Devotion, water the one root
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सिंचन करितां मूळ । वृक्ष वोल्हावे सकळ ॥1॥
नको पृथकाचे भरी । पडों एक मूळ धरीं ॥ध्रु.॥
पाणचोयाचें दार। वरिल दाटावें तें थोर ॥2॥
वस्व जाला राजा । मग आपुल्या त्या प्रजा ॥3॥
एक चिंतामणी । फिटे सर्व सुखधणी ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे धांवा । आहे पंढरिये विसांवा ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When the root is watered, the entire tree flourishes. Do not be caught up in attending to separate branches; hold fast to the one root. The main gate of the water channel must be firmly secured. When a man becomes king, all the people become his subjects. One wish-fulfilling gem satisfies every need. Says Tuka, rush to Pandhari; there you will find true rest.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Water the root, and the whole tree grows fresh. Do not get caught fussing over separate branches; hold fast to the one root. The main gate of the water channel must be held firm; that is the great thing. When a man becomes king, all the people become his subjects. One wish-granting gem meets every need. Tuka says: run to Pandhari; there is your rest.
What it means
Tukaram is teaching that all spiritual effort should be aimed at one source rather than scattered across many ends. He stacks up plain images to make the point: water the root and the whole tree thrives; secure the main gate and the whole channel is fed; win the king and you win all his subjects; hold one wish-fulfilling gem and every desire is satisfied. The lesson is to stop tending the branches, the many lesser practices and wants, and grip the single root. That root, the poem says at the end, is Vitthal at Pandhari, where the soul finds its true rest.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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