Abhanga 4338
Tukārām warns harshly: the company of prostitutes/others' wives leads to Yama's hands; without regard for the Lord, no warning works.
The verse
किती सांगों तरि नाइकति बटकीचे । पुढें सिंदळीचे रडतील ॥१॥
नका नका करूं रांडेची संगती । नेवोनी अधोपाती घालिल यम ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे जरी देवीं नाहीं चाड । हाणोनि थोबाड फोडिल यम ॥३॥
Literal translation
Kitī sāngo tari nāikati baṭakīche — puḍhe sindaḷīche raḍatīla: however much I say, the baṭakīche don't listen — ahead the sindaḷīche will weep. Nakā nakā karūm rāṇḍechī sangatī — nevōnī adhōpātī ghālila yama: do-not, do-not the company of prostitute — Yama takes and throws head-downward. Tukā mhaṇe jarī devīm nāhīm chāḍa — hāṇoni thōbāḍa phōḍila yama: Tukā says: if no chāḍa for Deva — Yama strikes and breaks the jaw.
What it means
A harsh 3-verse rebuke — uses 17th-century vulgar-rebuke vocabulary (baṭakīche, sindaḷīche, thōbāḍa-phōḍa) to warn against paranārī-sanga (consort with prostitutes / others' wives). Yama is the executioner; the jaw will be broken if there is no regard for Deva.
For someone today
Tukārām warns harshly: the company of prostitutes/others' wives leads to Yama's hands; without regard for the Lord, no warning works.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's canonical harsh anti-paranārī polemic
- Companion to 2630 (vyasana-prārthanā 5-verse), 2854 (householder-dharma)