Exhortation, fix your love on Vitthal
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
असे हीत माझें तुज कांहीं एक । धरीं विठ्ठलीं प्रेम हें पायिं सूख ॥1॥
ऐसा सर्वभावें तुज शरण आलों । देहदुःख हें भोगितां फार भ्यालों ।
भवतारितें दूसरें नाहिं कोणी । गुरु होत कां देव तेहतीस तीन्ही ॥2॥
जना वासना हे धना थोरि आहे । तुज लागली संगती ते चि सोये ।
करीं सर्व संगी परि त्यागु ठायीं । तुका विनवीतो मस्तक ठेवुनि पायीं ॥3॥ ॥6॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have one thing to say for your benefit: fix your love on Vitthal, for joy lies at His feet. With all my being, I have come to Your refuge. I have suffered greatly enduring the body's pain. There is no other who can carry you across this world, be it a guru or all thirty-three crore of gods. The world's longing for wealth is strong, and the company you have kept has shaped your way. Be engaged with everything, yet inwardly remain detached. Says Tuka, I place my head upon Your feet and beg You.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have one thing to say for your good: fix your love on Vitthal, for joy lies at his feet. With all my being I have come to your refuge. I have suffered greatly bearing the body's pain. There is no other who can carry you across this world, not a guru, not all the thirty-three crore gods. People's craving for wealth is strong, and the company you keep has shaped your way. Be engaged with everything, yet stay detached within. Tuka says: I place my head at your feet and beg you.
What it means
Tukaram speaks first to a listener, then to God, and the two halves hold one teaching. To the listener he gives a single counsel: place your love on Vitthal, because that is where joy actually lies, and no guru or crowd of gods can carry you across instead. He names the obstacle plainly, the strong pull of wealth and the shaping force of bad company. His practical instruction is the householder's path, to be fully engaged with everything outwardly while staying inwardly detached. Then he turns to God and shows what he asks for himself, the same refuge he urges on others, with his head laid at the feet.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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