Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
हिंडवुनि पोट भरी दारोदारीं । कोंडुनि पेटारी असेरया ॥1॥
तैसी परी मज जाली पांडुरंगा । गुंतलों तो मी गा सोडीं आतां ।
माझें मज कांहीं न चलेसें जालें । कृपा तुज न करितां ॥ध्रु.॥
आविसें मिनु लावियला गळीं । भक्ष तो गिळी म्हणउनियां ।
काढूनि बाहेरी प्राण घेऊं पाहे । तेथे बापुमाये कवण रया ॥2॥
पक्षी पिलयां पातलें आशा । देखोनियां फांसा गुंते बळें ।
मरण नेणें माया धांवोनि वोसरे । जीवित्व ना जालीं बाळें ॥3॥
गोडपणें मासी गुंतली लिगाडीं । सांपडे फडफडी अधिकाअधिक ।
तुका म्हणे प्राण घेतला आशा । पंढरीनिवासा धाव घालीं ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Like a performing animal led from door to door to fill its keeper's belly, then shut inside a box: just so has been my fate, O Panduranga. I am entangled; release me now. Nothing of mine is in my own hands without Your grace. Like a fish whose throat is hooked on bait it swallowed greedily, being drawn out with its very life being taken. Who is there as father or mother in that moment? Like a bird that flies to feed its young and is caught in a snare by force; it does not know death is near, love drives it on, and it can save neither its own life nor its children. Like a fly entangled in sweetness, struggling, sinking deeper and deeper. Says Tuka, desire has taken my very breath. O Dweller of Pandhari, come rushing to my aid.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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