Adoration, no power can buy his feet
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सोन्याचे पर्वत करवती पाषाण । अवघे रानोरान कल्पतरू ॥1॥
परि या दुर्लभ विठोबाचे पाय । तेथें हे उपाय न सरती ॥ध्रु.॥
अमृतें सागर भरवे ती गंगा । ह्मणवेल उगा राहें काळा ॥2॥
भूत भविष्य कळों येईल वर्तमान । करवती प्रसन्न रििद्धसिद्धी ॥3॥
स्थान मान कळों येती योगमुद्रा । नेववेल वारा ब्रह्मांडासी ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Even if mountains were made of gold and all stones turned to jewels, if every forest were filled with wish-fulfilling trees, even so, the feet of Vithoba would remain beyond reach; no such means can win them. Even if the seas were filled with nectar and the Ganga flowed with immortal water, even if one could silence death itself, even if one could know past, present, and future and master all powers and yogic seals, even if one could turn the winds of the universe.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Say the mountains turned to gold and the stones to jewels. Say every forest stood full of wish-fulfilling trees. Even then, Vithoba's feet stay out of reach; no such means can win them. Say the seas were filled with nectar and the Ganga ran with deathless water. Say you could silence death itself. Say you could know past, present, and future, and command every power and yogic seal. Say you could turn the winds of the whole universe.
What it means
Tukaram piles up the greatest things a person could ever gain: limitless wealth, control over death, knowledge of all time, mastery of every occult power. Each is a giant 'even if,' and each falls short. The point is that Vithoba's feet are not a prize you earn or purchase; no amount of power or attainment reaches them. He is naming a different order of worth than the one we usually chase. What we call greatness, even miraculous greatness, cannot buy the one thing he wants.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →