मन दृढ करा - संत तुकाराम

आयुष्यात कुठलेही मोठे किंवा महत्वाचे कार्य करायचे असेल तर त्याला कष्ट, त्याग आणि कठीण परिस्थितीत धैर्य हे आवश्यक असतात. एक इंग्रजीत ही म्हण आहेच

“Nothing worth having comes easy.” -Theodore Roosevelt

हे जर संसारातल्या वस्तूंसाठी आपण म्हणतो, तर भगवंताच्या प्राप्तीसाठी तर त्याहून खरे आहे. एका ठिकाणी संत तुकारामांनी म्हणलेच आहे 

भक्ती तों कठिण शुळावरील पोळी । निवडे तो बळी विरळा शूर ॥

पुढील अभंगातही तुकाराम महाराज आपल्याला असंच सांगत आहेत. ते म्हणतात,

साहोनियां टांकीघाये । पाषाण देव चि जाला पाहे ।।१।।

तया रीती दृढ मन । करी साधाया कारण ।।धृ ।।

बाण शस्त्र साहे गोळी । शूरा ठाव उंच स्थळी ।।२।।

तुका म्हणे सती । अग्न न देखे ज्या रीती ।।३।।

आपल्या सर्वांनाच हा अनुभव आहे, आपण एखादा काहीतरी चांगले करण्याचा संकल्प करतो (जसे की व्यायाम, नामजप इ.), ते थोडे दिवस करतो ही, पण थोड्याच दिवसात कोणत्या ना कोणत्या कारणाने थांबते. इथे आपल्या मनाचा कमकुवतपणाच कारणीभूत असतो. तुकाराम महाराज हे ओळखतात म्हणूनच आपल्याला हा उपदेश करत आहेत.

पाषाणाला जसे टांकीचे घाव सहन केल्याशिवाय देवपण येत नाही, तसेच आपल्यालाही मन कठीण करून येणाऱ्या अडचणींना सामोरे गेल्याशिवाय यश मिळणार नाहीच. त्यामुळे कुठलेही साध्य साधण्यासाठी आपले मन दृढ ठेवून प्रयत्न करत राहिले पाहिजे.

ते शूरांचे आणि सतीचे उदाहरण देतात. ज्याप्रमाणे शूर सैनिक बाण, शस्त्र आणि गोळ्या यांना सहन करत, निडरपणे लढतो आणि त्यानंतरच त्याला उच्च स्थान प्राप्त होते. तसेच पूर्वीच्या काळी सती जाणाऱ्या स्त्रीला खूप मान असे, त्यासाठी अग्नी समोर असूनही मन दृढ करून उडी मारावी लागत असे.

त्याचप्रमाणे ते साधकांना म्हणत आहेत (जे सर्वानाच लागू होते), भक्ती करण्यासाठी पण आपण कुठलाही नियम घेताना तो मन दृढ करून घ्यावा, एकदा एखादी गोष्ट करायची ठरवली कि मग संकट किंवा अडचणी येता मागे वळून पाहू नये. देवाला प्रार्थना करून संकटांना तोंड द्यावे, आणि तो पांडुरंग (ज्याला आपण दयासागर ही म्हणतो), आपल्याला त्यातून बाहेर पडण्याची मदत नक्कीच करेल!

सर्प भुलोन लागला नादा - संत तुकाराम

माणसाचे आयुष्य कसे आहे हे तुकाराम या अभंगातून सांगत आहेत. आपल्या आजूबाजूच्या कितीतरी गोष्टींमध्ये आपण अडकून असतो, आणि त्यामुळे आपण भगवंताच्या शुद्ध भक्तीला आणि प्रेमाला मुकतो. 

