Saints, their life is God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मुक्तिपांग नाहीं विष्णुचिया दासां । संसार तो कैसा न देखती ॥1॥
बैसला गोविंद जडोनियां चित्ती । आदि ते चि अंतीं अवसान ॥ध्रु.॥
भोग नारायणा देऊनि निराळीं । ओविया मंगळीं तो चि गाती ॥2॥
बळ बुिद्ध त्यांची उपकारासाटीं । अमृत तें पोटी सांटवलें ॥3॥
दयावेंत तरी देवा च सारिखीं । आपुलीं पारखीं नोळखती ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे त्यांचा जीव तो चि देव । वैकुंठ तो ठाव वसती तो ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The devotees of Vishnu are never deprived of liberation; they do not even perceive worldly bondage. Govinda has settled firmly in their chitta, from beginning to end without cessation. They offer all enjoyments to Narayana and stand apart, singing only auspicious songs of praise. Their strength and intellect are spent entirely in service to others, for they have stored nectar within. Compassionate as God Himself, they do not distinguish their own from strangers. Says Tuka, their very life is God, and Vaikuntha is the place where they dwell.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The servants of Vishnu are never kept from freedom; they do not even see worldly bondage. Govinda sits settled in their hearts, from the beginning to the very end, without break. They give all their pleasures to Narayana and stand apart, singing only songs of blessing. Their strength and their wit are spent on helping others, for they have stored up nectar within. They are kind like God himself; they do not tell their own people from strangers. Tuka says: their very life is God, and Vaikuntha is the place where they live.
What it means
Tukaram is describing what the true devotees of Vishnu are like and how high he places them. Liberation is no struggle for them; they do not even perceive the bondage that holds others, because Govinda is fixed in their hearts without interruption. They hand every enjoyment to God and keep none for themselves, spending their whole strength and intelligence in service to others. The final claim is the boldest: their life simply is God, and they already dwell in Vaikuntha, the heaven of Vishnu, while still here. The saint is not on the way to God; the saint is the place where God lives.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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