Abhanga 4128
You don't need mastery of ritual or technique to serve wholeheartedly, since sincere devotion and closeness to good people matter more than any formal spiritual skill.
The verse
संतांच्या पादुका घेईन मोचे खांदीं । हातीं टाळ दिंडी नाचेन पुढें ॥१॥
भजनविधी नेणें साधन उपाय । सकळ सिद्धी पाय हरिदासांचे ॥ध्रु.॥
ध्यानगति मति आसन समाधि । हरिनाम गोविंदीं प्रेमसुख ॥२॥
नेणता निर्लज्ज नेणें नादभेद । सुखें हा गोविंद गाऊं गीतीं ॥३॥
सर्व जोडी मज गोत आणि वित्त । तुका म्हणे संतमहंतपाय ॥४॥
Literal translation
Santas-pādukā-on-shoulders — tāḷ-diṇḍī-dance. No-bhajana-vidhi-sādhana-upāya — all-siddhi-at-hari-dāsa-pāya. Dhyāna-gati-āsana-samādhi — Hari-Nāma-Govinda-prēma-sukha. Nirlajja-don't-know-nāda-bhēda — sing-Govinda-gītī. Tukā: all-jōḍī-gōta-vitta — santa-mahanta-pāya.
What it means
A 4-verse santas-feet-are-everything text. I'll carry santas' sandals on my shoulder; with bell-and-banner in hand, dance in front of them. I don't know how to do bhajana, nor any sādhana-means; all eight-siddhis are at the hari-dāsa's feet. Meditation-grade, mind, posture, samādhi — for me, Hari-Name in Govinda is the love-joy. Shameless, not knowing nāda-distinction, I just sing this Govinda's song with joy. All my gain, clan, and wealth — Tukā says — is the santa-mahanta-pāya.
For someone today
Tukaram declares he will carry the saints' sandals on his shoulders and dance in front of them with cymbals and banner in hand, even though he admits he knows none of the formal methods of worship or spiritual practice. He says every kind of spiritual attainment already rests at the feet of a true devotee, so meditation postures and techniques matter less to him than the simple joy of singing God's name without shame or expertise. In the end he says his only real wealth, family, and gain is the feet of the saints themselves.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की मी संतांच्या पादुका खांद्यावर घेईन आणि टाळ-दिंडी घेऊन त्यांच्यापुढे नाचेन, जरी मला औपचारिक भजनविधी किंवा साधनाचे मार्ग काहीच माहीत नसले तरी. ते सांगतात की सगळी सिद्धी हरिदासाच्या पायाशीच असते, त्यामुळे ध्यानाची पद्धत किंवा तंत्रापेक्षा त्यांना निर्लज्जपणे आणि कुशलतेशिवाय देवाचे नाम गाण्यातला साधा आनंद जास्त महत्त्वाचा वाटतो. शेवटी ते म्हणतात की माझी खरी संपत्ती, नातेवाईक आणि सगळा फायदा म्हणजे संतांचे पायच आहेत.
Where this applies
- When you feel unqualified for formal spiritual practice but still want to serve and celebrate with sincere joy
- When you find yourself happier singing or celebrating simply than following elaborate rules or techniques
- When you realize your real support system is a community of good people rather than money or status
- When you choose devotion or service over impressing others with skill or expertise