Renunciation, the worthy one's wealth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
योग्याची संपदा त्याग आणि शांति । उभयलोकीं कीतिन सोहळा मान ॥1॥
येरयेरांवरी जायांचें उसिणें । भाग्यस्थळीं देणें झाडावेसीं ॥ध्रु.॥
केलिया फावला ठायींचा तो लाहो । तृष्णेचा तो काहो काव्हवितो ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे लाभ अकर्तव्या नांवें । शिवपद जीवें भोगिजेल ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The true wealth of the worthy is renunciation and peace; it brings honor and celebration in both worlds. All else is borrowed from one another; at the place of fortune, debts must be cleared. The gain from what one has already earned comes of itself, while the sting of craving only brings torment. Says Tuka, the profit that comes by doing nothing is named liberation, and by it the jiva enjoys Shivpad.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The true wealth of the worthy is renunciation and peace. It brings honor and celebration in both worlds. Everything else is only borrowed from one another. At the place of fortune, debts must be cleared. The gain from what you have already earned comes on its own. The fever of craving only torments you. Tuka says: the profit that comes by doing nothing is named liberation, and by it the jiva enjoys Shivpad.
What it means
Tukaram redefines wealth so that the truly rich person is the one who has let go. Renunciation and peace are the only holdings that bring honor in this world and the next; everything else is borrowed and must be repaid when the accounts are settled. What you have rightly earned arrives by itself, while craving for more only burns you. He names the strange profit at the center of the path: the gain that comes from doing nothing, from grasping at nothing, is liberation itself, and through it the soul comes to enjoy the state of Shiva.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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