Devotion, a plain plan for the days
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पवित्र होईन चरित्रउच्चारें । रूपाच्या आधारें गोजिरिया ॥1॥
आपुरती बुिद्ध पुण्य नाहीं गांठी । पायीं घालीं मिठी पाहें डोळां ॥ध्रु.॥
गाईन ओविया शिष्टांच्या आधारें । सारीन विचारें आयुष्या या ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझें नाम नारायणा । ठेवीन मी मना आपुलिया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I shall become pure by reciting your beautiful story and resting upon the support of your lovely form. I have no wisdom or merit of my own; I simply embrace your feet and gaze at you with my eyes. I will sing verses in the tradition of the noble ones, and spend this life in thoughtful reflection. Says Tuka, O Narayana, I will place your name within my own mind.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I will become pure by reciting your beautiful story, leaning on the support of your lovely form. I have no wisdom of my own, no store of merit. I simply throw my arms around your feet and gaze at you with my eyes. I will sing verses in the way of the noble ones and spend this life in steady reflection. Tuka says: O Narayana, I will keep your name within my own mind.
What it means
Tukaram lays out a simple program for a whole life, built on what he has rather than what he lacks. He owns no wisdom and no bank of merit, so his method is bodily and plain: recite the story, lean on the form, hold the feet, and look. He will sing in the manner handed down by the noble ones, making contemplation his daily occupation. The vow at the end is the quiet center of it all, to keep the Name lodged in his own mind. He turns purity from an achievement into a practice anyone can begin.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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