Abhanga 4278
Devoting your heart to God, the one truly powerful being, is the surest investment, because his grace erases poverty and remakes you in his likeness.
The verse
समर्थाचे सेवे बहु असे हित । विचार हृदयांत करुनी पाहें ॥१॥
वरकडोऐसा नव्हे हा समर्थ । क्षणें चि घडित सृष्टी नाशें ॥ध्रु.॥
ज्याची कृपा होतां आपणा ऐसें करी । उरों नेदी उरी दारिद्राची ॥२॥
ऐशालागीं मन वोळगे अहर्निशीं । तेणें वंद्य होशी ब्रम्हांदिकां ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे हें चि आहे पैं मुद्दल । सत्य माझा बोल हा चि माना ॥४॥
Literal translation
Much-hita-samartha-sēvā — vichāra-in-heart. Not-like-others — kṣaṇa-creates-destroys-srṣṭi. Krpā-makes-one-like-himself — no-uri-of-dāridra. Mana-bows-day-night — vandya-to-brahmādika. Tukā: this-muddal — take-my-word.
What it means
A 4-verse samartha-sēvā-investment text. In service of the powerful there is much benefit — make this consideration in your heart. He's not like the others — in a moment he creates-or-destroys the universe. Whose grace, when it comes, makes one like himself — and doesn't leave any trace of poverty. For such a one, my mind bows day-and-night; by that, you become worshipful even to Brahmā and the others. Tukā says: this is the principal — take my word as truth. The investment-metaphor: samartha-sēvā = muddal (principal-capital) — the highest-yield investment. Pair with 4250 (sant-foot-superior-to-tīrtha).
For someone today
Tukaram says that devoting yourself to God, the truly powerful one, is the most rewarding investment you can make. Unlike ordinary powerful people, God can create or destroy the whole universe in an instant, so his grace matters more than anyone else's favor. When that grace touches you, it doesn't leave a trace of poverty behind, it actually makes you like him. That is why Tukaram gives his whole heart to God day and night, and he asks the reader to trust this as the one truth worth building a life on.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की खऱ्या अर्थाने समर्थ असलेल्या देवाची सेवा करणे हीच सर्वात फायद्याची गुंतवणूक आहे. सामान्य सत्ताधाऱ्यांप्रमाणे तो नाही — तो क्षणार्धात सृष्टी निर्माण करू शकतो किंवा नष्टही करू शकतो. त्याची कृपा एकदा झाली की ती दारिद्र्याचा लवलेशही मागे ठेवत नाही — ती माणसाला त्याच्यासारखेच घडवते. म्हणूनच तुकारामांचे मन रात्रंदिवस त्याच्यापुढे नतमस्तक असते, आणि ते वाचकाला सांगतात की हेच खरे मूळ भांडवल आहे — माझे शब्द सत्य माना.
Where this applies
- When you're deciding where to invest your time, energy, or loyalty and want the highest possible return
- When you feel poor or lacking and need to know where real abundance comes from
- When you're tempted to seek favor from people with worldly power instead of turning to what truly matters
- When you need conviction that devoting yourself fully to something worthy is not wasted effort