Longing, the mind fixed on home
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बैसतां कोणापें नाहीं समाधान । विवरे हें मन ते चि सोई ॥1॥
घडी घडी मज आठवे माहेर । न पडे विसर क्षणभरी॥ध्रु.॥
नो बोलावें ऐसा करितों विचार । प्रसंगीं तों फार आठवतें ॥2॥
इंिद्रयांसी वाहो पडिली ते चाली । होती विसांवली ये चि ठायीं॥3॥
एकसरें सोस माहेरासी जावें । तुका ह्मणे जीवें घेतलासे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Sitting with anyone brings no peace; the mind keeps turning toward that one direction. Every moment, I remember my true home; not for an instant does it leave my thoughts. I resolve not to speak of it, yet at every occasion it comes flooding back. My senses have fallen into a single current; they find rest only in that one place. Says Tuka, I have staked my very life on this longing to go home.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Sitting with anyone, I find no peace; the mind keeps turning toward that one direction. Again and again I remember my true home; not for a moment does it leave my thoughts. I decide not to speak of it, yet whenever the chance comes it floods back. My senses have all fallen into a single current; they rest only in that one place. Tuka says: I have staked my very life on this longing to go home.
What it means
Tukaram describes a longing that has taken over the whole mind. No company gives him peace, because the mind only points one way, toward the māhera, the true home where God is. He resolves to keep silent about it, and the resolve fails the moment any opening appears. All the senses have collapsed into a single current and find rest nowhere else. The home he means is union with God, and the closing line names the stakes plainly: this is not a passing wish but his life laid down on it.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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