Exhortation, save yourself first
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नको धरूं आस व्हावें या बाळांस । निर्माण तें त्यांस त्यांचें आहे ॥1॥
आपुला तूं गळा घेई उगवूनि । चुकवीं जाचणी गर्भवास ॥ध्रु.॥
अवेज देखोनि बांधितील गळा । ह्मणोनि निराळा पळतुसें ॥2॥
देखोनियां त्यांचा अवघड मार । कांपे थरथर जीव माझा ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे जरी आहे माझी चाड । तरी करीं वाड चित्त आतां ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Do not cling to hopes for these children; what is destined for them is already theirs. Save yourself first; free yourself from the torment of the cycle of birth. Seeing the trappings of the world, they will bind your neck; that is why I flee and stay apart. Seeing the terrible blows of the world, my jiva trembles with fear. Says Tuka, if you truly care for me, then steady your chitta now.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Do not cling to hopes for these children; what is meant for them is already theirs. Untie your own neck first; escape the torment of the womb. Seeing the world's bait, they will bind your neck; that is why I keep apart and flee. Seeing their terrible blows, my jiva trembles and shakes. Tuka says: if you truly care for me, then make your chitta wide now.
What it means
Tukaram urges the soul to stop pinning its hopes on family, since each child carries its own destiny. The real work is to free your own neck and break the cycle of rebirth, the torment he calls the womb. He is blunt about why he keeps his distance: worldly ties are bait that bind the neck, and the blows of the world make him shake with fear. The close is an appeal turned inward: if you care for him, the proof is not attachment but a chitta made wide enough to let go and seek release.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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