Liberation, burning the seed of rebirth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
साधावा तो देव सर्वस्वाचेसाटीं । प्रारब्ध तुटी क्रियमाण॥1॥
मग कासयानें पुन्हा संवसार । बीजाचे अंकुर दग्ध होती ॥ध्रु.॥
जिणें दिल्हें त्यासी द्यावा पिंडदान । उत्तीर्ण चरण धरूनि व्हावें ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे निज भोगईल निजता । नाहीं होइल सत्ता दुजियाची ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should pursue God with everything one has. Through active effort, even the bonds of past destiny are severed. Then what cause remains for worldly life to return? The seeds of future births are burned to ash. To the one who gave you life, offer the rites of release; become free of debt by holding fast to His feet. Says Tuka, the Self shall enjoy its own true nature; the sovereignty of any second power shall cease.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Pursue God with everything you have. By present effort even the bonds of past destiny are cut. Then what cause is left for worldly life to come again? The seeds of future births are burned to ash. To the one who gave you this life, offer the funeral rite; hold fast to His feet and become free of the debt. Tuka says: the Self will enjoy its own true nature; no second power will hold any sway.
What it means
Tukaram describes how devotion ends the cycle of rebirth. He says to chase God with all you have, because present effort can sever even the cords of past karma. Once those are cut, nothing is left to bring worldly life back, for the seeds of future births are burned. In a startling image, he tells you to perform the death rite for the very self that gave you this bound life, clearing the old debt by clinging to God's feet. What remains is the Self resting in its own nature, with no other power left to rule over it.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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