राम
गाथा 1289The Necessity of Experience

Realization, only Vitthal remains

Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram

मराठी मूळ

देह नव्हे मी हें सरे । उरला उरे विठ्ठल ॥1॥

ह्मणऊनि लाहो करा । काळ सारा चिंतनें ॥ध्रु.॥

तुका ह्मणे जीवासाटीं । देव पोटीं पडेल ॥3॥

Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)

English Translation

When the realization dawns that "I am not this body," only Vitthala remains. Therefore take this profit and spend your entire time in contemplation. Says Tuka, for the sake of the jiva, God will enter the belly.

We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.

In Plain Words

When 'I am not this body' becomes true, the body falls away and Vitthal alone is left. So make your profit of it; spend all your time in remembrance. Tuka says: for the sake of the soul, God will come to rest in your heart.

What it means

Tukaram states the whole turn in one line: the moment the conviction 'I am not this body' is real, the body drops out of the way and only Vitthal remains. He treats this as the one worthwhile gain, so he urges you to use your time well and pour it into constant remembrance. The closing promise is intimate, for the soul's sake God will come and settle within you, taking up residence in the heart.

अनुभव

The Necessity of Experience

Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.

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