Surrender, the favored child
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पायां पडावें हें माझें भांडवल । सरती हे बोल कोठें पायीं ॥1॥
तरि हे सलगी कवतुक केलें । लडिवाळ धाकुलें असें बाळ ॥ध्रु.॥
काय उणें तुह्मां संताचिये घरीं । विदित या परी सकळ ही ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझें उचित हे सेवा । नये करूं ठेवाठेवी कांहीं॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Falling at your feet is my only capital; these words of mine count for nothing beside your grace. If I have taken any liberty, it is the playful daring of a small and favored child. What is lacking in the home of the saints? This is well known to all. Says Tuka, service is my rightful offering; one should not hoard anything away from it.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Falling at your feet is all the capital I have; what are these words of mine, set beside your feet? If I have been too familiar, it was only play, the fond daring of a small, pampered child. What is ever lacking in the house of you saints? This is known to everyone. Tuka says: my proper place is service; I should hoard nothing back from it.
What it means
Tukaram measures his whole worth and finds it is only his fallen-at-the-feet posture, not his words. He admits he has taken liberties with the saints, but frames it the way a small, indulged child takes liberties with a loving home: it is play, not insolence. He reminds himself that the saints' house lacks nothing, so he is not bringing them anything they need. What he owes is simple: to serve, and to keep nothing of himself back from that service.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
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