Abhanga 4285
A single genuine encounter with the sacred and with true saints can make an entire life feel fruitful, leaving you longing for nothing more than lasting peace.
The verse
आलिया संसारीं देखिली पंढरी । कीर्ति महाद्वारीं वानूं तुझी ॥१॥
पताकांचे भार नामाचे गजर । देखिल्या संसार सफळ जाला ॥ध्रु.॥
साधुसंतांचिया धन्य जाल्या भेटी । सांपडली लुटी मोक्षाची हे ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे आतां हें चि पैं मागणें । पुढती नाहीं येणें संसारासी ॥३॥
Literal translation
Coming-samsāra-saw-Paṇḍharī — praise-kīrti-mahā-dvāra. Patāka-Nāma-gajara — seeing-samsāra-saphaḷa. Sant-bhēṭi-dhanya — got-mokṣa-luṭī. Tukā: now-only-māgaṇa — no-more-samsāra-coming.
What it means
A 3-verse Paṇḍharī-darśana-saphaḷa text. Having come to samsāra, I saw Paṇḍharī — I praise your fame at the great-gate. The weight of flag-banners, the roar of the Name — by seeing these, samsāra became fruitful. Blessed is the meeting of sādhus-and-santas — I have come upon the loot of mokṣa. Tukā says: now this only is my request — no more coming to samsāra. The classic Vārkarī-pilgrim's satisfaction: pilgrimage-fruit + sant-meeting-fruit + closure-petition (no-more-samsāra). Pair with 4244 (radical-defiance-no-mukti-craving).
For someone today
Tukaram describes arriving at Pandharpur and finally understanding why he was ever born into this world: seeing the great gate, the countless flag-banners, and hearing the roar of people chanting God's name made his whole life feel worthwhile in that single moment. Meeting the saints and holy people there felt like stumbling onto treasure, a taste of liberation itself. After such an experience, Tukaram says there is only one thing left to ask for, to never have to be born into this struggling world again.
मराठी: तुकाराम पंढरपुरात पोहोचल्याचे वर्णन करतात आणि आपला जन्म का झाला हे त्यांना अखेर उमगते: मोठे प्रवेशद्वार पाहून, असंख्य पताका फडकताना पाहून आणि नामाचा गजर ऐकून त्या एका क्षणी त्यांचे संपूर्ण आयुष्य सफळ झाल्यासारखे वाटते. तिथे साधुसंतांची भेट होणे म्हणजे जणू मोक्षाचीच लूट सापडल्यासारखे वाटते. अशा अनुभवानंतर तुकाराम म्हणतात की आता एकच मागणे उरले आहे — या संसारात पुन्हा जन्म घ्यायला नको.
Where this applies
- When a pilgrimage, sacred place, or gathering of good people leaves you feeling your whole life has been worth it
- When you experience a moment so meaningful that it reframes years of hardship as worthwhile
- When being around people of genuine faith or wisdom fills you with a sense of having found something rare
- When you long for lasting peace and are tired of the endless cycle of struggle and repetition in life