God bound to his devotees
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
प्रमाण हें त्याच्या बोला । देव भक्तांचा अंकिला॥1॥
न पुसतां जातां नये । खालीं बैसतां ही भिये ॥ध्रु.॥
अवघा त्याचा होत । जीव भावाही सहित ॥2॥
वदे उपचाराची वाणी । कांहीं माग ह्मणऊनि ॥3॥
उदासीनाच्या लागें । तुका ह्मणे धांवे मागें॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
This is the proof, from the mouths of devotees: God is bound to His devotees. Without being asked, He cannot leave; even sitting down, He is anxious. He gives Himself entirely, along with His very life and love. He speaks courteous words, asking: please, tell Me what you desire. Says Tuka, He runs after those who are truly indifferent to the world.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Here is the proof, in the words of the devotees: God is the servant of his devotees. Without their leave he cannot go; even to sit down he is afraid. He becomes wholly theirs, his very life and love and all. He speaks the words of a servant, saying, ask me for something. Tuka says: he runs after the ones who want nothing from the world.
What it means
Tukaram states a reversal that the devotees themselves vouch for: God is bound to those who love him, almost their servant. He pictures Vitthal unable to leave without their permission, anxious even to sit, giving himself over completely, and pressing them to name a wish. Then comes the sharp turn: the ones he chases hardest are precisely the ones who ask for nothing, who have grown indifferent to the world. The lesson is that wanting nothing is what draws God most, because then the love is for him and not for what he can give.
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