Devotion, the one essence
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पृथक मी सांगों किती । धर्म नीती सकळां ॥1॥
अवघियांचा एक ठाव । शुद्ध भाव विठ्ठलीं ॥ध्रु.॥
क्षराअक्षराचा भाग । करा लाग पंढरीये ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आगमींचें । मथिलें साचें नवनीत ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
How long shall I explain separately the dharma and ethics for everyone? The one foundation for all is pure bhava toward Vitthala. For the sake of the perishable and the imperishable, set your course toward Pandhari. Says Tuka, this is the fresh butter churned from all the scriptures.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
How long should I spell out separately the duty and the right conduct for everyone? There is one ground for all: pure love toward Vitthal. For the perishable and the imperishable alike, set your steps toward Pandhari. Tuka says: this is the fresh butter churned out of all the scriptures.
What it means
Tukaram cuts through the endless lists of rules. Rather than reciting a different dharma for each person and case, he points to one foundation that holds for everyone: pure-hearted love for Vitthal. Whatever you are after, the passing things or the lasting, he says the road runs through Pandhari. The final image makes the claim plainly, this single teaching is the butter churned from the whole ocean of scripture, the essence left when all the rest is set aside.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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