 सर्प भुलोन गुंतला नादा । गारुडीये फांदा घातलासे । हिंडवुनी पोट भरी दारोदारी । कोंडूनी पेटारी असे रया ।।१।।

तैसी परी जाली पांडुरंगा । गुंतलो तो मी गा सोडी आता । माझे मज काही न चलेसें जाले । कृपा हे तुज न करता ।।धृ।। 

आविसे मीन लावियला गळी । भक्ष तो गिळी म्हणवूनिया । काढुनी बाहेरी प्राण घेऊ पाहे । तेथे बापमाय कवण रया ।।२।।

पक्षी पिलया पातले आशा । देखोनियां फासा गुंते बळे । मरण नेणे माया धावोनि वोसरे । जीवित्व ना जाली बाळे ।।३।। 

गोडपणे मासी गुंतली लिगाडी । सांपडे फडफडी अधिकाधिक । तुका म्हणे प्राण घेतली आशा । पंढरीनिवासा धाव घाली ।।४।।

पुर्वीच्या काळी गारुडी सापांना पकडून त्यांच्याकडच्या पेटारीत ठेवायचे, आणि गावोगावी जाऊन सापांचा खेळ दाखवून आपला उदरनिर्वाह करायचे. त्यात गारुडी पुंगी वाजवतो आणि साप पुंगीच्या आवाजात गुंतून राहतो, डोलत राहतो. स्वतःचे स्वातंत्र्य तो त्या नादापायी घालवतो, आणि त्यामुळे सगळे आयुष्य त्याला त्या पेटीमध्ये काढावे लागते. तुकाराम महाराज म्हणतात, मला आता तसे झालेले आहे, मी या संसारात गुंतलो आहे. आता मला मी गुंतलोय हे तर कळतंय पण तरी माझे काही चालत नाहीये. तू जर कृपा केली तरच आता मी यातून सुटू शकतो. 

तुकाराम महाराजांनी घेतलेलं हे सापाच उदाहरण खूपच वैशिष्ट्यपूर्ण आहे आणि त्यांनी वापरलेले शब्दही अत्यंत संयुक्तीत आहेत. ते म्हणतात "हिंडवुनी पोट भरी दारोदारी", ह्या संसाराच्या मायेने मला कोंडून ठेवले आहे, जसे गारुडीने सापाला. आणि संसारात ती मला पोटासाठी, पैशासाठी दारोदार फिरवते आहे. हे आजही तंतोतंत लागू होते, आपण पैशात, प्रतिष्ठेत इतके गुंतून आहोत आणि त्यात अजून आश्चर्याची बाब अशी की आपण अडकून आहोत हे आपल्यालाही कळत नाही. 

तुकाराम महाराज अजून उदाहरणे देतात, ते म्हणतात मासे पकडणारे लोक, माश्यांना गळाच्या आशेला लावतात आणि जेव्हा त्या आमिषाच्या आशेने मासा गळाला पकडतो तेव्हा तो मासेमार त्याला पाण्याबाहेर काढतो आणि त्याचे प्राण घेतो. त्याचप्रमाणे पक्षी पिलाला सोडवण्याच्या आशेने स्वतः पिले अडकलेल्या जाळ्यात जाते आणि स्वतः पण प्राण गमावते. तसेच माशी पण गोडीच्या आशेने गुळावर जाऊन बसते. आणि ओल्या गुळाला चिटकते, तेव्हा ती पंखानी बरीच फडफड करण्याचा प्रयत्न करते, पण तिची सुटका होत नाही. 

म्हणून तुकाराम महाराज म्हणतात, पांडुरंगा! ही सर्वांचे प्राण घेणारी "आशा", माझेही प्राण घेत आहे. मला माझी स्वतःहुन सुटका करून घेता येत नाहीये, तूच आता धाव घाल आणि माझी रक्षा कर. 

एका साधकाच मन, तुकाराम महाराज खूप सुंदर उदाहरणांसहित उलगडून दाखवतात. एकीकडे भगवंताच्या भक्तीची, दर्शनाची ओढ असताना, दुसरीकडे त्याला संसारातल्या गोष्टी आणि विविध आशा/निराशा धरून असतात, लवकर सुटू देत नाहीत. अशा वेळी तो देवाचा धावा करतो, की तूच मला वाचव.

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".

Sant Tukaram - Shivaji Maharaj : भक्ती -शक्ती

Shivaji Maharaj was one of the greatest king in India. He was himself a genuinely spiritual person, can be seen from his dialogues like "..ही श्रींची इच्छा.." and also from the fact that he considered Sant Ramdas, a contemporary saint, his Guru.

