Longing, the God who only takes
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
नाहीं तरी आतां कैचा अनुभव । जालासीं तूं देव घरघेणा ॥1॥
जेथें तेथें देखें लांचाचा पर्वत । घ्यावें तरि चित्त समाधान ॥ध्रु.॥
आधीं वरी हात या नांवें उदार । उसण्याचे उपकार फिटाफीट ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जैसी तैसी करूं सेवा । सामर्थ्य न देवा पायांपाशीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
If there is no direct experience, then You have become a God who only takes and never gives. Wherever I look, mountains of bribes are demanded; if one is to receive, the mind must first be at peace. First the hand is extended, and the name of generosity is used; but these are merely borrowed favors that must soon be repaid. Says Tuka, I shall render whatever service I can; there is no real power at Your feet anyway.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
If there is no real experience, then You have become a God who only takes and never gives. Everywhere I look, mountains of bribes are demanded; before I can receive, my mind must first be at peace. First the hand is held out, and it is called generosity; but these are only borrowed favors that must soon be repaid. Tuka says: I will do whatever service I can. There is no real power at Your feet anyway.
What it means
Tukaram speaks from a dry stretch where the living experience of God has not come, and he names his complaint sharply: a God who never gives is just a taker. He sees the whole world running on demanded bribes, and he protests that he is told to fix his own mind first before any grace will arrive. Even the so-called generosity feels like a loan that will be called back. The closing line is the cry of frustrated longing pushed to its edge, half accusation and half surrender: I will keep serving as I can, but where is the power I came to these feet for?
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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