Abhanga 4299
A fixed, harmful nature does not change just because it is placed in kindness, so Tukaram warns against expecting sweetness to transform someone whose core stays the same.
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
Tukaram gives three sharp images for a hard truth: a bitter wild cucumber placed in a bowl of sugar does not stop being bitter, a crow's chick raised with love still turns back to filth, and if you fondly embrace a stinging insect it will still sting you and make you cry out. Some people's inner nature simply does not change because you are kind to them. Tukaram warns that such people, no matter how well you treat them, end up striking out at genuinely good and saintly people. This is permission to stop expecting sweetness to change someone whose nature is fixed, and to protect yourself accordingly.
मराठी: तुकाराम महाराज तीन थेट उदाहरणे देतात, एक कडू इंद्रावण साखरेच्या भांड्यात ठेवले तरी त्याची कडवटपणा जात नाही, प्रेमाने वाढवलेले कावळ्याचे पिल्लू तरीही घाणीकडेच वळते, आणि प्रेमाने एखाद्या डंख मारणाऱ्या किड्याला जवळ घेतले तरी तो डंख मारतोच आणि ओरडायला लावतो. काही माणसांचा मूळ स्वभाव नुसत्या चांगुलपणाने बदलत नाही. तुकाराम इशारा देतात की अशी माणसे कितीही चांगली वागणूक मिळाली तरी शेवटी खऱ्या सज्जन आणि साधू माणसांवरच घाव घालतात. याचा अर्थ असा की ज्याचा स्वभाव ठरलेला आहे तो गोडव्याने बदलेल अशी अपेक्षा सोडून द्यावी आणि स्वतःचे रक्षण करावे.
Where this applies
- When you keep hoping kindness will finally change someone who never actually changes
- When someone you have treated well turns around and hurts you or someone good
- When you are deciding whether to keep giving chances to a person whose pattern never shifts
- When you need permission to protect yourself instead of blaming your own kindness