Abhanga 4072
Tukaram asks for nothing but nearness to good people, willing to become dust, sandal, or stray dog just to stay close to them.
The verse
होइन खडे गोटे । चरणरज साने मोठे । पंढरीचे वाटे । संतचरणीं लागेन ॥१॥
आणीक काय दुजें । म्या मागणें तुजपासीं । अविट तें सुख । भय नास नाहीं ज्यासी ॥ध्रु.॥
होइन मोचे वाहणा । पायीं सकळां संतजनां । मांजर सुकर सुणा । जवळी शेष घ्यावया ॥२॥
सांडोवा पायरी । वाहळ बावी गंगातिरी । होइन तयावरी । संतसज्जन चालती ॥३॥
लागें संतां पांयीं । ऐसा ठेवीं भलता ठायीं । तुका म्हणे देई । धाक नाहीं जन्माचा ॥४॥
Literal translation
I'll-become-pebbles-stones-foot-dust-on-Paṇḍharī-path-on-santa-feet. What-else-to-ask — aviṭa-sukha — no-fear-of-destruction. I'll-become-shoes-sandals — cat-pig-dog-close-for-leftovers. Staircase-channel-Gangā-bank — santas-walk-on. Touching-santa-feet — keep-me-anywhere — Tukā: give — no-fear-of-janma.
What it means
THE most-famous Tukārām extreme-humility prayer. The bhakta wants to become anything that the santas might touch on their walk to Paṇḍharī: - pebbles, stones, foot-dust on the Paṇḍharī path - shoes and sandals on every santa's feet - cat, pig, dog — to be close-by and eat the leftovers - a discarded staircase, a well-channel, a Gangā-bank on which santas walk
The closing wish: touching the santas' feet, keep me anywhere — give me this, and I will have no fear of janma. The extreme-humility-with-place-attachment is Tukārām's signature: he doesn't seek mukti or heaven — just contact with santa-feet on the way to Paṇḍharī. Pair with 3865 (sāṇḍōvā-pāṣāṇa-Paṇḍharīchā — I'll-become-a-discarded-stone-of-Paṇḍharī), 3884 (Pāvalōm-Paṇḍharī).
For someone today
Tukaram doesn't ask God for liberation, heaven, or any reward. He only asks to be near the saints on their walk to Pandharpur, even if that means becoming the dust on the road, a discarded sandal, or a stray dog eating their leftovers. The teaching is that closeness to good company matters more than status or spiritual attainment. If you can stay near people who live well, you don't need to chase anything else; the fear that usually shadows a lifetime dissolves on its own.
मराठी: तुकाराम देवाकडे मुक्ती, स्वर्ग किंवा कोणतेही बक्षीस मागत नाहीत. ते फक्त पंढरीच्या वाटेवर संतांच्या जवळ राहण्याची इच्छा करतात, मग त्यासाठी वाटेवरची धूळ, जुनी वहाण किंवा उष्टे खाणारा कुत्रा बनावे लागले तरी चालेल. यातून शिकायचे हेच की चांगल्या सहवासाची जवळीक ही प्रतिष्ठा किंवा साधनेपेक्षा मोठी असते. जे चांगले जगतात त्यांच्या जवळ राहिलात, तर आणखी काही मिळवण्याची गरज उरत नाही; आयुष्यभर सोबत असणारी भीती आपोआप विरून जाते.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's THE most-famous extreme-humility prayer canonical
- Pair with 3865 (sāṇḍōvā-pāṣāṇa-Paṇḍharīchā), 3884 (Pāvalōm-Paṇḍharī)