Devotion, only love as the currency
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
चित्त घेऊनियां तू काय देसी । ऐसें मजपासीं सांग आधीं ॥1॥
तरि च पंढरिराया करिन साटोवाटी । नेघें जया तुटी येईल तें ॥ध्रु.॥
रििद्धसििद्ध कांहीं दाविसी अभिळास । नाहीं मज आस मुक्तीची ही ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तुझें माझें घडे तर । भक्तीचा भाव रे देणें घेणें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If You take my chitta, tell me first what You will give in return. Only then, O Lord of Pandhari, will I make this exchange; I will not accept a deal that leads to loss. If You dangle riches and powers before me, know that I have no desire even for liberation. Says Tuka, if a true bond is to form between You and me, let devotion be the only currency of giving and receiving.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If you take my mind, what will you give me in return? Tell me that first. Only then, Lord of Pandhari, will I make the trade. I will not accept a bargain that ends in loss. If you dangle riches and powers before me, know this: I have no craving even for liberation. Tuka says: if a bond is to form between you and me, then let devotion be the only thing we give and take.
What it means
Tukaram turns the language of bargaining on God, half playful and wholly serious. He will hand over his mind, but he wants to know the terms first, refusing any exchange that leaves him poorer. Then he names what he will not be paid in: not riches, not occult powers, not even moksha, the prize most seekers want. The only currency he will accept is bhakti itself, love given and received. The point is sharp: he does not want God's gifts in place of God; he wants the relationship, and devotion is the whole of the deal.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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