Metaphor, the kite held by the string
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
खुंटोनियां दोरी आपणियांपाशीं । वावडी आकाशीं मोकलिली ॥1॥
आपुलिया आहे मालासी जतन । गाहाणाचे ॠण बुडों नेणें ॥ध्रु.॥
बीज नेलें तेथें येईल अंकुर । जतन तें सार करा याची ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझी नििंश्चतीची सेवा । वेगळें नाहीं देवा उरों दिलें ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Having tied the string securely to myself, I have sent the kite soaring into the sky. I keep careful watch over what is mine; a pledged debt never drowns. Wherever the seed is carried, there the sprout will appear; take care of this essence. Says Tuka, my service is offered with full assurance; I have not allowed anything to remain separate from God.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I tied the string fast to myself and let the kite go up into the sky. I keep watch over what is mine; a pledged debt is never lost. Wherever the seed is carried, the sprout will come up there. Guard this essence well. Tuka says: my service is offered with full assurance. I have left nothing standing apart from God.
What it means
Tukaram uses everyday images to describe a trusting surrender that is not careless. The soul is like a kite he has let soar, but the string is tied firmly to himself, so the freedom is held, not lost. He backs this with two homely truths: a debt secured by a pledge does not vanish, and a seed sown will sprout wherever it is carried, so what you have entrusted is safe. The point is that he serves God with complete assurance, having kept nothing of himself separate or held back, confident that what he has handed over is in safe keeping.
Worldly Metaphors
Poems using images from games, occupations, and daily life as spiritual teaching.
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