Abhanga 4095
Taking up a spiritual appearance for fame, without real inner remorse or transformation, makes all your learning and words wasted effort.
The verse
जगीं कीर्ति व्हावी । म्हणोनी जालासी गोसावी॥१॥
बहुत केलें पाठांतर । वर्म राहिलेंसे दूर ॥ध्रु.॥
चित्तीं नाहीं अनुताप । लटिकें भगवें स्वरूप ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे सिंदळीच्या । व्यर्थ श्रमविली वाचा ॥३॥
Literal translation
Wanted-fame — became-gosāvī. Pāṭhāntara-much — varma-far. No-anutāpa — fake-bhagavē. Tukā: simḍaḷī's-vāchā-vyartha-tired.
What it means
A 3-verse anti-fake-gosāvī polemic. Wanting fame in the world, you became a renunciate. You did much memorization, but the essence stayed far. No contrition in your heart; your saffron-form is false. You unmoored-one, you've tired out your speech in vain. The diagnosis: pāṭhāntara-without-anutāpa = fame-seeking-as-fake-vairāgya. Pair with 3918-3925 (anti-fake-renunciate-cluster), 3064 (anti-rote-learning).
For someone today
Tukaram addresses someone who took up the outward life of a renunciate mainly to gain fame and respect in the world. That person memorized a great deal of scripture, but all that learning never actually reached the real heart of the matter. There is no genuine remorse or transformation inside them, so the saffron robes they wear are just an empty costume. In the end, all their talking and preaching has been wasted effort, because knowledge without real inner change accomplishes nothing.
मराठी: तुकाराम अशा माणसाला संबोधित करतात ज्याने जगात कीर्ती आणि मान मिळवण्यासाठी संन्यासाचे बाह्यरूप स्वीकारले आहे. त्या माणसाने खूप ग्रंथ पाठ केले आहेत, पण ते सगळे शिक्षण खऱ्या सारभूत गोष्टीपर्यंत कधीच पोहोचले नाही. त्याच्या अंतःकरणात खरा पश्चात्ताप किंवा बदल नाही, त्यामुळे त्याने परिधान केलेला भगवा वेष म्हणजे केवळ पोकळ पोशाख आहे. शेवटी, त्याचे सगळे बोलणे आणि उपदेश व्यर्थ श्रम ठरतात, कारण खऱ्या आंतरिक बदलाशिवाय ज्ञान काहीच साध्य करत नाही.
Where this applies
- When you notice someone adopting a spiritual role or title mainly to gain respect and recognition
- When you have memorized a lot of knowledge but sense it hasn't actually changed you inside
- When you feel no genuine remorse or growth despite outwardly appearing devoted or disciplined
- When you realize your teaching or preaching feels hollow because it isn't backed by real inner work