Confrontation, a noisy demand at the door
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
धिंदधिंद तुझ्या करीन धिंदडएा । ऐसें काय वेडएा जाणितलें ॥1॥
केली तरी बरें मज भेटी भावास । नाहीं तरि नास आरंभिला ॥ध्रु.॥
मरावें मारावें या आलें प्रसंगा । बरें पांडुरंगा कळलेंसावें ॥2॥
तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे तुझी माझी उरी । उडाली न धरीं भीड कांहीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I will raise a commotion upon Your doorstep. Is that what You take me for, You fool? Return my brother to me and all will be well; otherwise I will begin destruction. The situation has come to a point where one must be ready to die or to kill. Let this be clearly understood, O Panduranga. Says Tukya-bandhu, the showdown between You and me has begun; I will spare no courtesy.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I will raise a din and a clamor at Your door. Is that what You take me for, You fool? Bring my brother back to meet me and all will be well; if not, I have begun the wrecking. It has come to this: one must be ready to die or to kill. Let that be clearly understood, O Panduranga. Tukya-bandhu says: what was left between You and me has fallen away; I will keep no courtesy now.
What it means
The poet stages an open showdown with God, dropping every politeness. He threatens to make a scene at the temple door and warns that he will start tearing things apart if his brother is not returned. The language of dying or killing is the language of a desperate love that has nothing left to lose, not literal violence; the bond has reached the point where decorum no longer holds. Addressing Panduranga directly, he serves notice that he will press his claim without restraint.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
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