Longing, the watch before the pilgrims return
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां करावा कां सोंस वांयांविण । लटिका चि सीण मनासी हा ॥1॥
असेल तें कळों येईल लौकरी । आतां वारकरी आल्यापाठी ॥ध्रु.॥
बहु विलंबाचें सन्निध पातलें । धीराचें राहिलें फळ पोटीं ॥2॥
चालिलें तें ठाव पावेल सेवटीं । पुरलिया तुटी पाउलांची ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे आसे लागलासे जीव । ह्मणऊनि कींव भाकीतसें ॥4॥ ॥19॥
व संत परत आले त्यांची भेट झाली ते अभंग 11
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why labor uselessly now? This mental torment is without purpose. Whatever is to be will soon become clear, once the Varkaris have returned. What has been long delayed is now close at hand; the fruit of patience remains within. What has been set in motion will reach its destination when the journey of each footstep is complete. Says Tuka, my jiva clings to this hope, and so I plead for mercy.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why labor uselessly now? This torment of the mind is for nothing. Whatever is to be will soon be clear, once the Varkaris have returned. The long delay is now close to its end; the fruit of patience is kept within. What has been set going will reach its place at last, when every footstep of the journey is done. Tuka says: my jiva clings to this hope, and so I beg for mercy.
What it means
Tukaram catches his own mind tormenting itself and calls the worry pointless: the answer is almost here. He is waiting for the Varkaris, the pilgrims, to come back from Pandhari with word of God. The long delay is nearly over, and he tells himself the fruit of patience is already ripening inside. What has been set in motion will surely arrive once the pilgrimage walks out its last step. His whole soul hangs on that hope, and from that hanging he simply pleads for mercy.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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