Union, one life in two places
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
येथीलिया अनुभवें । कळों जीवें हें येतसे ॥1॥
दोहीं ठायीं एक जीव । माझी कींव त्या अंगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
भूक भुके चि खाउनि धाय । नाहीं हाय अन्नाची ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे सुख जालें । अंतर धालें त्यागुणें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
From the experience of this world, the jiva comes to understand. In both places there is one life; the tenderness I feel is the same tenderness felt on that side. Hunger eats itself and finds satisfaction; there is no despair over food. Says Tuka, joy has come, and the within is fully content because of that union.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
From the experience here, the soul comes to understand. In both places there is one life. The tenderness I feel here is felt there too. Hunger feeds on hunger and is filled; there is no crying out for food. Tuka says: joy has come. Within, I am fully content, because of that union.
What it means
Tukaram says that living through this world teaches the soul a truth: there is not one life here and another there, but one single life in both. The tenderness he feels is answered by the same tenderness on God's side; the longing is mutual. He uses a strange, sharp image of hunger that feeds on hunger and is satisfied, so that the craving itself becomes the food and no anxious cry for more remains. The result is a settled joy within, born of the union of the soul with God.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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