The saints, a mother and her child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मातेचिये चित्तीं । अवघी बाळकाची व्यािप्त ॥1॥
देह विसरे आपुला । जवळीं घेतां सीण गेला ॥ध्रु.॥
दावी प्रेमभातें। आणि अंगावरि चढतें ॥2॥
तुका संतापुढें । पायीं झोंबे लाडें कोडें॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
A mother's chitta is wholly absorbed in her child. She forgets her own body; taking the little one close, all her weariness vanishes. She offers love like nourishment, and the child climbs upon her. Says Tuka, before the saints I cling to their feet with fond and playful devotion.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
A mother's whole mind is taken up with her child. She forgets her own body; when she holds the little one close, all her tiredness leaves. She gives her love like food, and the child climbs up onto her. Tuka says: before the saints I cling to their feet, fondly, playfully, like that child.
What it means
Tukaram uses the mother-and-child bond to describe how the saints hold a devotee. The mother's mind is wholly given to the child, she forgets her own body, and her weariness lifts the moment she draws the little one near; her love is feeding, and the child answers by climbing onto her without fear. He then places himself in the child's role before the saints, clinging to their feet with the same fond, playful trust. The point is the security of that relationship: with the saints there is no need for ceremony, only the closeness of a child who knows it is wanted.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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