Exhortation, surrender before time runs out
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कोणें तुझा सांग केला अंगीकार । निश्चिति त्वां थोर मानियेली ॥१॥
कोणें ऐसा तुज उपदेश केला । नको या विठ्ठला शरण जाऊं ॥ध्रु.॥
तेव्हां तुज कोण घालील पाठीसी । घासील भूमीसी वदन यम ॥२॥
कां रे नागवसी आयुष्य खातो काळ । दिसेंदिस बळ क्षीण होतें ॥३॥
तुका म्हणे यासि सांगा कोणी तरी । विसरला हरी मायबाप ॥४॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Tell me, who has taken you under their care? In whom have you placed such great confidence? Who gave you the advice not to surrender to Vitthal? When the time comes, who will stand behind you? Yama will grind your face into the earth. Why do you cheat yourself? Time is devouring your lifespan; day by day your strength is wasting away. Says Tuka, somebody tell this person, for he has forgotten Hari, his own mother and father.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Tell me, who has taken you into their care, that you are so sure of yourself? Who gave you this advice, not to take refuge in Vitthal? When the end comes, who will stand behind you? Yama will grind your face into the ground. Why do you rob yourself? Time is eating your life; day by day your strength drains away. Tuka says: somebody, please tell this person, for he has forgotten Hari, his own mother and father.
What it means
Tukaram is shaking awake someone who refuses to surrender to God. He presses with questions: who has promised to protect you, that you can afford such confidence, and who taught you to keep away from Vitthal. Then he names the stakes; at death no one will shield you, and Yama will press your face into the dust. Meanwhile time is quietly devouring your lifespan and your strength fades each day. The plea is aimed at self-examination: the person has forgotten that Hari is his true mother and father, the one refuge worth having, and someone needs to say so before it is too late.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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