Secret love, the open mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विशमाची शंका वाटे । सारिखें भेटे तरी सुख ॥1॥
ह्मणऊनि चोरिलें जना । आल्या राणां एकांतीं ॥ध्रु.॥
दुजियासी कळों नये । जया सोय नाहीं हे ।2॥
तुका ह्मणे मोकळें मन । नारायण भोगासी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
There is fear that something may go wrong; joy comes only when equals meet. That is why they stole away from the world and came to the wilderness in private. Others should not come to know of this, those who have no part in it. Says Tuka, when the mind is free and open, Narayana is there for the taking.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There is a fear that something may go wrong. Joy comes only when equals meet. So they stole away from the crowd and came alone into the wilderness. Others must not find out, those who have no share in this. Tuka says: when the mind is free and open, Narayana is there to be had.
What it means
Tukaram explains why the gopis hide their love and what the hiding is really about. There is a fear of being seen, and joy is only sure when like meets like, so they slip away from the public into the lonely wilderness. The ones kept out are simply those with no part in this love. The closing line opens the frame: when the mind is unguarded and free, God is there for the taking. The secrecy is not shame; it is the clearing of the mind in which God can be met.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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