He had heard about Sant Tukaram and was very eager to meet him. So he sent some gifts and invitation for meeting.

Below are some lines from the Abhangs Sant Tukaram wrote after finding this out.

Dislike for Material Things

दिवट्या छत्री घोडे । हे तो बऱ्यात न पडे ।।
आता येथे पंढरिराया । मज गोविसी कासया ।।
मान दंभ चेष्टा । हे तो शुकराची विष्ठा ।।
तुका म्हणे देवा । माझे सोडववणे धावा ।।

From the above abhang, it is clear that among the gifts sent, torch bearer, special umbrella and horses were also present. Tukaram Maharaj, directs this abhang to Pandurang, his Lord. He asks, why my dear God, you want me to be bound to these things. He says, for me, others' respect, hypocrisy and other such games are like excreta of pig, they do not matter to me at all. Oh God, please save me from this situation.

नावडे जे चित्ता । ते चि होसी पुरविता ।।

In another abhang, he gets angry with the God and tells him, you only give me those things, which I do not need!
He makes it pretty clear that, he does not care for respect given by anyone, not even kings.

तुम्हापाशी आम्ही येऊनिया काय । वृथा सीण आहे चालण्याचा ।।

In another abhang, he tells Shivaji Maharaj, what will be achieved by my coming to meet you? Nothing. Only the result will be the wasted effort of walking.

आता हे चि तुम्हा सांगणे कौतुक । भिक्षे ऐसे सुख नाही नाही ।।

In another abhang, he tells Shivaji Maharaj that he does not need anything. He further goes on to say that he lives on alms only. And in the above line, he says, I would like to share a wonderful thing with you, that there is no such pleasure, as that received from alms.

Upadesh to Shivaji Maharaj (Teachings)

He wrote multiple abhangs with guidelines for Shivaji Maharaj. Below are some lines from them:

विश्व हे विठ्ठल नाही दुजे काही । देखणे तुझे ही तयामाजी ।।

This whole universe is God (Vitthal) Himself, and I see you too, in Him.

सद्गुरू श्रीरामदासाचे भूषण । तेथे घाली मन चळों नको ।।
बहुतां ठायीं वृत्ति चाळवली जेव्हा । रामदास्य तेव्हा कैसे घडे ।।

He tells Shivaji Maharaj, you have accepted Sant Ramdas as your Guru, so please follow his teaching attentively, do not let your mind wander anywhere else.

He further says, if you let your mind loose and try to learn from too many sources, you will not be able to serve God (Ram). So please be focused.

Then below is a full abhang, with direct guidelines for Shivaji Maharaj,

आता एक योग साधावा हा नीट । भल्याचा तो वीट मानू नये ।।
जेणे योगे तुम्हा घडो पाहे दोष । ऐसा हा सायास करू नये ।।
निंदक दुर्जन संग्रही असती । त्यांची युक्ती चित्ती आणू नका ।।
परीक्षावे कोण राज्याचे रक्षक । विवेकाविवेक पाहोनिया ।।
सांगणे न लगे सर्वज्ञ तू राजा । अनाथांच्या काजा साह्य व्हावे ।।
हे चि ऐकोनियां चित्त समाधान । आणिक दर्शने चाड नाही ।।
घेऊनिया भेटी कोण हा संतोष । आयुष्याचे दिस गेले गेले ।।
एकदोनी कर्मे जाणोनिया वर्में । आपुलिया भ्रमे राहू आता ।।
कल्याणकारक अर्थ याचा एक । सर्वां भूती देख एक आत्मा ।।
आत्मारामी मन ठेऊनिया राही । रामदासी पाहे आपनेया ।।

"The Yoga that you have to fulfill is as follows, do not get wearied by your good deeds i.e. be enthusiastic to always do what is good.
Do not do anything which will result in a blemish on yourself.
As a king, there are all kinds of people around you, including, defamers and evil people. Please know who they are and do not follow any of their suggestions.
You also need to understand, who are the people interested in welfare of the state, you need to intelligently identify them.
I should not be explicitly telling you as you are very learned and a good king, but please be a benefactor of the poor and desolate people.

