असाध्य तें साध्य करितां सायास - संत तुकाराम

साधुनी बचनाग खाती तोळा तोळा । आणिकातें डोळां न पाहावे ॥१॥

साधुनी भुजंग धरितील हातीं । आणिकें कापती देखोनियां ॥२॥ असाध्य तें साध्य करितां सायास । कारण अभ्यास तुका म्हणे ॥३॥ 

 This is one of the famous motivational abhang from Sant Tukaram. It will inspire everyone, including devotees of God and non-devotees alike in their pursuits.

 साधुनी बचनाग खाती तोळा तोळा । आणिकातें डोळां न पाहावे ॥१॥

"बचनाग" is a plant found in jungles, which is poisonous, it results in acidity, vomiting and in some cases, death. Sant Tukaram says, there are people who have trained themselves and won over this plant, such that they can eat quantities of it together. However, a normal person cannot even see it.

साधुनी भुजंग धरितील हातीं । आणिकें कापती देखोनियां ॥२॥

There are some people who have learned how to handle snakes. However, a normal person trembles at seeing snakes.

असाध्य तें साध्य करितां सायास । कारण अभ्यास तुका म्हणे ॥३॥

Sant Tukaram with the above examples now says, if one really endeavors, even impossible things become possible. With consistent effort and study, one can achieve even seemingly impossible goals.

So be focused, consistent in your efforts and you'll surely achieve your goals.

ठेविलें अनंतें तैसें चि रहावे - संत तुकाराम

 हे चि थोर भक्ती आवडती देवा । संकल्पावी माया संसाराची ॥१॥
ठेविलें अनंतें तैसें चि रहावे। चित्तीं असों द्यावें समाधान ॥ध्रु.॥
वाहिल्या उद्वेग दुःख चि केवळ । भोगणें तें फळ संचिताचें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे घालूं तयावरी भार । वाहूं हा संसार देवा पायीं ॥३॥

This abhang has a famous line, which anyone who knows Marathi will recognize, which is "ठेविलें अनंतें तैसें चि रहावे। चित्तीं असों द्यावें समाधान", meaning, "We should live in whatever condition/situation, God wants to keep us. And, more importantly, we should be satisfied/happy in that condition."

 हे चि थोर भक्ती आवडती देवा । संकल्पावी माया संसाराची ॥१॥

Sant Tukaram starts by saying that, I really like this devotion in which we offer everything to you and we let go of all the attachments we have of the material world (Samsara). (I have been thinking about संकल्पावी माया संसाराची for some time, and I feel what Sant Tukaram is saying here is related to "संकल्प सोडणे", which means a pledge to do something, he is basically saying all the Maya which I have for this Sansar, I want to pledge and get rid of it).

ठेविलें अनंतें तैसें चि रहावे। चित्तीं असों द्यावें समाधान ॥ध्रु.॥

And what happens when I let go of my attachment to the material world? with the attachment, all the worries of the material world also leaves me. Sant Tukaram is stressing on Acceptance here. Accept the things which are not in our control.

I think this is very important teaching for the householders, who want to engage in the devotion. Many a times, we get entangled in the difficult situations. There are many a things, which are not in one's control and we keep worrying about them. So here, he suggests that we should say "Ok, God wants me to stay in this condition, so this must be the best for me. With this acceptance, I can stop regretting what happened in the past and I can stop worrying about what happens next ". 

However, as per my understanding, we should not take this to mean that, we stop trying and performing our duties. As Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, we need to do our duties to the best of our capabilities and then stop worrying about the results. Here, चित्तीं असों द्यावें समाधान, satisfaction in our mind, is an important thing. We should rest satisfied, having done our best and knowing that whatever God has done (Result/Fruit), is the best for us.

वाहिल्या उद्वेग दुःख चि केवळ । भोगणें तें फळ संचिताचें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे घालूं तयावरी भार । वाहूं हा संसार देवा पायीं ॥३॥

What happens if we do not follow this instruction of "ठेविलें अनंतें तैसें चि रहावे", then we keep regretting, blaming and worrying, which results in nothing but pain and sadness. 

In any case, the law of Karma is strict, we have to bear the fruits of our actions. There is no running away from this. So, when any bad situation comes in our life, we need to understand this and stay satisfied in whichever condition the God keeps us.

Finally, Sant Tukaram says, let's leave all the difficulties on to God, let him do whatever he wishes with us, let's offer all our Samsar to him.

One more thing, which this Abhang teaches a serious seeker after Truth is, we should not struggle too much for the material possessions in this world. Our main aim should to see God, to realize the Truth. So whatever material situation God keeps us, we should stay put, happily, and focusing on increasing our devotion.

धांव घालीं पांडुरंगा - संत तुकाराम

आळस आला अंगा । धांव घालीं पांडुरंगा ॥1॥

सोसूं शरीराचे भाव । पडती अवगुणाचे घाव ॥ध्रु.॥

करावीं व्यसनें। दुरी येउनि नारायणें ॥2॥

जवळील दुरी । जालों देवा धरीं करीं॥3॥

ह्मणउनि देवा । वेळोवेळां करीं धावा ॥4॥

तुका ह्मणे पांडुरंगा । दुरी धरूं नका अंगा ॥5॥

 

When a devotee is progressing on the spiritual path, when his knowledge and understanding improves, he starts seeing how bad and lowly he is. When this happens, I feel it is nothing but the grace of God on the devotee. Understanding and acknowledging that there are so many bad habits (अवगुण) in us is the first step in improving ourselves.

Sant Tukaram has sung this abhang, in the same mood, for our benefit!

He says to Lord Pandurang, 

आळस आला अंगा । धांव घालीं पांडुरंगा ॥1॥

सोसूं शरीराचे भाव । पडती अवगुणाचे घाव ॥ध्रु.॥

day by day I'm becoming lazy, please hurry up Lord! Hurry up and help me. As I attend to my body's needs I find that all the bad habits/defects (अवगुण) are attacking me. I cannot defeat them on my own. Please help.

करावीं व्यसनें। दुरी येउनि नारायणें ॥2॥

जवळील दुरी । जालों देवा धरीं करीं॥3॥

Oh Lord Narayan, please come and please rid me of my bad habits. Due to them, I'm going away from you. Please hold my hand and take me closer to you.

ह्मणउनि देवा । वेळोवेळां करीं धावा ॥4॥

तुका ह्मणे पांडुरंगा । दुरी धरूं नका अंगा ॥5॥

Tuka says, that is the reason, I'm beseeching you repeatedly to hurry up. Please do not keep me so far away from yourself.

This abhang has another important feature, it shows eagerness and the earnestness of the devotee, with the phrases like "धांव घालीं" and "वेळोवेळां करीं धावा". If we too, with such earnestness, beseech our Lord God, His heart will surely melt and He will surely help us get rid of our defects and guide us in the spiritual path. And with the times like these (Corona pandemic), we are further shown, how fickle our life is. We do not know for sure if we'll be alive, for next few days/weeks or not. It is very appropriate now that we become earnest for spiritual progress and say "धांव घालीं पांडुरंगा".