True worship, the silence of the mind
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आपुलें आपण जाणावें स्वहित । जेणें राहे चित्त समाधान ॥1॥
बहुरंगें माया असे विखरली । कुंटित चि चाली होतां बरी ॥ध्रु.॥
पूजा ते अबोला चित्ताच्या प्रकारीं । भाव विश्वंभरीं समर्पावा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे गेला फिटोनियां भेव । मग होतो देव मनाचा चि ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
One should know one's own welfare for oneself: that which brings the mind to contentment. Maya is scattered in many colors; it is well that her tricks are brought to a halt. True worship is the silence of the inner chitta; one's devotion should be surrendered to the Lord of the Universe. Says Tuka, once fear has been dissolved, God becomes the very nature of one's own mind.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Know your own good for yourself: the thing that brings the mind to peace. Maya is scattered in many colors; it is good when her tricks are stopped. True worship is the silence within the heart; offer your whole feeling to the Lord of all. Tuka says: once fear has melted away, God becomes the very nature of the mind.
What it means
Tukaram tells each person to take responsibility for their own welfare, defined as whatever settles the mind into peace. Maya, illusion, spreads itself out in countless attractive forms, and it is a mercy when her play is brought to a halt. He then redefines worship: not outward show but inward stillness, the heart fallen silent and its whole devotion surrendered to the Lord of the universe. The promised end is that once fear dissolves, God is no longer something sought outside; God becomes the very texture of the quieted mind.
True Worship
What genuine worship looks like, beyond outward observances and images.
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