Saints, the boldness of full surrender
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
केला कैवाड संतांच्या आधारें । अनुभवें खरें कळों आलें ॥1॥
काय जीवित्वाची धरुनियां आशा । व्हावें गर्भवासा पात्र भेणें ॥ध्रु.॥
अबाळीनें जावें निचिंतिया ठायां । रांडा रोटा वांयां करूं नये ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे बळी देतां तें निधान । भिकेसाटीं कोण राज्य देतो ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
By the support of saints I pursued this effort, and through experience the truth became clear. Why cling to life and risk returning to the womb out of fear? One should go boldly to that fearless place; weeping and wailing serve no purpose. Says Tuka, one who offers himself completely gains a treasure. Who gives away a kingdom for the sake of begging?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
With the saints to lean on I made the attempt, and through living it the truth grew clear. Why cling to staying alive, only to deserve another birth in the womb out of fear? Go boldly to the fearless place; do not waste yourself in weeping and wailing. Tuka says: the one who offers himself fully gains the treasure. Who gives away a kingdom in order to keep begging?
What it means
Tukaram, steadied by the company of the saints, reports what he learned by actually doing it rather than by hearsay. He confronts the fear that makes us cling to this life, and warns that such clinging only earns another trip through the womb, another birth. So he urges courage: go straight to the fearless place and stop wasting yourself in tears and lament. The final line drives it home with a sharp question. The one who gives himself away completely wins the hidden treasure; only a fool would trade away a whole kingdom just to go on begging, which is what holding back the self really is.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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