Devotion, guarding the mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणीक कोणाचा न करीं मी संग । जेणें होय भंग माझ्या चित्ता ॥1॥
विठ्ठलावांचूनि आणीक जे वाणी । नाइकें मी कानीं आपुलिया ॥ध्रु.॥
समाधानासाटीं बोलावी हे मात । परि माझें चित्त नाहीं कोठें ॥2॥
जिवाहूनि मज ते चि आवडती । आवडे ज्या चित्तीं पांडुरंग ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे माझें तो चि जाणे हित । आणिकांच्या चित्त नेदीं बोला ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I will not keep the company of anyone whose presence would disturb my mind. My ears will hear no speech other than Vitthala's name. For the sake of giving satisfaction I may utter some words, but my mind is nowhere in them. More than my own life I love those in whose mind Panduranga is dear. Says Tuka, only He knows what is truly good for me. I will not yield my mind to the words of anyone else.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I will not keep the company of anyone who would break my mind. My ears will hear no speech but Vitthal's. Sometimes I say a word to keep the peace, but my mind is not in it; it is nowhere there. More than my own life I love those who hold Panduranga dear in their minds. Tuka says: only He knows what is truly good for me. I will not give my mind to anyone else's words.
What it means
Tukaram is guarding his attention as the one thing he cannot afford to lose. He keeps away from company that would scatter his mind, and shuts his ears to any talk that is not Vitthal's. He admits he speaks politely to keep peace with people, but he warns that his heart is never in those words. What he truly loves are people who carry Panduranga inside; and what he refuses is to let anyone but God set the direction of his mind.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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