Abhanga 4430
The verse
बरें जालीयाचे अवघें सांगाती । वाइटाचे अंतीं कोणी नाहीं ॥१॥
नोहे मातापिता नोहे कांतासुत । इतरांची मात काय सांगों ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे जन दुतोंडी सावज । सांपडे सहज तिकडे धरी ॥३॥
Literal translation
When-good-all-companions — bad-end-no-one. Not-mother-father-wife-son — what-of-others. Tukā: people-2-faced-savaja — eat-wherever-found.
What it means
★ A 3-verse fair-weather-friends text. When things are well, all are companions — in bad times at the end, no one. Neither mother-father, neither wife-son — what to say of others? Tukā says: people are 2-faced beasts — wherever (they) find, they grasp naturally. The image dutōṇḍī sāvaja (two-faced beast) is striking — people-as-creatures-with-two-mouths who-eat-from-both-sides.
For someone today
Tukārām: when-things-are-good-everyone-is-a-companion — at-the-bad-end-not-even-mother-father-wife-son; people-are-two-faced-beasts.
Where this applies
- ★ Tukārām's fair-weather-friends + people-two-faced-savaja canonical