The bliss of devotion, hidden from the learned
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
भक्तीप्रेमसुख नेणवे आणिकां । पंडित वाचकां ज्ञानियांसी ॥1॥
आत्मनिष्ठ जरी जाले जीवन्मुक्त । तरी भक्ती सुख दुर्लभ त्यां ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे कृपा करिल नारायण । तरि च हें वर्म पडे ठायीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The joy of devotion and love is unknown to others: to scholars, reciters, and even to the wise. Though they may have attained the state of living liberation through self-knowledge, the bliss of devotion remains rare even for them. Says Tuka, only when Narayana bestows His grace does this secret truly find its home.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The joy of love and devotion is not known to others. The scholar does not know it. The reciter does not know it. Even the wise do not know it. Some have come to rest in the Self; they are liberated while still alive. Even for them the bliss of devotion is hard to reach. Tuka says: only when Narayana gives his grace does this secret find its home.
What it means
Tukaram is marking a kind of joy that learning cannot reach. Scholars, reciters of scripture, and even those wise ones who have realized the Self and are liberated while alive: none of them holds the sweetness of bhakti by their effort or knowledge. He places devotion above even self-knowledge here, not by dismissing realization but by saying its bliss is rarer still. The point lands in the last line: this is not earned by study or attainment. It opens only when Narayana grants his grace, and then the hidden truth comes to rest in you.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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