Abhanga 4129
True devotion means valuing closeness to good people so much that you willingly accept humility, leftovers, or mistreatment rather than be separated from them.
The verse
हरिजनीं प्राण विकली हे काया । अंकिला मी तया घरीं जालों ॥१॥
म्हणियें सत्वर करीन सांगतां । घेईन मी देतां शेष त्यांचें ॥ध्रु.॥
आस करूनियां राहेन अंगणीं । उश्चिष्टाची धणी घ्यावयासी ॥२॥
चालतां ते मार्गा चरणीचे रज । उडती सहज घेइन आतां ॥३॥
दुरि त्यांपासूनि न वजें दवडितां । तुका म्हणे लाता घेइन अंगीं ॥४॥
Literal translation
Hari-jana-sold-prāṇa-kāyā — ankilā-at-their-house. Quick-to-do — take-uchchhiṣṭa-leftover. Sit-angaṇa — charaṇa-rajas-fly-take-now. Don't-go-far-when-driven. Tukā: take-lātā-on-body.
What it means
A 4-verse bondsman-of-Hari-jana text. I have sold my breath and body to the Hari-people; I have become a bondsman at their house. Whatever they ask, I'll say I'll do quickly; I'll take the leftovers when given. I'll set up in their courtyard, to take the abundance of their food-leavings. When they walk on the path, the dust of their feet flies naturally — I'll take it now. Even if driven off, I won't go far. I'll even take their kicks on my body. Pair with 4072 (extreme-humility — pebbles-stones-cat-pig-dog) — same bondsman-spirit applied to Hari-people directly.
For someone today
Tukaram describes giving himself completely to the devotees of Hari, saying he has sold his very life and body to become a bondsman in their household. He is ready to do whatever is asked immediately, content to take only their leftovers, and even happy to gather the dust that rises from their footsteps as they walk. He insists that even if he were pushed away or mistreated, he would not go far, choosing to stay close no matter the cost rather than be separated from good company.
मराठी: तुकाराम हरिजनांना स्वतःला पूर्णपणे समर्पित करतात, ते सांगतात की मी माझा प्राण आणि देह विकून त्यांच्या घरचा सेवक झालो आहे. जे काही सांगतील ते लगेच करायला तयार, त्यांचे उरलेसुरले घेऊनही समाधानी, आणि ते चालताना उडणारी पायधूळही आनंदाने गोळा करणारा. ते ठामपणे सांगतात की मला दूर लोटले तरी मी लांब जाणार नाही, चांगल्या सहवासापासून दूर होण्यापेक्षा कोणत्याही किंमतीत जवळ राहणेच मी पत्करेन.
Where this applies
- When you choose to stay humbly close to people whose company genuinely improves you, even when it costs your pride
- When you would rather endure inconvenience or being overlooked than lose access to good influence in your life
- When you find deep contentment in small, unglamorous acts of service for people you respect
- When you refuse to let mistreatment or rejection push you away from a community that matters to you