राम
गाथा 2553The Nature of God

The nature of God, hidden in plain sight

Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram

मराठी मूळ

प्रसिद्ध हा असे जगा । अवघ्या रंगारंगाचा ॥1॥

तरी वाटा न वजे कोणी । नारायणीं घरबुडी ॥ध्रु.॥

बहुतां ऐसें केलें मागें । लाग लागें लागेना ॥2॥

हो कां नर अथवा नारी । लाहान थोरीं आदर ॥3॥

जालें वेगळें लोकीं पुरे । मग नुरे समूळ ॥4॥

कळेना तो आहे कैसा । कोणी दिशा बहु थोडा ॥5॥

तुका ह्मणे दुस†या भावें । छायें नावें न देखवे ॥6॥

Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)

English Translation

He is famous throughout the world for His play of colors. Yet no one truly walks His path; people remain mired in Narayana's household of illusion. He has done this to many in the past, yet no attachment to His way takes hold. Be it man or woman, young or old, all hold Him in regard. Once He draws you apart from the world, nothing of the old self remains. No one can tell what He is, in which direction He stands, whether vast or small. Says Tuka, through any other approach, even His shadow cannot be perceived.

We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.

In Plain Words

Everyone in the world knows him; he is famous for his play of colors. Yet no one walks the road to him; people stay sunk in Narayana's house of illusion. He has done this to many before, and still no one's heart fastens to his way. Man or woman, small or great, all give him respect. Once he draws you apart from the crowd, then nothing of the old self is left. No one can tell what he is, in which direction he stands, whether he is vast or very small. Tuka says: by any other way, you cannot see even his shadow.

What it means

Tukaram points at a strange fact: God is famous everywhere, praised by everyone, and yet almost no one actually goes to Him. People stay stuck in the household of illusion that is itself His doing, giving Him respect without ever turning onto His road. The poem names the real cost and the real reward together. When God finally pulls a person out of the crowd, the old self is destroyed root and all, and what He is then cannot be located or measured by anyone. The closing line names the one condition. There is no side door. Without that single true approach, you will not even glimpse His shadow.

ईश्वर स्वरूप

The Nature of God

Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.

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