Metaphor, the soldier's joy in service
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाईकपणें जोतिला सिद्धांत । सुर धरी मात वचन चित्तीं ॥1॥
पाइकावांचून नव्हे कधीं सुख । प्रजांमध्यें दुःख न सरे पीडा ॥ध्रु.॥
पाइकीचें सुख जयां नाहीं ठावें । धिग त्यांनीं ज्यावें वांयांविण ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे एका क्षणांचा करार । पाईक अपार सुख भोगी ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Through service as a paika, the proven truth becomes clear. He holds the tone and the word of command within his chitta. Without the paika, there can never be happiness. Among the people, suffering and trouble do not end. Those who do not know the joy of a paika's service: fie on their living in vain. Says Tuka, by even a moment's pledge, the paika enjoys boundless joy.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Through service as a paik, the proven truth becomes clear. He holds the command and its word within his mind. Without the paik there is never any happiness. Among the people, suffering and trouble do not end. Those who do not know the paik's joy: shame on their living in vain. Tuka says: by even a moment's pledge, the paik enjoys boundless joy.
What it means
Tukaram uses the figure of the paik, the loyal foot-soldier who serves a lord, as the image of true devotion. Such service is how the proven truth becomes clear, because the servant carries his master's command in his heart. Without that kind of devoted servant, he says, there is no real happiness, and the suffering among ordinary people never ends. Those who have never tasted the joy of such service have lived in vain. The closing line is the heart of it: even a moment's true pledge of self to the Lord opens boundless joy, far more than a life lived without it.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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