The debtor God, case opened
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तो चि प्रसंग आला सहज । गुज धरितां नव्हे काज। न संडितां लाज । पुढें वोज न दिसे ॥1॥
तूं तर न होसी शाहाणा। नये सांगतों तें ही मना । आपण आपणा । आतां प्रयत्न देखावा ॥ध्रु.॥
न पुरवी पाहातां वाट । द्यावें प्रमाण चोखट । कास घालूनियां नीट । चौघाचार करावा ॥2॥
आतां श्रमाचें कारण । नव्हे व्हावें उदासीन । न पडे तयाविण । गांठी तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The right moment has come of its own accord; keeping the secret is no longer wise. Unless I cast aside shame, I see no way forward. You still refuse to see reason; what I tell You does not enter Your mind. Let me now try what must be tried. Waiting and watching the road does no good; present the evidence plainly. Gird up properly and conduct yourself with propriety before the assembly. Now there is no reason for weariness; one must not become indifferent. Says Tukya-bandhu, without this there will be no resolution.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The right moment has come on its own; keeping the secret no longer helps. Unless I throw off shame, I see no way ahead. You still will not see reason; what I tell you does not sink in. So let me now try what must be tried. Watching the road and waiting does no good; lay the plain proof on the table. Gird yourself up properly and behave fittingly before the assembly. There is no room for weariness now, no becoming indifferent. Tukya-bandhu says: without this, the matter will never be settled.
What it means
The bhakta decides the time for quiet patience is over and the case must be argued out in the open. He casts off shame because polite waiting has gotten him nowhere with a God who will not listen. The language of evidence and the assembly continues the courtroom image: bring the proof, stand up properly, let it be judged before all. He warns himself most of all against weariness and indifference, the temptations to give up the pursuit. The point is that some prayer must become persistent and public, refusing to fade out, or it reaches no resolution.
Longing and Separation
Cries from the dark night of the soul: remonstrances, complaints, and desperate yearning.
More in this theme →