Exhortation, the road already cleared
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
मारगीं बहुत । या चि गेले साधुसंत ॥१॥
नका जाऊ आडराणें । ऐसीं गर्जती पुराणें ॥ध्रु.॥
चोखाळिल्या वाटा । न लगे पुसाव्या धोपटा ॥२॥
झळकती पताका । गरुड टके म्हणे तुका ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Many saints and holy ones have already traveled this road. The scriptures declare aloud: do not wander off on side paths. The way has already been cleared; there is no need to ask for the broad highway. Banners flutter along the route. Says Tuka, it bears the stamp of the Garuda coin.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Many saints and holy ones have already gone this way. Do not wander off on side paths: so the scriptures cry aloud. The road has been swept clean; you need not ask for the broad highway. Banners flutter along it. Tuka says: it bears the stamp of the Garuda coin.
What it means
Tukaram urges the seeker to take the proven path of devotion rather than strike out alone. The saints have already walked this road, and the scriptures themselves warn against straying onto side tracks. Because the way has been cleared and marked, there is no need to hunt for some other route; the banners of the pilgrims show where it runs. He stamps it as genuine, like coin marked with Garuda, the trusted mark: this is the safe and tested way home.
Appeals and Exhortations
Direct calls to action: wake up, seek God, do not waste this human birth.
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