Abhanga 4119
Being burdened by importance and status feels heavier than simple, humble service, which brings far more genuine peace and closeness.
The verse
संकोचतो जीव महत्वाच्या भारें । दासत्व चि बरें बहु वाटे ॥१॥
कळावी जी माझी आवडी हे संतां । देणें तरि आतां हें चि द्यावें ॥ध्रु.॥
तुमचे चरण पावविलों सेवा । म्हणउनि हेवा हा चि करीं ॥२॥
विनउनी तुका वंदितो चरण । लेखा रजरेण चरणींचें ॥३॥
Literal translation
Jīva-shrinks-by-mahatva-bhāra — dāsatva-better. Santas-know-my-āvaḍī — give-this. Got-charaṇa-sēvā — only-this-hēvā. Tukā: bow-feet — count-me-as-rajarēṇa.
What it means
A 3-verse dāsatva-preference text. The soul shrinks under the burden of greatness; dāsatva-state feels much better. O santas, know my longing — if you must give, give just this. I've got your foot-service; that's my only coveting. Tukā bows at the feet — count me as a foot-dust speck. The bhakta wishes to be less — not great — just foot-dust.
For someone today
Tukaram admits that the weight of being important or great actually makes his spirit shrink, and that he finds far more comfort in simply being of service than in being praised or elevated. He asks the saints, if you want to know what I truly long for and wish to give me something, give me exactly this, the chance to keep serving at your feet, because that humble closeness is the only thing he really covets. He ends by bowing and asking to be counted as nothing more than a speck of dust at their feet, showing that real contentment can come from choosing humility over status.
मराठी: तुकाराम कबूल करतात की मोठेपणाचे ओझे त्यांच्या मनाला संकुचित करते, आणि प्रशंसा किंवा उच्च स्थानापेक्षा साधी सेवा करण्यातच त्यांना जास्त समाधान वाटते. ते संतांना विचारतात की जर तुम्हाला माझी खरी इच्छा जाणून घ्यायची असेल आणि काही द्यायचेच असेल तर हेच द्या, तुमच्या चरणी सेवा करत राहण्याची संधी, कारण हीच नम्र जवळीक त्यांना खरोखर हवी आहे. शेवटी ते नमन करून स्वतःला त्यांच्या चरणांतील धुळीचा एक कण मानले जावे अशी विनंती करतात, यातून हे दिसते की मोठेपणापेक्षा नम्रता निवडल्याने खरे समाधान मिळू शकते.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's dāsatva-preference; rajarēṇa canonical
- Pair with 4072 (extreme-humility)