Abhanga 4280
Having been born human, settle your restless mind, hold your faith with firm conviction, and sing God's name with love, since no practice is easier or more sure.
The verse
येऊनि नरदेहा विचारावें सार । धरावा पैं धीर भजनमार्गा ॥१॥
चंचळ चत्तिासी ठेवूनियां ठायीं । संतांचिये पायीं लीन व्हावें ॥ध्रु.॥
भावाचा पैं हात धरावा नश्चियें । तेणें भवभय देशधडी ॥२॥
नामापरतें जगीं साधन सोपें नाहीं । आवडीनें गाई सर्वकाळ ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे धन्य वंश त्या नराचा । ऐसा नश्चियाचा मेरु जाला ॥४॥
Literal translation
Coming-to-nara-dēha — discriminate-sāra — bhajana-mārga-dhīra. Chañchaḷa-chitta-in-place — līna-at-santa-feet. Hold-bhāva-niścaya — bhava-bhaya-deśadhaḍī. No-easier-sādhana — Nāma — sing-all-time. Tukā: dhanya-vamśa — niścaya-meru.
What it means
A 4-verse canonical sādhaka-discipline text. Coming to the human-body, discern the essence; hold the patience of the bhajana-path. Placing the wandering heart in (one) place, merge at the santas' feet. Hold the hand of bhāva with conviction — by that, bhava-fear is banished. No easier sādhana exists in the world than the Name — sing it with love, all the time. Tukā says: blessed is the lineage of such a man — who has become the Meru (mountain) of conviction. The 4-step discipline: (1) discern-sāra-in-nara-dēha; (2) chitta-in-place + līna-at-santa-feet; (3) hold-bhāva-niścaya; (4) Nāma-easiest-sādhana. Pair with 2836 (sādhaka-discipline 4-verse).
For someone today
Tukaram says that having been born human, you should figure out what really matters and stay patient on the path of devotion instead of giving up quickly. Instead of letting your restless mind wander everywhere, settle it and surrender humbly at the feet of the saints. Hold onto your faith with firm conviction, and that firmness alone will banish your fears about life and death. Of all spiritual practices, none is easier than simply singing God's name with love at every moment, and Tukaram says the family of someone who becomes this steady in conviction is truly blessed.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की माणूसजन्म मिळाल्यावर खरोखर काय महत्त्वाचे आहे हे ओळखावे आणि भजनमार्गावर धीर धरावा, लगेच निराश होऊ नये. चंचल मन इकडेतिकडे भटकू न देता ते एका जागी स्थिर करावे आणि नम्रपणे संतांच्या चरणी लीन व्हावे. श्रद्धेचा हात दृढ निश्चयाने धरावा, त्या निश्चयानेच जीवन-मृत्यूची भीती दूर पळून जाते. जगात नामापेक्षा सोपे साधन नाही — ते प्रेमाने सतत गावे. तुकाराम म्हणतात, असा दृढनिश्चयी मनुष्य ज्याच्या वंशात जन्मतो, तो वंशच धन्य होय.
Where this applies
- When you've been given a fresh start or new opportunity in life and aren't sure what to prioritize
- When your mind keeps wandering between distractions and you need to settle it in one steady place
- When you're anxious about the future or afraid of hardship and need firm conviction rather than worry
- When you feel spiritual practice must be complicated, and need reminding that something simple, done consistently, is enough