Abhanga 4291
When you stop over-identifying with body, status, and reputation and hold life as natural play, both shame and the swings of happiness and sorrow lose their grip on you.
The verse
मानूं कांहीं आम्ही आपुलिया स्वइच्छा । नाहीं तरि सरिसा रंकरावो ॥१॥
आपुल्या उदास आहों देहभावीं । मग लज्जाजीवीं चाड नाहीं ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे खेळों आम्ही सहजलीळे । म्हणोनी निराळे सुख दुःख ॥३॥
Literal translation
Count-by-svaiccha — else-king-pauper-equal. Udāsa-in-deha-bhāva — no-chāḍa-of-lajjā-jīvī. Tukā: play-sahaja-līḷē — niraḷe-sukha-duḥkha.
What it means
A 3-verse equanimity-no-care text. If we count something by our own will, (we grant it); otherwise, king-and-pauper are equal. We're detached in body-mode; therefore, of shame-life we have no concern. Tukā says: we play in natural-sport; therefore, joy-and-sorrow are aside. The position: complete-equality of-rank by sva-iccha; deha-bhāva-udāsa abolishes-lajjā; sahaja-līḷā-play separates-from-sukha-duḥkha. Pair with 2867 (ṭhevilē-Anantē equanimity), 4287 (some-blame-some-praise).
For someone today
Tukaram says that whatever value or status he assigns to something is entirely his own choice, because otherwise, at bottom, a king and a beggar are exactly equal. Having stepped back from over-identifying with his body and social image, he no longer feels bound by shame or the need to protect his reputation. He describes his relationship with life as easy, natural play, and because of that playful freedom, both happiness and sorrow stay off to the side rather than controlling him.
मराठी: तुकाराम म्हणतात की कशाला किती किंमत द्यायची हे पूर्णपणे आपल्याच इच्छेवर अवलंबून असते, कारण मुळात राजा आणि रंक हे दोघेही समानच आहेत. देहभावाशी आणि सामाजिक प्रतिमेशी अति-ओळख सोडून दिल्यावर लाजेचे किंवा प्रतिष्ठा जपण्याचे ओझे उरत नाही. ते जीवनाकडे सहज, नैसर्गिक खेळ म्हणून पाहतात, आणि त्या खेळकर मोकळेपणामुळेच सुख आणि दुःख दोन्ही बाजूला राहतात, त्यांच्यावर ताबा मिळवत नाहीत.
Where this applies
- When you're comparing yourself to people who seem more successful or important and forget that underneath, everyone is equal
- When you're paralyzed by fear of embarrassment or damage to your reputation
- When you want to hold life's ups and downs more lightly instead of being tossed around by every high and low
- When you need to remember that the meaning or status you give to things is a choice you're making, not a fixed fact