Devotion, nothing above Vitthal
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आणीक कांहीं मज नावडे मात । एक पंढरिनाथ वांचुनिया ॥1॥
त्याची च कथा आवडे कीर्तन । तें मज श्रवणें गोड लागे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे संत ह्मणोत भलतें । विठ्ठलापरतें न मनी कांहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Nothing else appeals to me besides the Lord of Pandhari. His story alone delights me in kirtan; it is His telling that sounds sweet to my ears. Says Tuka, the saints may say whatever they wish, but I will hold nothing above Vitthala.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Nothing else pleases me to hear, only the Lord of Pandhari, none but him. His story alone I love in kirtan; it tastes sweet to me in the hearing. Tuka says: let the saints say whatever they like, I hold nothing above Vitthal.
What it means
Tukaram declares a single-pointed love and will not soften it. No talk pleases him except of Panduranga, the Lord of Pandhari; only the telling of God's story in kirtan delights his ear and tastes sweet. Then he holds his ground even against the saints: whatever they may counsel or claim, he will set nothing higher than Vitthal. It is a vow of exclusive devotion, and he refuses to let even holy company talk him out of it.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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