Autobiography, the Name his only wealth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
असें येथींचिया दिनें । भाग्यहीन सकळां ॥1॥
भांडवल एवढें गांठी । नाम कंठीं धरियेलें ॥ध्रु.॥
आणिक तें दुजें कांहीं । मज नाहीं यावरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे केली कोणें । एवढा नेणें लौकिक ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By the standards of this world, I am unfortunate and poor among all. My only capital is the Name held at my throat. Beyond this, I have nothing else. Says Tuka, who has arranged even this small measure of worldly repute for me? I do not know.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
By the standards of this place, I am the unluckiest of all. My one fortune is this: I hold the Name at my throat. Beyond this I have nothing more. Tuka says: who has arranged even this much repute for me? I do not know.
What it means
Tukaram is taking honest stock of himself. By every worldly measure he counts as poor and unfortunate, with no advantage to show. His sole capital is the Name kept always on his lips, and he owns nothing besides it. He does not even claim the little standing he has in the world; he wonders aloud who arranged it. The point is that whatever worth he has comes from the Name and from a hand he cannot name, not from himself.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →