Abhanga 4571
Only genuinely turning toward God ends the restless cycle of craving; effort spent on display or on anything else is ultimately in vain.
The verse
चिंतले पावलीं जयां कृष्णभेटी । एरवीं ते आटी वांयांविण ॥१॥
वासना धरिती कृष्णाविणें कांहीं । सीण केला तिहीं साधनांचा ॥२॥
चाळविले डंबें एक अहंकारें । भोग जन्मांतरें न चुकती ॥३॥
न चुकती भोग तपें दानें व्रतें । एका त्या अनंतेंवांचूनियां॥४॥
चुकवुनि जन्म देईंल आपणा । भजा नारायणा तुका म्हणे ॥५॥
Literal translation
Only-Krṣṇa-bhēṭī-attains — otherwise-vāyām-viṇa. Vāsanā-without-Krṣṇa — sīṇa-of-sādhanas. ḍambēm-ahamkāra-don't-miss-rebirth. Tapa-dāna-vrata-don't-skip-rebirth-except-Anantā. Skipping-birth-Lord-gives-himself — bhaja-Nārāyaṇa Tukā.
What it means
A 5-verse yamak-bandha — bhakti-supremacy-over-tapa-dāna-vrata. Only-Krṣṇa-bhēṭī-attains the intended; everything-else-vain; tapas-dānas-vratas don't-skip-rebirth — only-the-Anantā does. Skipping-his-own-further-existence, the Lord gives-himself-to-the-bhakta — bhaja-Nārāyaṇa. Pair with 4459 (Rāma-Rāma-simplicity), 4571's only-Krṣṇa-bhēṭī.
For someone today
Whatever you're truly seeking, Tukaram says, is only found by actually meeting Krishna; anything else you chase instead is effort spent in vain. Wanting something other than God, even through austerities, charity, or vows, only tires you out without freeing you from the endless cycle of rebirth. Some people are fooled by their own show of piety and pride, and that display doesn't save them from having to come back again. Only union with the Infinite truly ends that cycle, so Tukaram's advice is simple: turn your worship toward Narayana himself, not toward the performance of worship.
मराठी: तुम्ही खरोखर काय शोधत आहात, तुकाराम म्हणतात, ते फक्त कृष्णाला प्रत्यक्ष भेटूनच मिळते; त्याऐवजी तुम्ही जे काही मागे धावता तो सगळा प्रयत्न वाया जातो. देवाशिवाय दुसरे काही मागणे, मग ते तप, दान किंवा व्रतांच्या माध्यमातूनही असो, फक्त थकवते, पण जन्ममृत्यूच्या फेऱ्यातून सोडवत नाही. काही लोक स्वतःच्याच धार्मिकतेच्या आणि अहंकाराच्या दिखाव्याने फसतात, आणि तो दिखावा त्यांना पुन्हा जन्म घेण्यापासून वाचवत नाही. फक्त त्या अनंताशी एकरूप होणेच खरोखर हा फेरा संपवते, म्हणून तुकारामांचा सल्ला साधा आहे: तुमची भक्ती नारायणाकडेच वळवा, फक्त भक्तीच्या देखाव्याकडे नाही.
Where this applies
- When you're pouring effort into rituals or self-discipline but the underlying craving hasn't actually changed
- When you notice you're performing devotion for others to see rather than doing it honestly
- When you feel exhausted by spiritual practices that never seem to bring you real peace
- When you need to refocus on the actual relationship you're seeking instead of the outward show of seeking it