Devotion, refusing even liberation
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आह्मां अळंकार मुद्रांचे शृंगार । तुळसीचे हार वाहों कंठीं ॥1॥
लाडिके डिंगर पंढरिरायाचे । निरंतर वाचे नामघोष ॥ध्रु.॥
आह्मां आणिकांची चाड चि नाहीं । सर्व सुखें पायीं विठोबाच्या ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मी नेघों या मुक्ती । एकविण चित्तीं दुजें नाहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Our ornaments are the sacred marks, our adornment is the tulsi garland worn around the neck. We are the beloved children of the Lord of Pandhari, and the name resounds constantly on our lips. We have no desire for anything else, for all happiness rests at the feet of Vithoba. Says Tuka, we do not even seek liberation, for nothing besides Him exists in our chitta.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Our ornaments are the sacred marks. Our finery is the tulsi garland worn at the throat. We are the petted children of the Lord of Pandhari. The shout of His name is always on our tongues. We have no need of anything else. All happiness rests at Vithoba's feet. Tuka says: we will not take even liberation. In our heart there is nothing second to the One.
What it means
Tukaram lists the devotee's wealth and finds it is all devotion: the marks of a Vaishnava and a tulsi garland are the only jewels, and ceaseless chanting of the name is the only voice. As the cherished children of the Lord of Pandhari, they want nothing more, because every happiness already sits at Vithoba's feet. The sharp claim comes last and is left undimmed. They refuse even mukti, the release that most seekers crave, because for them there is no second thing beside the One. Wanting liberation would still be wanting something other than God.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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