Devotion, the easy road home
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
साधन संपित्त हें चि माझें धन । सकळ चरण विठोबाचे ॥1॥
शीतळ हा पंथ माहेराची वाट । जवळी च नीट सुखरूप ॥ध्रु.॥
वैष्णवांचा संग रामगाणें गाणें । मंडित भूषण अळंकार ॥2॥
भवनदी आड नव्हतीसी जाली । कोरडी च चाली जावें पायी ॥3॥
मायबाप दोघें पाहातील वाट । ठेवूनिया कटीं कर उभी ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे केव्हां देखेन कळस । पळाली आळस निद्रा भूक ॥5॥
यथार्थवादें तुज न वर्णवे कदा । बोलतों ते निंदा करितों तुझी ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
My practice, my wealth, my only treasure: all of it is the feet of Vitthoba. This is a cool and pleasant path, the road to my true home, straight and near and full of ease. The company of the Vaishnavas, the singing of Rama's songs: these are my adornments and ornaments. The river of worldly existence, once an obstacle, has dried up; I simply walk across on foot. My mother and father, both standing with hands on hips, are watching for me, waiting. Says Tuka, when shall I see the temple spire? All weariness, drowsiness, and hunger have fled.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
My practice, my fortune, my only wealth is all of it the feet of Vithoba. This is a cool path, the road to my mother's home, straight and near and full of ease. The company of the Vaishnavas, the singing of Rama's songs: these are my ornaments and finery. The river of worldly life, once a barrier across my way, has dried up; I walk across on dry ground, on foot. My mother and father both stand watching the road for me, hands resting on their waists. Tuka says: when will I see the temple spire? Weariness, sleep, and hunger have all fled.
What it means
Tukaram gathers up everything he values and says it is one thing: the feet of Vithoba, his practice and treasure together. He paints the devotee's road as easy and welcoming, cool underfoot, short, and leading to his true home like a mother's house. The fellowship of devotees and the singing of Rama's name are the only jewels he wears. Where the world once stood as a river blocking his path, devotion has dried it up so he simply walks across. He pictures God as a parent standing at the door watching for his child, and his own heart so eager for the first sight of the temple spire that fatigue, sleep, and hunger have all vanished.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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