Longing, a place at the saints' feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
द्याल ठाव तरि राहेन संगती । संतांचे पंगती पायांपाशीं ॥1॥
आवडीचा ठाव आलोंसें टाकून । आतां उदासीन न धरावें ॥ध्रु.॥
सेवटील स्थळ निंच माझी वृित्त । आधारें विश्रांती पावईन ॥22॥
नामदेवापायीं तुक्या स्वप्नीं भेटी । प्रसाद हा पोटीं राहिलासे ॥3॥ ॥2॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If You will give me a place, I shall remain in the company of the saints, at the feet of their assembly. I have come, drawn by love, having cast everything aside. Now, do not remain indifferent toward me. My nature is humble, seeking the lowest seat; with Your support, I shall find rest. Namdev appeared at Tuka's feet in a dream, and that blessing remains lodged within my belly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If You give me a place, I will stay in the company of the saints, at the feet of their gathering. Drawn by love, I have come, having thrown everything aside. Now do not stay cold toward me. My nature is low; I seek the lowest seat. With Your support I will find rest. Namdev met Tuka in a dream, at his feet, and that blessing has stayed inside me.
What it means
Tukaram asks for one thing only: a place among the saints, and the lowest place at that. He has already left everything behind out of love, so he pleads with God not to turn indifferent now that he has come empty-handed. There is no claim of merit here; he calls his own nature humble and wants the seat at the very feet of the assembly, where with God's support he can finally rest. He seals the prayer by recalling the dream-meeting at Namdev's feet, a blessing he says still lives within him.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →