The essence, holding Rama in the heart
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दुद दहीं ताक पशूचें पाळण । त्यांमध्यें कारण घृतसार ॥1॥
हें चि वर्म आह्मां भाविकांचे हातीं । ह्मणऊनि चित्तीं धरिला राम ॥ध्रु.॥
लोहो कफ गारा अग्नीचिया काजें । येहवी तें ओझें कोण वाहे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे खोरीं पाहारा जतन । जोंवरि हें धन हातीं लागे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Milk, curds, and buttermilk serve to nourish and sustain, but among all of these, clarified butter is the essence. This is the secret in the hands of us devotees, and therefore we have held Rama in our chitta. Iron ore, slag, and gravel serve the work of fire; without that purpose, who would bear such a load? Says Tuka, one must watch and guard with care, until this great treasure comes into hand.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Milk, curds, buttermilk: these feed and keep an animal alive. But among them the clear butter is the essence. This secret is in the hands of us who have faith. So we have held Rama in the heart. Iron ore, slag, gravel: they all serve the work of fire. Otherwise, who would carry such a load? Tuka says: guard the mine, keep watch with your pickaxe, until this wealth comes into your hand.
What it means
Tukaram works through homely images to name the one thing worth keeping. From milk you can draw curds and buttermilk, but the real essence is the ghee hidden inside it; from rough ore you smelt out the metal. In the same way, behind the whole spread of life there is one essence, and the secret of finding it lies in the hands of those who have faith. That is why he holds Rama in his heart. The closing image is mining: keep watch and dig with care, because the treasure does not come without guarding the work until it surfaces.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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