Testimony, staking the whole life
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तरी हांव केली अमुपा व्यापारें । व्हावें एकसरें धनवंत ॥1॥
जालों हरिदास शूरत्वाच्या नेमें । जालीं ठावीं वर्में पुढिलांची ॥ध्रु.॥
जनावेगळें हें असे अभिन्नव । बळी दिला जीव ह्मणऊनि ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे तरी लागलों विल्हेसी । चालतिया दिसीं स्वामी ॠणी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I undertook this immeasurable enterprise with the ambition to become wealthy all at once. I became a servant of Hari with the discipline of a warrior, and the secrets of the predecessors became known to me. This is something entirely new, separate from the ways of the world; that is why I staked my very life. Says Tuka, having entered this pursuit, even the Master has become my debtor in these active days.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
So I set out, greedy, for an endless trade; I wanted to be rich all at once. I became a servant of Hari with a warrior's discipline, and the secrets of those before me became known to me. This is something new, set apart from the ways of the world; that is why I staked my very life on it. Tuka says: once I entered this work, day by day even the Master has become my debtor.
What it means
Tukaram tells his own story in the language of a merchant and a soldier. He confesses a holy greed, that he wanted the whole fortune at once, and so he took up the service of Hari with a warrior's fixed discipline, until the inner secrets of the saints who went before him opened to him. He insists this path stands wholly apart from worldly ways, which is exactly why it demanded that he stake his life on it. The startling end is the devotee's boldness: having given everything, he claims that God himself has become indebted to him, bound by the love and surrender Tuka has poured out.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
More in this theme →