Praise of the saints, joy where they dwell
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दासां सर्व काळ । तेथें सुखाचे कल्लोळ ॥1॥
जेथें वसती हरिदास । पुण्य पिके पापा नास ॥ध्रु.॥
फिरे सुदर्शन । घेऊनियां नारायण ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे घरीं । होय ह्मणियारा कामारी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Wherever devotees dwell, waves of joy are present at all times. In the place where the servants of Hari reside, merit flourishes and sin is destroyed. Narayana Himself patrols that place, Sudarshana discus in hand. Says Tuka, in that household He becomes a willing servant, saying yes to every need.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Where the servants of God live, there is joy at every hour. Where the servants of Hari stay, merit ripens and sin is destroyed. Narayana himself goes around that place, the Sudarshana discus in his hand. Tuka says: in that house he becomes a willing servant, saying yes to every need.
What it means
Tukaram is telling us what a place is worth by who lives in it. Where God's devotees dwell, the air itself is good fortune: merit grows like a crop and sin falls away. He goes further and says Narayana patrols that house himself, weapon in hand, guarding it. And then the boldest stroke: in the home of his servants, the Lord drops the role of master and becomes the servant, ready to do whatever they need. The greatness of the saints is measured by how close it brings God, and how low God will stoop for them.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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