Parting blessing, the uncertain future
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
तुह्मांआह्मांसी दरुषण । जालें दुर्लभ भाषण ॥1॥
ह्मणऊनि करितों आतां । दंडवत घ्या समस्तां ॥ध्रु.॥
भविष्याचें माथां देह । कोण जाणें होइल काय ॥2॥
ह्मणे तुकयाचा बंधव । आमचा तो जाला भाव ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Our meeting, even this conversation, has become a rare and precious thing. Therefore I offer my salutations to all of you now. The future rests upon the body's fate; who knows what will come to pass? Says Tuka's brother, this has become our settled conviction.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Our meeting, even this talk between us, has become rare and hard to come by. So now I do this: take my salutation, all of you. The future rests on this body, and who knows what will be? Tuka says: Tuka's brother, this has become our settled feeling.
What it means
Tukaram speaks as one taking leave, naming how precious even an ordinary meeting has become. He bows to everyone present, because he does not assume there will be another time. The body's fate is unknown, and tomorrow is not promised, so the salutation is offered now while it can be. The closing line frames this as a fixed conviction, not a passing mood: live each meeting as if it may be the last, and give your reverence while you still can.
The Saints
The character and service of true saints: softer than butter, harder than diamond.
More in this theme →