Devotion above liberation, the love God carries home
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मोक्षाचें आह्मांसी नाहीं अवघड । तो असे उघाड गांठोळीस ॥1॥
भक्तीचे सोहळे होतील जीवासी । नवल तेविशीं पुरवितां ॥ध्रु.॥
ज्याचें त्यासी देणें कोण तें उचित । मानूनियां हित घेतों सुख ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सुखें देई संवसार । आवडीसी थार करीं माझे ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Liberation is not difficult for us; it stands open and available to all who seek it. But it is the celebrations of devotion that the jiva truly craves, and the wonder of those celebrations never grows stale. To return to each one what is already theirs: this is the right thing to do, and in accepting this, we find joy. Says Tuka, let the world go on as it will; just make my love the bundle You carry home.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Liberation is not hard for us. It lies open in our bundle. The joys of devotion are what the soul will have. The wonder of them never wears out, however much is given. To give back to each what is already his own: this is the right thing, and taking it as my good, I take the joy. Tuka says: let the round of the world go on as it pleases; only give my love a place, make it your own.
What it means
Tukaram puts devotion above the prize most seekers chase. Liberation, he says, is no difficult thing for him; it is already tucked away within reach. But what the soul truly wants is the festival of love itself, and that delight never goes stale no matter how much is poured out. Returning each thing to its rightful owner is only just, and he receives even that as joy. His one plea is not for release but that God keep his love and make it his own, while the world goes on however it will.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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