Devotion, no hunger for liberation
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उपास कराडी । तिहीं करावीं बापुडीं ॥1॥
आह्मी विठोबाचे दास । चिंता झुगारावी आस ॥ध्रु.॥
भक्तीच्या उत्कषॉ । नाहीं मुक्तीचें तें पिसें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बळ । अंगीं आमुच्या सकळ ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Let the ascetics and the harsh practitioners make their severe penances. We are the servants of Vitthal; we cast away worry and worldly hope. In the exaltation of devotion, we have no obsession with liberation. Says Tuka, all strength resides within us.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Let the fasters and the harsh penance-doers do their poor severe deeds. We are Vitthal's servants; we throw away worry and craving. In the rising joy of devotion, we have no madness for liberation. Tuka says: all the strength is in us.
What it means
Tukaram sets the bhakta's path against the path of grim self-mortification. Let the fasters and the hard ascetics keep at their severe practices; he calls them poor, pitiable things. Being Vitthal's servant, he simply flings away both worry and worldly craving, the two ends that usually drive a person. He goes further and refuses even the prize the ascetics chase: in the swelling joy of devotion there is no obsession with liberation, no fever for moksha. Strength is not earned by punishing the body; for those who belong to Vitthal, all of it already lives in them.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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