Abhanga 4290
A person who abandons right conduct, picks quarrels, boasts falsely, and keeps no steady daily discipline has truly sunk low, and death will not be kind to such carelessness.
The verse
नीत सांडोनि अवनीत चाले । भंडउभंड भलतें चि बोले ॥१॥
त्यांत कोणाचें काय बा गेलें । ज्याचें तेणें अनहित केलें ॥ध्रु.॥
ज्यासि वंदावें त्यासी निंदी । मैत्री सांडोनि होतसे दंदी ॥२॥
आन यातीचे संगती लागे । संतसज्जनामध्यें ना वागे ॥३॥
केल्याविण पराक्रम सांगे । जेथें सांगे तेथें चि भीक मागे ॥४॥
करी आपुला चि संभ्रम । परि पुढें कठीण फार यम ॥५॥
तुका म्हणे कांहीं नित्यनेम । चित्ती न धरी तो अधम ॥६॥
Literal translation
Abandons-nīta-walks-anīta — bhand-ubhand-speaks. Whose-loss — own-anhita-self. Whom-to-vande-blames — abandons-mitra-becomes-dandi. Other-yāti-sanga — not-among-santas. Tells-parākrama-without-doing — asks-bhīka-where-tells. Own-sambhrama — yama-kaṭhin-ahead. Tukā: no-nitya-nēma-in-chitti — adhama.
What it means
A 6-verse anti-adhama detailed-diagnostic. Abandoning the proper-way, he walks improperly; speaks whatever-comes-to-mouth. In that, what's the loss — he has made his own un-good. Whom one should revere, he blames; abandons friendship, becomes quarrelsome. Takes the company of other-caste; doesn't walk among the good-and-noble. Tells of valor without doing it; wherever he tells, he asks alms. Makes his own pride-show — but Yama is hard ahead. Tukā says: one who doesn't hold any daily-rule in heart — that one is adhama. 7 diagnostic-traits of adhama in a single text — a clinical-profile. Pair with 4257 (5-image instructional-futility), 4273 (12-verse anti-hypocrisy-householder).
For someone today
Tukaram paints a portrait of someone who has drifted into a bad way of living: abandoning right conduct, speaking carelessly, blaming the very people who deserve respect, breaking friendships and picking quarrels, and keeping company that pulls them away from good, honest people. This person boasts about accomplishments they never actually achieved, and even while showing off, they are really just begging for approval underneath. All this self-important display doesn't change the fact that death is coming, and it will be hard on someone who has lived this carelessly. Tukaram's conclusion is simple: a person who keeps no steady daily discipline in their heart has truly sunk low.
मराठी: तुकाराम अशा माणसाचे चित्र रेखाटतात जो चुकीच्या मार्गावर गेला आहे: नीतीचा त्याग करून अनीतीने वागतो, वाट्टेल ते बोलतो, ज्यांना आदर द्यायला हवा त्यांनाच दोष देतो, मैत्री तोडून भांडणे उकरतो, आणि चांगल्या-सज्जन माणसांऐवजी वाईट संगत धरतो. न केलेल्या पराक्रमांच्या गप्पा मारतो, आणि तेच बढाया मारताना खरे तर आतून भीक मागत असतो. हा सगळा आत्मप्रौढीचा देखावा असला तरी मृत्यू पुढेच उभा आहे, आणि अशा बेपर्वा जगण्याला तो कठोरच असणार आहे. तुकाराम शेवटी सांगतात — ज्याच्या मनात कोणताही नित्यनेम नाही, तो खरोखरच अधम होय.
Where this applies
- When you notice yourself blaming or criticizing people who actually deserve your respect and gratitude
- When you're exaggerating your accomplishments to impress others instead of doing the real work quietly
- When you've drifted away from good, honest friends toward company that pulls you toward careless living
- When your days have no steady routine or discipline and you sense that drift is quietly costing you