Longing, weary of the waiting
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं हानि परी न राहावे निसुर । न पडे विसर काय करूं ॥1॥
पुसाविसी वाटे मात कापडियां । पाठविती न्याया मूळ मज ॥ध्रु.॥
आणीक या मना नावडे सोहळा । करितें टकळा माहेरींचा ॥2॥
बहु कामें केलें बहु कासावीस । बहु जाले दिस भेटी नाहीं ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे त्याचें न कळे अंतर । अवस्था तों फार होते मज ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There is no real loss in it, yet I cannot remain indifferent; the memory will not leave me alone. I want to ask news from passing travelers, to send for word. My mind relishes no other happiness; it chatters only of its true home. Much labor has made me weary, many days have passed without a meeting. Says Tuka, His mind remains unknown to me, but my own condition grows more desperate.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There is no real loss in it, yet I cannot stay calm; the memory will not let me alone, what am I to do. I want to ask news from passing travelers, to send for word to be brought to me. My mind likes no other happiness; it chatters only of its true home. Much work has worn me out, many days have passed without a meeting. Tuka says: I cannot read His mind, but my own state grows more and more desperate.
What it means
Tukaram admits that nothing has actually been taken from him, and still he cannot rest, because the memory of home keeps gnawing. He wants to flag down travelers for news and send messages, anything to bridge the distance to God. No other pleasure interests his mind; it talks of nothing but the māhera. The labor of living has worn him down, and the days pile up with no meeting. He confesses he cannot see into the Lord's mind, and so his own condition only grows more desperate. He lets the helplessness stand without resolving it.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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