I will be happy to learn of these things being followed by you, there is now no other reason to meet. Even if we meet, what is to be achieved, we have already lost so much time till now (let us now focus on our aims/tasks, instead of wasting time in this meeting).

Another important thing is, when you are trying to determine if a policy is good or bad, keep in mind that in all the living beings, only One God/Atma is present.
Please keep your mind in the knowledge of the Soul - Sant Ramdas will surely take care of you."

There are sure a thing or two, to learn from these abhangs, for us as well!

शेवटचा दिस गोड व्हावा - संत तुकाराम

याजसाटी केला होता अट्टाहास | शेवटचा दिस गोड व्हावा ||

आता निश्चिंतीने पावलो विसावा | खुंटलिया धांवा तृष्णेचिया ||

कवतुक वाटे जालिया वेचाचे | नाव मंगळाचे तेणे गुणे ||

तुका म्हणे मुक्ति परिणिली नोवरी | आता दिवस चारी खेळीमेळी ||

संत ज्ञानेश्वर महाराज जो 'सोनियाचा दिनु' म्हणतात तो तुकारामांच्या जीवनात आला त्या वेळचा हा अभंग. त्यांनी सगळे कष्ट, त्याग, अभ्यास ज्या साठी केले ते त्यांना प्राप्त झाले असा हा मंगल क्षण. अत्यंत कठोर मेहनत घेतल्यानंतर जेव्हा कष्टाचे चीज होते तेव्हा मिळणारे समाधान हे खूप मौल्यवान असते. तुकाराम महाराजांनी भागवत्प्राप्ती साठी सगळे कष्ट घेतले होते, ते फलद्रुप झाल्याचा हा क्षण. 

ते म्हणतात त्यांनी जो सर्व अट्टाहास केला तो यासाठी होता कि आयुष्याचा शेवटचा दिवस गोड व्हावा. आयुष्याच्या अंती समाधान असावे. अपूर्ण इच्छा, मृत्यूचे भय इ. काही नसावे. ते म्हणतात कि आता मला विसावा मिळाला आहे. आता मी निश्चिन्त आहे कारण आता कुठलीही तृष्णा त्यांच्या मनात शेष नाही, समाधान आहे. मनात कुठलीही तृष्णा नसणे, समाधान आणि आनंद असणे हेच भगवत्प्राप्तीचे लक्षण आहे. 

ते पुढे म्हणतात कि आतापर्यंत जे कष्ट घेतले त्याचे आता कौतुक वाटते आहे. म्हणजेच मेहनत घेताना जो त्रास सहन केला तो आता त्रास न वाटता गोडच वाटतो आहे. कारण त्या कष्टांमुळेच आजचा मंगल दिवस पाहायला मिळाला आहे. ते पुढे म्हणतात कि आता मुक्ती हिच आता त्यांची नवरी होणार आहे, म्हणजेच हे जग सोडल्यानंतर त्यांना मोक्ष प्राप्त होणार आहे. आणि तो पर्यंत खेळी मेळित उरलेले आयुष्य काढायचे आहे. 

या आणि यासारख्या तुकारामांच्या अभंगातून आपल्यासारख्या साधारण जनांना प्रेरणा मिळते. आपण जर जीवापाड मेहनत घेतली तर भागवत्प्राप्ती ही दूर नाही हेच कळते. आपणही सगळ्यांनी अट्टाहास करावा आणि शेवटचा दिवस गोड व्हावा हीच प्रार्थना!

