Autobiography, the Mother who came
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तूं कृपाळू माउली आह्मां दीनांची साउली । न संरित आली बाळवेशें जवळी ॥1॥
माझें केलें समाधान रूप गोजिरें सगुण । निवविलें मन आलिंगन देऊनी ॥ध्रु.॥
कृपा केली जना हातीं पायीं ठाव दिला संतीं । कळों नये चित्तीं दुःख कैसें आहे तें॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मी अन्यायी क्षमा करीं वो माझे आई । आतां पुढें काई तुज घालूं सांकडें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
You are a compassionate Mother, a sheltering shade for the wretched like us. Unreserved, You came to me in the guise of a child. You gave me peace; Your beautiful, embodied form consoled me. You cooled my mind by holding me in Your embrace. You showed mercy before the world and gave me a place at the feet of the saints, so that no one might know what sorrow had been within. Says Tuka, I am the offender. Forgive me, O my Mother. Henceforth, what more shall I trouble You with?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
You are a tender Mother, the shade over wretched ones like us. You came close to me, holding nothing back, in the form of a child. You set my mind at peace; Your lovely, embodied form consoled me. You cooled my mind by taking me in Your arms. You showed mercy before everyone and gave me a place at the feet of the saints, so no one could see what sorrow had been inside me. Tuka says: I am the one who did wrong. Forgive me, my Mother. What more shall I burden You with now?
What it means
Tukaram tells of being answered after his hard testing, and the answer comes as motherly tenderness. God draws near without reserve, in the gentle guise of a child, and consoles him with an embrace that cools and quiets the mind. Beyond private comfort, God restores him publicly, granting him a place among the saints so the sorrow he carried is hidden from the world's eyes. Against this mercy Tukaram sets his own fault squarely: he is the offender, and he asks his Mother's forgiveness. The poem closes in chastened gratitude, vowing not to lay further trouble on the One who has already done so much.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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