Surrender, leave the knowing to God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जाणपण बरें देवाचे शिरीं । आह्मी ऐसीं बरीं नेणतीं च ॥1॥
देखणियांपुढें रुचे कवतुक । उभयतां सुख वाढतसे ॥ध्रु.॥
आशंकेचा बाधा नाहीं लडिवाळां । चित्त वरि खेळा समबुिद्ध ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे दिशा मोकळ्या सकळा । अवकाशीं खेळा ठाव जाला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let the knowing rest upon God's head; we are better off remaining innocent and unlearned. Before discerning eyes, the play delights, and joy grows for both sides. No affliction of doubt touches the beloved child; the chitta rests upon the play with equanimity. Says Tuka, all directions have been set free, and in the open expanse, a place for play has been found.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let the knowing rest on God's head; it is better for us to stay innocent and unlearned. Before watching eyes the play delights, and joy grows on both sides. No bite of doubt touches the beloved child; with an even mind it rests upon the play. Tuka says: all the directions have been set free, and in the open space a place for play has been found.
What it means
Tukaram hands the burden of knowing back to God and chooses to remain like an unschooled child. He uses the image of a child playing under its parent's watchful eye: the play delights the watcher, and the joy passes both ways. Because the child trusts completely, no anxiety can reach it; it stays even and untroubled while it plays. In that trust the whole horizon opens up, and the open space itself becomes the ground for free, fearless play.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
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