Bargaining, the thief is caught
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
न लगे चिंता आतां अन्मोन हाता । आलें मूळ भ्राता गेला त्याचें ॥1॥
घरभेद्या येथें आहे तें सुकानु । धरितों कवळून पाय दोन्ही ॥ध्रु.॥
त्याचें त्याचिया मुखें पडिलें ठावें । न लगे सारावें मागें पुढें ॥2॥
तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे करील भेटी भावा । सोडीन तेधवां या विठ्ठला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now there is no need for anxiety. The root cause has come to hand; my brother's departure has revealed it. The thief who broke into the house is found; the blessing is right here. I clasp both his feet. From his own mouth the truth has emerged; there is no need to argue further. Says Tukya-bandhu, when he brings my brother back to meet me, only then will I release this Vitthal.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There is no need for worry now. The root cause has come to hand; my brother's leaving has shown it to me. The one who broke into the house is right here, and that is the blessing; I clasp both his feet. From his own mouth the truth has come out; there is no need to argue back and forth. Tukya-bandhu says: when he brings my brother back to meet me, only then will I let go of this Vitthal.
What it means
The poet treats his brother's departure, his renunciation, as a theft, and he claims to have caught the thief: Vitthal Himself. Far from being a disaster, this is the blessing, because now he has hold of God's own feet and will not let go. He says the truth came out of God's own mouth, so no more disputing is needed. The bargain is set plainly: he will release Vitthal only when Vitthal restores the brother, turning grief into a grip on God that refuses to slacken.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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