Longing, a blessing edged with reproach
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां आशीर्वाद । माझा असो सुखें नांद ॥1॥
ह्मणसी कोणा तरी काळें । आहेतसी माझीं बाळें ॥ध्रु.॥
दुरी दूरांतर। तरी घेसी समाचार ॥2॥
नेसी कधीं तरी । तुका ह्मणे लाज हरी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Here is my blessing: may You dwell in happiness. At least sometime, You might say: these are my children. Even at a great distance, You might take notice and inquire. Says Tuka, will You never feel shame, O Hari?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Here, take my blessing: live in happiness. At least sometime You might say, these are my children. Even from far, far away, You might ask after me. Tuka says: will You never feel shame, O Hari?
What it means
Tukaram turns the tables and blesses God, the way a hurt child wishes a distant parent well while clearly feeling neglected. His asking is humble to the point of pain: he would settle for God merely acknowledging him now and then as one of His own. Even a word of inquiry sent across the great distance would be enough. Then the blessing sharpens into a reproach in the signature line: he asks Hari whether he will never feel ashamed of leaving his devotee waiting so long, pressing the bond of love as a claim God ought to honor.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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