Autobiography, the settled account with God
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कासया लागला यासी चौघाचार । मुळींचा वेव्हार निवडिला ॥1॥
ग्वाही बहुतांची घालूनियां वरि । महजर करीं आहे माझ्या ॥ध्रु.॥
तुह्मां वेगळा लागें आपल्या च ठायीं । होतें करुनि तें ही माझें माझें ॥2॥
भांडण सेवटीं जालें एकवट । आतां कटकट करूं नये ॥3॥
ठेविला ठेवा तो आला माझ्या हाता । आतां नाहीं सत्ता तुज देवा ॥4॥
तुका ह्मणे वांयांविण खटपटा । राहिलों मी वांटा घेऊनियां ॥5॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why should the conventions of the crowd apply to one whose original account is already settled? I hold in my hand a deed witnessed by many. Apart from all of you, I stand in my own rightful place, and what was mine remains mine. The quarrel has ended in unity, and now there should be no more dispute. The treasure that was kept in trust has come into my hands; now, O Lord, You have no claim over it. Says Tuka, without any vain struggle, I have taken my share and settled down.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why should the crowd's conventions apply to me? My original account is already settled. I hold a deed in my hand, witnessed by many. Apart from all of you, I stand in my own place. What was mine is mine. The quarrel has ended in oneness. Now there should be no more wrangling. The treasure that was kept in trust has come into my hand. Now, O Lord, You have no claim over it. Tuka says: with no more pointless struggle, I have taken my share and settled down.
What it means
Tukaram tells his story as a property dispute that has finally been won. The conventions of the crowd no longer bind him, because his original account with God is closed and he holds a deed witnessed by many. He claims his own rightful standing, apart from everyone, where what is his stays his, and the long quarrel has ended not in division but in oneness with God. The treasure that had been held in trust is now in his own hand, so even the Lord, he says playfully, has no further claim on it. The whole abhanga is the rest of a man who has stopped struggling and taken possession of what was always his portion.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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