Abhanga 4443
At the end of everything, what matters most isn't achievement or even a spiritual reward, but simply dying with love and remembrance on your lips.
The verse
नको विद्या वयसा आयुष्य फारसें । नाहीं मज पिसें मुक्तीचें ही ॥१॥
रामकृष्ण म्हणतां जावो माझा प्राण । हें चि कृपादान मागतसें ॥ध्रु.॥
नको धन मान न वाढे संतान । मुखीं नारायण प्राण जावा ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे दीन काकुलती येतों । तुज निरवितों पांडुरंगा ॥३॥
Literal translation
No-vidyā-vayasa-much-āyuṣya — no-mukti-pisē. Rāma-Krṣṇa-saying-let-prāṇa-go — only-krpā-dāna. No-dhana-mān-samtāna — Nārāyaṇa-mukha-prāṇa-go. Tukā: dīna-kākulatī-yētō — niravitō-Pāṇḍurangā.
What it means
THE canonical 3-verse death-prayer text. I don't (want) knowledge, long-life, much life-span — I have no craving for liberation either. Saying Rāma-Krṣṇa — let my breath go — this only is the grace-gift I beg. I don't (want) wealth, honor, increase of offspring — (only) Nārāyaṇa on the mouth, let the breath go. Tukā says: lowly, piteously I come — I entrust myself to you, Pāṇḍurangā. The radical-renunciation of-everything-but-Name-at-death: no-vidyā / no-vayasa / no-much-āyuṣya / no-mukti / no-dhana / no-mān / no-samtāna — only Rāma-Krṣṇa-on-mouth at-prāṇa-leaving. The bhakta's-final-irreducible-asking. Pair with 4382 (final-vinamtī Kēśava-kaṇṭhīm-vasō).
For someone today
Tukārām strips away every ordinary wish a person might have at the end of life, he says he doesn't want knowledge, a long lifespan, wealth, honor, or even more children, and surprisingly, he says he doesn't even crave liberation itself. There's just one thing he asks for as a final grace, that when his breath leaves his body, the names Rāma and Krishna are on his lips. He comes, he says, humble and pleading, entrusting himself entirely to God. It's a striking picture of what someone might decide truly matters when everything else is stripped away, not achievement or even a particular spiritual outcome, but simply dying with love and remembrance on your tongue.
मराठी: तुकाराम आयुष्याच्या शेवटी माणसाला असणाऱ्या सर्वसाधारण इच्छा इथे पूर्णपणे बाजूला सारतात, त्यांना ज्ञान, दीर्घायुष्य, धन, मान किंवा आणखी संतानही नको आहे, आणि विशेष म्हणजे मोक्षाचीही त्यांना ओढ नाही असे ते सांगतात. शेवटची कृपा म्हणून त्यांना फक्त एकच गोष्ट हवी आहे, की जेव्हा त्यांचा श्वास सुटेल तेव्हा त्यांच्या ओठांवर राम-कृष्ण हे नाव असावे. ते नम्रपणे, विनवणी करत येतात आणि स्वतःला पूर्णपणे देवाच्या हाती सोपवतात. सगळे काही बाजूला सारल्यावर माणसाला खरोखर काय महत्त्वाचे वाटू शकते, याचे हे ठाम चित्र आहे, कर्तृत्व नव्हे किंवा एखादे विशिष्ट आध्यात्मिक फळ नव्हे, तर फक्त प्रेम आणि नामस्मरणासह मरण.
Where this applies
- When you're reflecting on what really matters most as your life or a loved one's life nears its end
- When you realize your ambitions for achievement or status feel hollow compared to simpler things
- When you want to let go of even spiritual goals and just rest in simple devotion
- When you're comforting someone facing death and want words that focus on love rather than accomplishment