Indwelling Lord, the inner sun
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
रवीचा प्रकाश । तो चि निशी घडे नाश । जाल्या बहुवस । तरि त्या काय दीपिका ॥1॥
आतां हा चि वसो जीवीं । माझे अंतरी गोसावीं । होऊं येती ठावीं । काय वर्में याच्यानें ॥ध्रु.॥
सवें असतां धणी । आड येऊं न सके कोणी । न लगे विनवणी । पृथकाची करावी ॥2॥
जन्माचिया गति । येणें अवघ्या खुंटती । कारण ते प्रीति । तुका ह्मणे जवळी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The sun's own light destroys the night. However many lamps there may be, what can they do before it? Let only this dwell within the jiva, this Master dwelling within. Through Him, all secrets are revealed. When the Master is present, no one else can interfere, and no separate entreaty is necessary. Says Tuka, the cycles of birth are ended by this. The reason is that love keeps Him near.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The sun's light destroys the night. However many lamps there are, what can they do once it rises? Let only this live in me now: the Master dwelling in my heart. Through Him all the hidden things become known. When the Master is with me, no one can come between us. I need make no separate plea. Tuka says: the rounds of birth all stop here. The reason is love, which keeps Him near.
What it means
Tukaram contrasts the indwelling Lord with every lesser help, the way the sun outshines any number of lamps. He asks for one thing: that this inner Master be all that lives in his heart, because through that presence every secret stands revealed. When the Lord is already within and beside you, nothing can intrude and no separate petition is needed. He ends by naming the stakes: this presence ends the cycle of birth and rebirth, and the thing that holds the Lord close is simply love.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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