Lament, ruined by His company
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुह्मां आह्मां तुटी होईल यावरी । ऐसें मज हरी दिसतसे ॥1॥
वचनाचा कांहीं न देखों आधार । करावा हा धीर कोठवरी ॥ध्रु.॥
सारिलें संचित होतें गांठी कांहीं । पुढें ॠण तें ही नेदी कोणी ॥2॥
जावें चि न लगे कोणांचिया घरा । उडाला पातेरा तुझ्या संगें ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे आह्मां हा चि लाभ जाला । मनुष्यधर्म गेला पांडुरंगा ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
It seems to me, O Hari, that a rift between You and me is coming. I see no support in Your promises; how long must I keep patience? Whatever savings I had are spent, and now no one will even lend me credit. Because of my association with You, I need not go to anyone's door; Your company has made me a spendthrift. Says Tuka, the only gain I have had is this: I have lost all worldly standing, O Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
It seems to me, Hari, that a break between You and me is coming. I see nothing solid to lean on in Your promises. How long am I supposed to hold on? Whatever savings I had stored up are spent now, and ahead of me no one will even lend me credit. I need not go knocking at anyone's door; keeping company with You has made me a spendthrift, my reserves all blown away. Tuka says: this is the only gain I have got, that I have lost every bit of worldly standing, Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram speaks like a man gone broke, and the bankruptcy is spiritual as much as worldly. His old store of merit is used up, the world will extend him no further credit, and God's promises give him nothing firm to hold; so he warns, half in dread, that a rupture is near. The sharp turn comes at the end: keeping company with God has emptied him out, ruined his standing among people, made him a spendthrift of everything the world values. He calls this his one true gain. The lament becomes a confession that losing the world is exactly what closeness to God costs, and he would not undo it.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
More in this theme →