सुख पाहता जवापाडे - संत तुकाराम

सुख पाहता जवापाडे । दुःख पर्वता एवढे ॥
धरी धरी आठवण । मानी संताचे वचन ॥
नेले रात्रीने ते अर्धे । बाळपण जराव्याधे ॥
तुका म्हणे पुढा । घाणा जुंती जसी मूढा ॥

माणसाला आयुष्यात मिळणारे सुख हे जवसाच्या बी समान छोटे असते आणि दुःख मात्र पर्वताएवढे असते. त्यामुळे, तुकाराम महाराज म्हणतात, संतांची वचने मानून त्याप्रमाणे आचरण करा, देवाची नित्य आठवण ठेवा.
माणसाचे अर्धे आयुष्य झोपेत जाते. उरलेल्या आयुष्यापैकी बालपण, वृद्धापकाळ आणि आजारपण हे बरेच आयुष्य खातात (त्यात माणुस काहीही साधना इ. करु शकत नाही). जे थोडे फार आयुष्य उरते, ते ही माणुस मूर्खासारखा घाण्याला जुंपलेल्या बैलाप्रमाणे संसाराचे ओझे वाहण्यात वाया घालवतो.

In life, we get happiness of the size of a flaxseed (very small) and unhappiness of the scale of the mountains.
(Hence, Sant Tukaram says,) please accept the teachings of the saints and remember the God.
He says, night or sleep takes half of the human life. More than half of the rest of the life is taken by the childhood, old age and diseases.
Tuka says, for whatever short part of useful life is left, you're wasting it like an idiot, working like a farm animal who simply carries heavy loads all his life for nothing.

बोले तैसा चाले - संत तुकाराम

बोले तैसा चाले । त्याची वंदीन पाउले ॥
अंगे झाडीन अंगण । त्याचे दासत्व करीन ॥
त्याचा होईन किंकर । उभा ठाकेन जोडोनि कर ॥
तुका म्हणे देव । त्याचे चरणी माझा भाव ॥

"जो 'जसा बोलतो त्याप्रमाणेच वागतो' त्याच्या पाउलांचे मी वंदन करतो.
त्याच्या घराचे अंगण मी स्वतःच्या अंगाने झाडीन, त्याचा दास बनून राहीन.
त्याचा दास होऊन त्याच्या सेवेसाठी नेहमी त्याच्यासमोर हात जोडून उभा राहीन.
माझ्यासाठी तोच देव आहे आणि त्याच्या चरणीच माझा प्रेम भाव आहे."

This is among the most famous abhang of the Sant Tukaram. The line "बोले तैसा चाले । त्याची वंदीन पाउले ॥" meaning "I bow down to the one who walks his talk", is very well known and highly referenced in Marathi literature and in general life in Maharashtra.

He further says
"I'll clean the space in front of his house with my own body, I'll become a slave to him. 
As his slave I'll stand in front of him with folded hands (waiting for orders; to serve him)"
Sant Tukaram is ready to become his slave, to serve him. He knows how rare it is to find such a person and how great and worshippable he is.

He further says, "He is God to me and I'll worship his lotus feet".
He is conveying the importance of this quality very earnestly here. He says such a person is like God himself. So, Walk the Talk!

संवसार तापे तापलो मी देवा - संत तुकाराम

संवसार तापे तापलो मी देवा | करिता या सेवा कुटुंबाची ||

म्हणऊनी तुझे आठविले पाय | ये वो माझे माय पांडुरंगे ||

बहुता जन्मींचा जालो भारवाही | सुटिजे हे नाही वर्म ठावे ||

वेढियेलो चोरी अंतर्बाह्यात्कारी | कणव न करी कोणी माझी ||

बहु पांगविलो बहु नागविलो | बहु दिवस जालो कासाविस ||

तुका म्हणे आता धाव घाल वेगी | ब्रीद तुझे जगी दीनानाथा ||

Ramkrishna Paramhansa and many other saints have said that you can see God when you are really desperate for Him. When you have totally surrendered unto Him. When you do not have any other hope of help from the world. In such a mood when you call unto God, you'll see Him. As Jesus Christ has said, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you”. 

संवसार तापे तापलो मी देवा | करिता या सेवा कुटुंबाची ||

म्हणऊनी तुझे आठविले पाय | ये वो माझे माय पांडुरंगे ||

This abhang is one such prayer, where Sant Tukaram is calling out to God Pandurang in desperation for help. He is saying, I have been tortured in this material world while serving my family. I have been burnt in the flames of the Samsara. So I remember your lotus feet now, looking for peace. Please come to me, O my mother Pandurange, please come and rescue me. Here Tukaram is calling God Pandurang as mother, as a mother cares most for her child. When she knows her child is in pain, she'll do everything to help the child.

