Nature of God, the puppeteer beyond qualities
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
लाघवी सूत्रधारी दोरी नाचवी कुसरी । उपजवी पाळूनि संसारि नानापरिचीं लाघवें ॥1॥
पुरोनि पंढरिये उरलें भक्तिसुखें लांचावलें । उभें चि राहिलें कर कटीं न बैसे ॥ध्रु.॥
बहु काळें ना सावळें बहु कठिण ना कोंवळें । गुणत्रया वेगळें बहुबळें आथीलें ॥2॥
असोनि नसे सकळांमधीं मना अगोचर बुद्धी । स्वामी माझा कृपानिधि तुका ह्मणे विठ्ठल ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The skillful Puppeteer pulls the strings with artistry, creating, sustaining, and enacting the manifold wonders of this world. Having filled Pandhari to the brim, overflowing with the joy of devotion, He remains standing, hands on hips, never sitting down. Neither too dark nor too fair, neither too hard nor too soft, beyond the three qualities, established by immense strength. Present in all yet present in none, beyond the reach of mind and intellect. Says Tuka, my Lord, that treasury of compassion, is Vitthal.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The skillful one holds the strings and makes the puppet dance with art. He creates, he sustains, he plays out the many wonders of this world. He filled Pandhari to the brim and still overflows, hungry for the joy of devotion. He just stands there, hands on his hips, and never sits down. Not too dark, not too fair; not too hard, not too soft; beyond the three qualities, holding everything by his vast strength. Present in all and yet present in none, past the reach of mind and intellect. Tuka says: my Lord, that treasury of compassion, is Vitthal.
What it means
Tukaram holds two truths together: the God who stands plainly on the brick at Pandhari is the same hidden power who runs the whole world. As puppeteer he creates, sustains, and plays out everything, pulling strings no one sees. Yet he is beyond every measure: not this color or that, beyond the three gunas, present everywhere and yet graspable nowhere by mind or reason. The wonder is that this unreachable one chooses to stand still at Pandhari, hands on hips, drawn by nothing but love. Tukaram names the formless absolute and the visible Vitthal as one and the same treasury of compassion.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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