Abhanga 4299
The verse
इंद्रावणा केलें साकरेचें आळें । न सांडी वेगळें कडुपण ॥१॥
कावळ्याचें पिलूं कौतुकें पोशिलें । न राहे उगलें विष्ठेविण ॥ध्रु.॥
क्षेम देतां अंगा गांधेलाची पोळी । करवी नादाळी महाशब्द ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे ऐसे न होती ते भले । घालिती ते घाले साधुजना ॥३॥
Literal translation
Indrāvaṇa-in-sugar-bowl-doesn't-lose-bitterness. Crow-baby-with-fondness-doesn't-stay-without-excrement. Gāndhēla-poḷī-on-anga-stings-mahā-śabda. Tukā: such-don't-become-bhalē — strike-blows-at-sādhu.
What it means
★★ THE canonical 3-image inherent-evil-not-removed-by-good text. Indrāvaṇa (bitter wild-cucumber) placed in a sugar-bowl — its bitterness doesn't leave it. A crow's baby raised with affection — won't stay without eating excrement. Embrace a gāndhēla-poḷī (a stinging-insect's wing-curl) on your body — it stings and makes a great cry. Tukā says: such (people) do not become good — they strike blows at the sādhu-folk. 3 specific images for inherent-evil-not-removed: (1) bitter-cucumber-in-sugar (sweet-environment-can't-change-bitter-nature); (2) crow-baby-with-fondness (refined-upbringing-can't-change-base-tendencies); (3) embracing-stinging-insect (affectionate-act-meets-painful-response). Pair with 4257 (5-image instructional-futility), 4290 (adhama-7-trait-diagnostic).
For someone today
Tukārām: the-bitter-cucumber-in-the-sugar-bowl-doesn't-lose-its-bitterness — some-people-can't-be-made-good-by-kindness — they-strike-the-sādhu.
Where this applies
- ★★ Tukārām's 3-image inherent-evil-not-removed canonical