बहुता जन्मींचा जालो भारवाही | सुटिजे हे नाही वर्म ठावे ||

वेढियेलो चोरी अंतर्बाह्यात्कारी | कणव न करी कोणी माझी ||

बहु पांगविलो बहु नागविलो | बहु दिवस जालो कासाविस ||

तुका म्हणे आता धाव घाल वेगी | ब्रीद तुझे जगी दीनानाथा ||

I have been labouring in this way for many many births but I am not able to get out of this cycle as I do not know the way out. I have been surrounded from all sides, from outside as well from inside by the thieves (? thieves of unhappiness, bad habits?) and nobody even cares about it. I have been labouring for long, all my self respect is lost due to my failures. I am desperate in pain for many days now. Tuka says please hurry up, O Lord, please prove your name Deenanath (saviour of the poor) by coming and rescuing me.

आपुले मरण पाहिले म्या डोळा - संत तुकाराम

आपुले मरण पाहिले म्या डोळा । तो जाला सोहळा अनुपम्य ॥
आनंदे दाटली तिन्ही त्रिभुवने । सर्वात्मकपणे भोग जाला ॥
एकदेशी होतो अहंकारे आथिला । त्याच्या त्यागे जाला सुकाळ हा ॥
फिटले सुतक जन्ममरणाचे । मी माझ्या संकोचे दुरी जालो ॥
नारायणे दिला वसतीस ठाव । ठेवुनिया भाव ठेलो पायी ॥
तुका म्हणे उमटूनि जगी । घेतले ते अंगी लावूनिया ॥
- संत तुकाराम

This is a very different, beautiful, enchanting, thought-provoking abhang (in marathi - वेड लावणारा अभंग). It starts with such an interesting line - आपुले मरण पाहिले म्या डोळा - 'I have seen my death with my own eyes'. Lot of poetic beauty in this line! Loved it. He continues, 'तो जाला सोहळा अनुपम्य - it was a uniquely beautiful occasion'. He is saying he has seen his own death with his eyes and it was a wonderful occasion, weird isnt it?  This abhang starts with a kind of puzzle. How can one see one's death? Lets see..

He continues expressing his great pleasure over seeing his own death. He says,
आनंदे दाटली तिन्ही त्रिभुवने । सर्वात्मकपणे भोग जाला ॥
'Whole universe is filled with Bliss now', He is so happy, he feels that whole universe is filled with bliss only. Later he says सर्वात्मकपणे, he is giving hint here on what death he is talking about. सर्वात्मक means 'soul of everything'. He says he has enjoyed as soul of the universe. Which means, he has become one with the universe, and so the whole universe is filled with bliss and he is enjoying it as the soul of the universe.

एकदेशी होतो अहंकारे आथिला । त्याच्या त्यागे जाला सुकाळ हा ॥
Here is the key to this puzzle. He says 'I was stuck in one place due to my ego, when I renounced it, it led to this beautful occasion'. There it is. The death was the death of his individual ego. He says he was limited due to his ego. Now when his ego died, he has become one with the universe, one with the God or whatever you want to call it. This is enlightenment! He says when this happened, it led to the supreme bliss that he just talked about.

फिटले सुतक जन्ममरणाचे । मी माझ्या संकोचे दुरी जालो ॥
नारायणे दिला वसतीस ठाव । ठेवुनिया भाव ठेलो पायी ॥
तुका म्हणे उमटूनि जगी । घेतले ते अंगी लावूनिया ॥
He says, 'the curse of birth and death has ended and I'm freed from my limitations, Narayan or God has given me a place at his feet and I have stayed there in full faith. Tuka says God appeared before me and has hugged me in Love' (translation of last line is debatable).
Here he says, when his ego died, he was freed from birth and death. He expresses his gratitude to the God saying he has given me a place at his feet.

Sant Tukaram has said elsewhere, 'खादल्याची गोडी, देखिल्यासी नाही’ -’One who has just seen a sweet and not tasted it, cannot explain the sweetness of the sweet'. This is one such abhang, he is writing from his experience, so the real sweetness is overflowing in it!

