Longing, the silent quarrel
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न गमेसी जाली दिवसरजनी । राहिलों लाजोनि नो बोलावें ॥1॥
रुचिविण काय शब्द वाया माप । अनादरें कोप येत असे ॥ध्रु.॥
आपुलिया रडे आपुलें चि मन । दाटे समाधान पावतसें॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुह्मी असा जी जाणते । काय करूं रिते वादावाद ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Days and nights have become unbearable. I have stayed silent out of shame, not daring to speak. Without relish, words are mere empty measures; disregard brings anger. The mind weeps to itself, and is choked even as it tries to find peace. Says Tuka, you are the knowing ones. Why should I engage in fruitless arguments?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Days and nights have become unbearable. I stay silent out of shame and do not dare to speak. Without relish, words are only empty measuring; and being ignored makes anger rise. The mind weeps to itself and chokes even as it tries to find peace. Tuka says: You are the one who knows. Why should I take up a pointless argument?
What it means
Tukaram is caught in the misery of a love that goes unanswered. Day and night drag on, and shame keeps him from even speaking his complaint. When there is no warmth in the exchange, words become hollow, mere counting, and being disregarded stirs anger in him. So his mind turns inward and weeps alone, unable to reach the peace it reaches for. In the end he gives up the quarrel: God already knows everything, so arguing the case aloud would be empty. The poem holds the whole tension of waiting on a God who seems to withhold response.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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