Ecstasy, the measure filled to overflowing
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
माझे मनोरथ पावले सिद्धी । तई पायीं बुिद्ध िस्थरावली ॥1॥
समाधान जीव राहिला निश्चळ । गेली हळहळ स्मरण हें ॥ध्रु.॥
त्रिविध तापाचें जालेंसे दहन । सुखावलें मन प्रेमसुखें ॥2॥
महालाभ वाचे वसे पांडुरंग । अंगोअंगीं संग अखंडित ॥3॥
जीवनाचा जाला ओलावा अंतरीं । विश्व विश्वंभरीं सामावलें ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे माप भरी आलें सिगे । धारबोळ गंगे पूर वाहे ॥5॥
बहुतांच्या भाग्यें लागलें जाहाज । येथें आतां काज लवलाहें ॥ध्रु.॥
अलभ्य तें आलें दारावरी फुका । येथें आता चुका न पाहिजे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जिव्हाश्रवणाच्या द्वारें । माप भरा वरें सिगेवरि ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My desires have been fulfilled, and now my buddhi rests steadily at His feet. The jiva has found contentment and become still; all restlessness and agitation have ceased. The threefold suffering has been burned away, and the mind is immersed in the bliss of love. The great treasure of Panduranga abides on my tongue, and His presence is unbroken in every fiber of my being. The moisture of living water has seeped into my innermost self, and the universe has merged into the Lord of the universe. Says Tuka, the measure has been filled to the brim, and the Ganga runs in full flood. By the good fortune of many, this ship has arrived; now is the time to act with haste. The unattainable has come to your very door for free; there should be no mistake now. Says Tuka, through the gates of tongue and ear, fill the measure to overflowing.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My longing has reached its goal; now my mind rests steady at his feet. The soul has found its peace and grown still; all the burning and fretting is gone, and so is even the need to remember. The threefold suffering has burned away; the mind is sweetened with the joy of love. The great treasure, Panduranga, lives on my tongue; his nearness is unbroken in every limb. The wetness of living water has soaked through to my core; the whole world has merged into the Lord of the world. Tuka says: the measure is filled to the brim, and the Ganga runs in flood. By the good fortune of many the ship has come in; now is the time to act, quickly. What could never be reached has come free to your very door; do not miss it now. Tuka says: through the gates of tongue and ear, fill your measure past the brim.
What it means
This is Tukaram describing the state where wanting itself has ended; the mind no longer chases or even has to keep reminding itself of God, because the threefold suffering has burned off and love has taken its place. He piles up images of fullness: the Name living on his tongue, the world dissolving back into its Lord, a measuring vessel heaped past its rim, the sacred river in flood. Then he turns from his own experience to call others in. The unreachable has arrived for free at the doorstep, and the way to receive it is simple and within reach: through the tongue that sings the Name and the ear that hears it. The urgency is the heart of the poem; a rare chance has come, and he tells the listener not to waste it.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
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