī. Compare 3009-3010 anti-māyā polemics.
For someone today
Tukaram names two attachments he considers deceptive, domestic and marital ties and wealth, pointing out that even powerful, accomplished people have been brought low by clinging to them. His advice is to let go of both, promising that real contentment comes in the end once you do. He traces most suffering back to exactly these two attachments, and says that releasing hope and expectation entirely is what lets a person find their own true footing. A body caught up in greed, he warns, walks straight into ruin. His final word is to want nothing, to hold no expectation at all, and let that be your freedom.
मराठी: तुकाराम दोन गोष्टींना फसव्या मानतात, कौटुंबिक-वैवाहिक बंधने आणि संपत्ती, आणि सांगतात की मोठमोठे, कर्तबगार माणसेही यांना धरून राहिल्याने खाली आली आहेत. दोन्ही सोडून द्या असा त्यांचा सल्ला आहे, कारण असे केल्यावरच शेवटी खरे समाधान मिळते. बहुतेक दुःखाचे मूळ याच दोन गोष्टींमध्ये आहे असे ते दाखवतात, आणि आशा आणि अपेक्षा पूर्णपणे सोडून देणे हेच माणसाला स्वतःची खरी जागा मिळवून देते असे सांगतात. लोभात अडकलेले शरीर थेट विनाशाकडे जाते, असा इशारा ते देतात. त्यांचा शेवटचा शब्द आहे, काहीही न इच्छिणे, कसलीही अपेक्षा न बाळगणे, आणि हीच खरी मुक्तता आहे.
Where this applies
- When you notice how much of your worry traces back to relationships or money
- When you see someone accomplished and respected still brought low by attachment to wealth or family status
- When you are holding onto expectations that keep causing you disappointment
- When you want a simple test for what is actually driving your unhappiness