Devotion, the giver needs the beggar
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
विनवितों तरी आणितोसि परी । याचकानें थोरी दातयाची ॥1॥
आमुचे ही कांहीं असों द्या प्रकार । एकल्यानें थोर कैचे तुह्मी ॥ध्रु.॥
नेघावी जी कांहीं बहु साल सेवा । गौरव तें देवा यत्न कीजे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे नाहीं आमुची मिरासी । असावेंसें ऐसीं दुर्बळें चि ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When I entreat You, You respond in kind; the beggar proclaims the greatness of the giver. Let something of our exchange remain as well; by Yourself alone, how can You be called great? Do not exact too much devoted service, O God; honor and worth require some gentle effort. Says Tuka, I have no claim to authority; we are meant to remain humble and lowly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
When I plead, You answer in the same measure; it is the beggar who makes the giver great. Let some part of the exchange be ours too; by Yourself alone, how could You be called great? Do not demand too much hard service, O God; worth and honor want a gentler effort. Tuka says: I hold no claim of my own. We are meant to stay weak and lowly.
What it means
Tukaram plays with the strange mutual need between God and devotee. He notes that the giver's greatness only shows because there is a beggar to receive, so the lowly soul is not nothing in the exchange. He asks God to leave room for the devotee's part, since glory alone, with no one to give to, would be empty. Then he gently bargains: do not lay on a crushing load of service, for honor is better drawn out by a kinder demand. He closes by disowning any merit of his own; his only standing is weakness, and that very lowliness is what calls forth God's grace.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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