Worldly life, all in the hands of Death
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
सांपडला संदीं । मग बळिया पडे फंदीं ॥१॥
ऐसी कोणी वाहे वेळ । हातीं काळाच्या सकळ ॥ध्रु.॥
दाता मागे दान । जाय याचका शरण ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे नेणां । काय सांगों नारायणा ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When caught in the snare of circumstance, even the mighty fall into confusion. Who can hold off time? All are in the hands of Death. The generous giver may one day have to beg, and the benefactor may need to seek refuge from a beggar. Says Tuka, what can I say to Narayana? He alone knows the mystery of it.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Once you are caught in the snare of circumstance, even the strong fall into the trap. Who can hold off the hour? All of us are in the hands of Death. The giver who once handed out gifts may himself come begging. The one who helped may have to take refuge with a beggar. Tuka says: you do not understand it. What can I say to Narayana?
What it means
Tukaram is naming how completely reversal owns our affairs. Caught in circumstance, even the mighty are undone, and no one can push back the appointed hour, since everyone alike is held in the grip of Death. He turns the wheel to show the giver reduced to begging and the benefactor forced to seek shelter from the very poor he once helped. The point is that worldly standing is on loan and can flip without warning. His closing turn to Narayana sets the whole unstable scene against the one who actually holds it, the only refuge the verse leaves standing.
Worldly Life
The perplexities of action, karma, and navigating life in the world.
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