तुका म्हणे विंचु सर्प नारायण, वंदावे दुरोन शिवो नये - संत तुकाराम

We know that God is equally present in all living entities. So we must love and respect all the living entities.
In this case, if we come across a person who is difficult, having bad habits or is trying to disturb/distract our path, how to handle such a person. Tukaram Maharaj explains beautifully in the below Abhang:

जन देव तरी पाया चि पडावे | त्याचिया स्वभावे चाड नाही ||१||
अग्नीचे सौजन्य शीतनिवारण | पालवी बांधोनि नेता नये ||२||
तुका म्हणे विंचु सर्प नारायण | वंदावे दुरोन शिवो नये ||३||

As God is present in all the people, we should pay our respects to them, but should not keep dealing with them if we are not able to handle them. We cannot change anybody's nature easily, we should rather stay away from such a person.
Fire is very beneficial to us, in that, it saves us from cold. But if we put tender leaves of the tree in the fire, they'll surely get burnt. Here, tender leaves do not have capability to handle the fire (which in itself is not bad), hence they are expected to stay away from fire.
He further says, God is also present in snakes and scorpion, hence one should respect them but should not go and touch them.
This is the way to handle difficult people, if you cannot manage them, stay away from them!

Doubts/Questions - Sant Tukaram (प्रश्न - संत तुकाराम)

जनी जनार्दन ऐकतो हे मात | कैसा हा वृत्तांत न कळे आम्हां ||
जन्म जरा मरण कवण भोगी भोग | व्याधी नाना रोग सुखदु:खे ||
पापपुण्ये शुद्धाशुद्ध आचरणे | ही कोणाकारणे कवणे केली ||
आम्हा मरण नाश तू तव अविनाश | कैसा हा विश्वास साच मानू ||
तुका म्हणे तू चि निवडी हा गुढार | दाखवी साचार ते चि मज ||

Tukaram maharaj is asking doubts directly to the God, about reasons behind different mysteries of life like birth, death, miseries etc and is asking God to clarify those:

I hear that, God lives in every living being, I do not understand how this comes to be.
Why and who has created birth, aging, death, enjoying material desires, diseases, happiness, sadness, sin, good deeds, pure and impure ways of living?
We have death and destruction and You are imperishable, how should I believe this?
Tuka says, please you resolve these puzzles for me and show me the truth.

नाम महिमा - १० - संत तुकाराम

हे चि माझे तप हे चि माझे दान | हे चि अनुष्ठान नाम तुझे ||

हे चि माझे तीर्थ हे चि माझे व्रत | सत्य हे सुकृत नाम तुझे ||

हा चि माझा धर्म हे चि माझे कर्म | हा चि नित्यनेम नाम तुझे ||

हा चि माझा योग हा चि माझा यद्न्य | हे चि जपध्यान नाम तुझे ||

हे चि माझे द्न्यान श्रवण मनन | हे चि निजध्यासन नाम तुझे ||

हा चि कुळाचार हा चि कुळधर्म | हा चि नित्यनेम नाम तुझे ||

हा माझा आचार हा माझा विचार | हा माझा निर्धार नाम तुझे ||

तुका म्हणे दुजे सांगायासी नाही | नामेविण काही धनवित्त ||

My austerity, my good works of donations, my religious ritual is (chanting of) your Name.

My holy place, my vow, my true good deed is (chanting of) your Name.

My religion, my duty, my daily rules and regulations is (chanting of) your Name.

My yoga, my sacrifice, my meditation, my chanting is (chanting of) your Name.

My knowledge, my listening, my thoughts, my continuous focus is (chanting of) your Name.

My family rituals, family religion, my daily regulations is (chanting of) your Name.

My way of living, my thoughts, my commitment is (chanting of) your Name.

Tuka says I don't have any other possessions (money etc) except your Name.

