The one foundation, unshaking ground
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
येथूनियां ठाव । अवघे लक्षायाचे भाव ॥1॥
उंची देवाचे चरण । तेथें जालें अधिष्ठान ॥ध्रु.॥
आघातावेगळा । असे ठाव हा निराळा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे स्थळ । धरूनि राहिलों अचळ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
From this place onward, all aims and intentions become clear. The feet of God are the highest point; that is where my foundation has been established. This place is free from all assault, standing wholly apart. Says Tuka, I have taken my stand in this unshaking place and will not be moved.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
From this place onward, every aim of mine becomes clear. The feet of God are the highest point. That is where my foundation now stands. This place is free from any blow. It stands wholly apart. Tuka says: I have taken hold of this place and stay here, unmoved.
What it means
Tukaram names the single spot from which everything else falls into place. He fixes his foundation on God's feet, calling them the highest point a person can reach. Because that ground is set above every striving, no blow of the world can land on it; it stands apart from harm. So he plants himself there and refuses to be moved, treating the feet not as one support among many but as the one place that holds.
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