Longing, come forward, Vitthal
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पाहातोसी काय । आतां पुढें करीं पाय ॥1॥
वरि ठेवूं दे मस्तक । ठेलों जोडूनि हस्तक ॥ध्रु.॥
बरवें करीं सम । नको भंगों देऊं प्रेम ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे चला । पुढती सामोरे विठ्ठला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What are you gazing at? Now step forward. I stand here with hands folded, waiting to place my head upon Your feet. Set things right and balanced; do not let love be broken. Says Tuka, come, Vitthala, come forward to face me.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What are you looking at? Now step forward. Let me set my head on your feet; I stand here with hands joined. Make things right and level; do not let love be broken. Tuka says: come, Vitthal, come forward to meet me.
What it means
This is a lover's direct address to God in the midst of longing. Tukaram asks Vitthal why he merely gazes and stays distant; he wants God to take the step forward. He is already in position, hands folded, waiting only to lay his head on those feet. His plea is for things to be set right between them, for the love not to be allowed to break off. The whole abhanga is an ache for closeness fulfilled, calling the God of Pandhari to come face to face.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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