Longing, calling God's bluff with the saints behind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कैसा कृपाळु हें न कळसी देवा । न बोलसी सेवा घेसी माझी ॥1॥
काय ऐसें बळ आहे तुजपाशीं । पाहों हा रिघेसी कोणा आड ॥ध्रु.॥
पाडियेला ठायीं तुझा थारा मारा । अवघा दातारा लपसी तो ॥2॥
आतां तुह्मां आह्मां उरी तों चि बरें । काय हें उत्तरें वाढवूनि ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे मज साहए झाले संत । ह्मणऊनि मात फावली हे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What sort of mercy is this? You reveal nothing, O God; You stay silent and simply accept my service. What power do You actually possess? Let us see whom You hide behind. Wherever You have been cornered, all Your refuge is exposed. From now on, what remains between us had best be settled fairly; why prolong it with more words? Says Tuka, the saints have come to my aid, and that is why this victory has been won.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What kind of mercy is this? You show me nothing, O God. You stay silent and just take my service. What power do You really have? Let us see whom You hide behind. Wherever You are cornered, all Your shelter is exposed. From now on, what is left between us had better be settled fairly. Why drag it out with more words? Tuka says: the saints have come to my aid, and so this victory is won.
What it means
Tukaram presses the quarrel further, demanding that God's silence answer for itself. If this is mercy, why no reply, only the quiet acceptance of his service? He calls God's bluff: show what power You truly hold, reveal whom You take cover behind, for wherever You are cornered Your hiding places are laid bare. He wants the account between them settled fairly instead of dragged out in words. The closing line names his confidence: the company of saints stands behind him, and through their help the contest is already won. Longing here speaks as bold, almost litigious love.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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