Devotion, the head needs the feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मजशीं पुरे न पडे वादें । सुख दोहींच्या संवादें ॥1॥
तूं चि आगळा काशानें । शिर काय पायांविणे ॥ध्रु.॥
वाहों तुझा भार । दुःख साहोनि अपार ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं भेद । देवा करूं नये वाद ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
No argument can prevail against me, for the joy lies in our mutual exchange. How can you claim to be greater? What is the head without the feet? I bear your burden and endure immeasurable suffering on your behalf. Says Tuka, there is no difference between us, O God; let there be no quarrel.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
No argument can win against me. The joy is in our talking together. How are you the greater one? What is a head without the feet? I carry your burden. I bear suffering beyond measure. Tuka says: there is no difference between us. So, God, let us not quarrel.
What it means
Tukaram turns a lover's debate with God into a claim about mutual need. He insists God cannot simply assert superiority, because a head is useless without feet to carry it: the Lord depends on the devotee who bears his weight in the world and endures endless hardship for him. The point of the back and forth is not to win but the sweetness of the exchange itself. And since there is finally no difference between them, the quarrel collapses into oneness.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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