Devotion, only Vitthal counts as treasure
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
काय दिला ठेवा । आह्मां विठ्ठल चि व्हावा ॥1॥
तुह्मी कळलेती उदार । साटीं परिसाची गार ॥ध्रु.॥
जीव दिला तरी। वचना माझ्या नये सरी ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे धन । आह्मां गोमासासमान ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
What kind of treasure have You given us? We must become Vitthal Himself. We have come to know Your so-called generosity: trading a pebble for the philosopher's stone. Even if I gave my life, it would not match the worth of my devotion. Says Tuka, worldly wealth is to us as foul as forbidden meat.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
What treasure is this you have set aside for us? We must become Vitthal Himself, nothing less. We have found out how generous you really are: you trade away a mere pebble and take the touchstone in return. Even if I gave my life, it would not equal the worth of my word to you. Tuka says: worldly wealth is to us as foul as forbidden meat.
What it means
Tukaram is half-teasing God about the terms of the exchange between them. He pretends to complain that God is a sharp bargainer, taking the touchstone, the gem that turns iron to gold, and paying out only a pebble; but the joke runs the other way, since the devotee receives infinitely more than he gives. The real treasure God has set aside is not a thing but a destiny: that the devotee must become one with Vitthal. Against that, the wealth the world prizes is as repulsive to him as meat he is forbidden to touch, and even laying down his life would not match the worth of his vow.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →