The saints, the master's house
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
जयाचिये द्वारीं सोन्याचा पिंपळ । अंगीं ऐसें बळ रेडा बोले ॥1॥
करील तें काय नव्हे महाराज । परि पाहे बीज शुद्ध अंगीं ॥ध्रु.॥
जेणें हे घातली मुक्तीची गवांदी । मेळविली मांदी वैष्णवांची ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तेथें सुखा काय उणें । राहे समाधानें चित्ताचिया ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
At whose door stands a golden Peepal tree and in whose being a bull speaks with strength, what can such a great one not accomplish? Yet he examines the seed for purity in his own body. He who laid the foundation of liberation and gathered the assembly of Vaishnavas, at his place, what joy can be lacking? Says Tuka, the mind rests there in perfect contentment.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
At whose door a golden pippal tree stands, in whose body there is such power that a buffalo speaks: what can such a great one not do? Yet he looks for a pure seed in himself. He who marked out the courtyard of liberation and gathered the crowd of Vaishnavas: at his place, what could joy be lacking? Tuka says: there the mind rests in full contentment.
What it means
Tukaram praises a great master by his wonders and then turns the praise inward. He points to signs of power, a golden pippal at the door, a buffalo made to speak, and asks what such a one could not accomplish. Yet even he watches that the seed in his own being stays pure; greatness does not excuse self-examination. This is the one who opened the way to liberation and drew the company of Vaishnavas together, so at his place no joy is missing. The settled mind, Tuka says, finds its rest there and nowhere else.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
More in this theme →