The treasure found, ship ashore
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
आतां चुकलें देशावर । करणें अकरणें सर्वत्र । घरासी आगर । आला सकळसिद्धींचा ॥1॥
जालों निधाई निधानें। लागलें अनंतगुणरत्न । जन्माचें वििच्छन्न । दुःख जालें दारिद्र॥ध्रु.॥
तारूं सागरिंचें अवचितें । हेंदोवलें आलें येथें । ओढिलें संचितें । पूर्वदत्तें लाधलें ॥2॥
तुकयाबंधु ह्मणे सीमा । नाहीं आमुचिया दैवा। आतां पुरुषोत्तमा । ऐसा सवदागर सांपडला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Now the wandering in foreign lands is over, whether in action or inaction. The master of all accomplishments has come home. I have become wealthy with an inexhaustible treasure; an infinite jewel of divine qualities has been found. The poverty and suffering of lifetimes has been destroyed. A ship upon the ocean was tossed about and has washed ashore here by accident, drawn by the pull of past merit. Says Tukya-bandhu, there is no limit to our fortune now. Such a great merchant, O Purushottama, has been found.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Now the wandering in far lands is over, in doing and not-doing alike. The master of all powers has come home. I have grown rich with a treasure that never empties; an endless jewel of divine qualities is mine. The poverty and pain of many lives is destroyed. A ship tossed on the ocean has washed ashore here as if by chance, drawn in by stored-up merit, the gift of the past. Tukya-bandhu says: there is no limit to our fortune now. Such a great merchant, Purushottama, has been found.
What it means
The poet gathers three images of arrival: the end of restless wandering, the homecoming of the master of all powers, and a storm-tossed ship reaching shore. Each says the same thing, that the long search has ended in possession rather than effort. He credits the landing to past merit, sanchit, so the grace feels both undeserved and quietly prepared for. The poverty of many lifetimes, the soul's bondage, is what the treasure cancels. Naming God a great merchant, Purushottama the Supreme Person, turns the earlier debt-quarrel inside out: the one accused of cheating is now the trader who delivered an endless fortune.
Ecstasy and Joy
Triumphant happiness: poems written from the far side of the struggle.
More in this theme →