Surrender that binds God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दुर्वासया स्वामी गुंतलों भाकेसी । पुसा जा बळीसी निरोप द्यावा ॥1॥
त्याचे आज्ञोविण आह्मां येतां नये । द्वारपाळ राहें होऊनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
पुसे दुर्वासया बळीसी जाऊनि । येरू ह्मणे झणी बोलों नका ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे केला अन्यत्राचा त्याग । तेव्हां पांडुरंग सखा जाला ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
O Durvasa, I am bound by My promise. Go and ask Bali for his permission to release Me. Without his leave, I cannot depart, for I have become his gatekeeper. Durvasa went and asked Bali, but Bali replied: do not even speak of it. Says Tuka, when Bali renounced all else, Panduranga became his constant companion.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Durvasa, lord, I am caught by my promise. Go and ask Bali; let him give the word. Without his leave I cannot come. I have become his doorkeeper. Durvasa went to Bali and asked. The other said: do not even speak of it. Tuka says: when Bali gave up everything else, then Panduranga became his friend.
What it means
Tukaram tells the scene where God Himself says He cannot leave Bali's door: He is bound by His own vow and has become the king's gatekeeper, and only Bali can release Him. When the sage Durvasa asks, Bali refuses outright, will not even hear of letting the Lord go. The closing line gives the law behind the tale: God became Bali's constant companion only because Bali first renounced all else. The lesson is that total surrender is what binds God to a devotee; God will not be held by half a heart.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
More in this theme →