Renunciation, watching the world's spectacle
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
राहिलों निराळा । पाहों कवतुक डोळां ॥1॥
करूं जगाचा विनोद । डोळां पाहोनियां छंद ॥ध्रु.॥
भुललिया संसारें । आलें डोळ्यासी माजिरें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माथा । कोणी नुचली सर्वथा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I have withdrawn and stand apart, watching the spectacle with my eyes. Let us observe the amusement of the world, gazing upon its ways. Those deluded by worldly life find only confusion before their eyes. Says Tuka, no one lifts their head from this stupor at all.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I have stepped aside and stand apart, watching the show with my own eyes. Let me watch the world's antics, looking on at its games. Those drunk on worldly life see only confusion before them. Tuka says: not one of them lifts their head out of the stupor at all.
What it means
Tukaram describes the stance of one who has withdrawn from worldly striving and now simply observes it, as a spectator watches a play. From that distance the busyness of the world looks like an amusement, a set of games people are absorbed in. He sees that those caught inside the delusion of worldly life can perceive nothing clearly; everything before them is a blur. The final line lands the verdict gently but firmly: no one trapped in that stupor manages even to raise their head and look up out of it.
Renunciation
The case for letting go of worldly attachments and turning wholly to God.
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