The nature of God, each receives by measure
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
देईल तें उणें नाहीं । याचे कांहीं पदरीं ॥1॥
पाहिजे तें संचित आतां । येथें सत्ता करावया ॥ध्रु.॥
गुणां ऐसा भरणा भरी। जो जें चारी तें लाभे ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देवीं देव । फळे भव आपुला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Whatever He gives, there is no shortage. Nothing is lacking on His part. What is needed now is accumulated merit to exercise authority here. He fills each vessel according to its quality; whatever He provides becomes one's gain. Says Tuka, God takes the form each deserves; one's own destiny bears fruit accordingly.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Whatever he gives is never too little; nothing is missing on his side. What is needed now is gathered merit, to claim a share here. He fills each vessel to its quality; whatever he feeds you, that is your gain. Tuka says: God meets each as God; your own life bears its own fruit.
What it means
Tukaram explains why people seem to receive different things from the same God. There is no lack on God's side; His giving is full and never falls short. What sets the difference is what we bring, the merit we have stored, which alone lets us draw on the supply. He uses the image of vessels: God fills each one according to its capacity, and what He pours into you is exactly what becomes yours. The closing line names the law without complaint. God appears to each person as that person is fit to meet Him, and one's own life ripens into its own fruit.
The Nature of God
Explorations of God's character, power, grace, and relationship to the world.
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