Saints, one essence in many dishes
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आवडीभोजन प्रकार परवडी । भिन्नाभिन्न गोडी एक रसा ॥1॥
भोगित्या पंगती लाधलों प्रसाद । तिंहीं नाहीं भेद राखियेला ॥ध्रु.॥
पाकसििद्ध स्वहस्तकें विनियोग। आवडीचे भाग सिद्ध केले ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे आला उिच्छष्ट प्रसाद । तेणें हा आनंद माझ्या जीवा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A feast of love is spread out in many dishes; though the flavors differ, they are all of one essence. I have received the grace of those who sat at that banquet; they maintained no distinctions among themselves. The cooking was done by the Master's own hand; each portion of love was prepared to perfection. Says Tuka, the sanctified leftover has come to me, and by that, my jiva rejoices.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A feast of love is laid out in many dishes; the flavors differ, yet they are all one taste. Sitting in that row of eaters, I was given grace; among them they kept no separation. The cooking was done by the Master's own hand; each portion of love was made perfect. Tuka says: the sanctified leftover has come to me, and by it my soul rejoices.
What it means
Tukaram uses the image of a shared meal to speak of the company of saints. The dishes are many and their flavors differ, yet all are one essence, just as the saints are varied but undivided, keeping no rank or separation among themselves as they eat together. He stresses that the food was prepared by the Master's own hand, so every loving portion is perfect. Then he places himself low and grateful: he receives only the consecrated leftover from that table, and even that scrap fills his soul with joy.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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