Devotion, the small God we set before us
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बुद्धीचा जनिता लक्ष्मीचा पति । आठवितां चित्तीं काय नव्हे ॥1॥
आणिकां उपायां कोण वांटी मन । सुखाचें निधान पांडुरंग ॥ध्रु.॥
गीत गावों नाचों छंदें वावों टाळी । वैष्णवांचे मेळीं सुखरूप ॥2॥
अनंत ब्रह्मांडें एके रोमावळी । आह्मी केला भोळीं भावें उभा ॥3॥
लडिका हा केला संवसारसिंधु ॥ मोक्ष खरा बंधु नाहीं पुढें ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे ज्याच्या नामाचे अंकित । राहिलों नििंश्चत त्याच्या बळें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
He is the source of buddhi and the lord of Lakshmi. What is impossible when He is recalled in the chitta? Why would the mind scatter itself after other remedies? Panduranga is the treasure of all happiness. Let us sing, let us dance, let us clap our hands in rhythm, blissful in form, in the company of the Vaishnavas. Infinite universes rest in a single hair on His body. We, with artless devotion, have made Him stand before us. This ocean of worldly existence has been made into a mere toy. Moksha is the true companion; there is none other beyond. Says Tuka, I am marked by the Name of that One. I remain undisturbed by His strength.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
He is the source of wisdom and the husband of Lakshmi. When he is held in the heart, what cannot be done? Why scatter the mind after other remedies? Panduranga is the treasure of all joy. Let us sing, let us dance, let us clap in rhythm, full of bliss in the company of the Vaishnavas. Countless universes rest in a single hair of his body, yet with simple love we made him stand before us. This ocean of worldly life has been turned into a plaything. Liberation is the true kinsman; there is nothing beyond it. Tuka says: I am marked by his Name. By his strength I rest with nothing to fear.
What it means
Tukaram sets the immensity of God beside the intimacy of devotion and lets the two press against each other. The same one who is the source of all intelligence and consort of Lakshmi, in whom infinite universes hang from a single hair, is the one whom artless devotees have coaxed into standing on the brick at Pandhari. That is the marvel he points at: the simple love of the Vaishnavas brings the boundless God down to a form you can sing and dance before. Once he is held in the heart, the whole frightening ocean of worldly life shrinks to a toy. The closing claim names where Tukaram stands: he belongs to the Name, and on that strength alone he rests without fear.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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