नाम महिमा - ९ - संत तुकाराम

नाम साराचे ही सार | शरणागत यमकिंकर ||

उत्तमाउत्तम | वाचे बोला पुरूषोत्तम ||

नाम जपता चंद्रमौळी | नामे तरला वाल्हाकोळी ||

तुका म्हणे वर्णू काय | तारक विठोबाचे पाय ||

Name of the God is the summary of the summaries of all the scriptures, even the Lord of Death surrenders before the one who takes the name of the God.

O people! Whether you are good or bad, still chant the name of the God.

Even Lord Shiva continuously chants God's name. Rishi Valmiki (Valya koli – who was a deadly dacoit) was delivered by the name of the God.

Tuka says, how much shall I explain you, the feet of the God are deliverer.

नाम महिमा - ८ - संत तुकाराम

पवित्र तो देह वाणी पुण्यवंत | जो वदे अच्युत सर्व काळ ||

तयाच्या चिंतने तरतील दोषी | जळतील रासी पातकाच्या ||

देव इच्छी रज चरणींची माती | धावत चालती मागे मागे ||

काय त्या उरले वेगळे आणीक | वैकुंठनायक जया कंठी ||

तुका म्हणे देवभक्तांचा संगम | तेथे ओघ नाम त्रिवेणीचा ||

Holy is his body and pious his talks, who always talks about God.

Bad people who even think about him, they will be delivered and loads of their impious past activities will get burnt (they will be relieved from the results of their impious activities).

Demi gods run behind him to accomplish their desire to touch the soil where he puts his feet on the ground.

What is left to achieve for such a person in whose speech God resides?

Tuka says, where there is meeting of the (rivers of) God and devotees, there comes the third flow of God's names! 

नाम महिमा - ७ - संत तुकाराम

मुखी नाम हाती मोक्ष | ऐसी साक्ष बहुतांसी ||

वैष्णवांचा माल खरा | तुरतुरा वस्तूसी ||

भस्म दंड न लगे काठी | तीर्थां आटी भ्रमण ||

तुका म्हणे आडकाठी | नाही भेटी देवाचे ||

Many have had this experience that if one always has God's names in his mouth then he has enlightenment (deliverance) in his hands.

The possessions of the Vaishnava's (devotees) are the real possessions.

One does not need bhasm, dand, kathi (signs of a Sanyasi i.e. one does not have to leave everything and become a monk) or one doesn't even have to go to holy places.

Tuka says, there are no obstacles to meet the God (if one chants the names of the God).

नाम महिमा - ६ - संत तुकाराम

नाम उच्चारिता कंठी | पुढे उभा जगजेठी ||

ऐसे धरोनिया ध्यान | मने करावे चिंतन ||

ब्रम्हादिकांच्या ध्याना नये | तो हा कीर्तनाच्या सोये ||

तुका म्हणे सार घ्यावे | मने हरिरूप पाहावे ||

When we take the name of the God, He Himself stands before us.

We have to keep this in mind and then we should meditate.

Even Bramha and other great demi Gods cannot catch hold of Him in their meditations and here He is with us if we do Kirtana (singing/chanting name/glories of God).

Tuka says, understand summary of all the philosophies and scriptures which seeing the God with your mind.

नाम महिमा - ५ - संत तुकाराम

नाम घेता उठाउठी | होय संसाराची तुटी ||

ऐसा लाभ बांधा गाठी | विठ्ठलपायी पडे मिठी ||

नामापरते साधन नाही | जे तू करिशी आणीक काही ||

हाकारोनि सांगे तुका | नाम घेता राहो नका ||

You'll be freed from the Samsara if you chant the names of the God every now and then.

You should do such nice things (pious things) that you may be able to reach His lotus feet.

If you are thinking of other ways of reaching God, there is no better way than the chanting of God's name.

Tuka is telling you from the bottom of the heart, don't live another moment without chanting the name of the God.

नाम महिमा - ४ - संत तुकाराम

करी हे चि काम | मना जपे राम राम ||

लागो हाचि छंद | मना गोविंद गोविंद ||

तुका म्हणे मना | मज भीक द्यावी दीना ||

O My mind, only do this task – chant the name of the God, Ram Ram!

Dear mind, please develop the hobby of singing/chanting Govind, Govind (names of God)

Tuka says, O my dear mind, I'm begging you, please grant my this wish.