Surrender, ready at the Lord's command
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
दोहीं बाहीं आह्मां वास । असों कास घालूनि ॥1॥
बोल बोलों उभयतां । स्वामीसत्ता सेवेची ॥ध्रु.॥
एकसरें आज्ञा केली । असों चाली ते नीती ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे जोहारितों । आहें होतों ते ठायीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
I dwell in both Your arms, girded and ready for service. I speak the words of both parties, under the authority of devoted service. Once the command is given, I follow that path without deviation. Says Tuka, I salute You; I was, I am, and I remain in that very place.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
I stand at both your sides. Let me be girded and ready. I will speak for both parties, under the Master's right to be served. Once the command is given, let me keep to that conduct, that right way. Tuka says: I salute you. I was, I am, and I remain in that same place.
What it means
Tukaram pictures himself as a servant posted close at the Lord's side, belt tied and ready to act the moment he is needed. He speaks for both sides because his whole standing comes from the Master's claim to be served. Whatever order is given, he means to follow it without straying from the right way. The closing line is a vow of constancy: bowing, he declares he was, is, and will go on being fixed in that one place of service.
Surrender and Acceptance
The conditions of spiritual receptivity and the letting go of the separate self.
More in this theme →