Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय वाणूं आतां न पुरे हे वाणी । मस्तक चरणीं ठेवीतसें ॥1॥
थोरींव सांडिली आपुली परिसें । नेणे सिवों कैसें लोखंडासी ॥ध्रु.॥
जगाच्या कल्याणा संतांच्या विभूति । देह कष्टविती उपकारें ॥2॥
भूतांची दया हे भांडवल संतां । आपुली ममता नाहीं देहीं ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे सुख पराविया सुखें । अमृत हें मुखें जरवतसे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What more can I describe? My words fall short. I simply place my head at their feet. Like the philosopher's stone, the saints have abandoned all their greatness; they do not mind how they touch iron and transform it. For the welfare of the world, the saints have taken form, tormenting their own bodies in selfless service. Compassion for all beings is the saints' only capital; they carry no attachment to their own bodies. Says Tuka, their happiness lies in the happiness of others, and this nectar is administered from their mouths.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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