Devotion, the easy path of the Name
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सांगतां दुर्लभ ज्ञानाचिया गोष्टी । अनुभव तो पोटीं कैचा घडे ॥1॥
भजनाचे सोई जगा परिहार । नेणत्यां सादर चित्त कथे ॥ध्रु.॥
नाइकवे कानीं साधन उपाय । ऐकतो गाय हरुषें गीत ॥2॥
नव्हे आराणूक जावयासी वना । वेध कामिमना हरिकथेचा ॥3॥
काळाच्या साधना कोणा अंगीं बळ । चिंतना मंगळ अष्टप्रहर ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मी खेळों भातुकुलें । विभागासी मुलें भोळीं येथें ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Talking about the matters of knowledge is difficult; how can true experience arise inwardly from words alone? For the world, the easier path is devotion: even the ignorant find their chitta turning attentively to the sacred story. The ear does not wish to hear of austere means and methods, but it gladly listens to joyful songs of praise. There is no comfort in retreating to the forest; the devoted mind is absorbed in Hari's katha. Who has the strength for Time's harsh discipline? Better to spend every watch of the day in auspicious contemplation. Says Tuka, we play with simple toys; here, innocent children, we accept whatever share is given.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Talking about knowledge is hard; how can real experience arise inside from words alone? For the world the easier way is bhajan; even the ignorant find their mind turning to the sacred story. The ear does not want to hear of austere methods, but it gladly listens to glad songs of praise. There is no comfort in running off to the forest; the loving mind is absorbed in Hari's katha. Who has the strength for Time's harsh discipline? Better to spend every watch of the day in blessed remembrance. Tuka says: we play with little toys here; like simple children, we take whatever share we are given.
What it means
Tukaram weighs the dry path of knowledge against the path of loving song and chooses the second for ordinary people. Abstract teaching rarely turns into lived experience, but a sung story of God draws in even the unlearned and the inattentive. He admits the plain truth that the ear recoils from hard ascetic technique yet opens to joyful praise, and that fleeing to the forest brings no peace. Since few can endure the brutal disciplines that conquer time and death, he commends simple, day-long remembrance, and calls himself and his fellows children content to play with small things and accept whatever God gives.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →